IELTS Grammar Key To Success

The IELTS Exam tests the candidates on various skills during the test. The IELTS test includes reading, listening, speaking and writing. The most mandatory skill for a student to excel in all formats of the IELTS test is IELTS Grammar. Candidates are graded on 4 different attributes in the IELTS test. The attributes are:

1. IELTS Vocabulary (25%)
2. IELTS Grammar Test (25%)
3. Fluency and Coherence (25%)
4. Pronunciation (25%)

Candidates need to keep in mind that while speaking or writing, grammar is one of the most vital parts. Cambridge grammar for IELTS can make or break the IELTS band score. Students need to accurately learn grammar for IELTS speaking and writing. Not only this, the components used should vary and the students must have a range of grammatical structures. The best way to improve the IELTS Grammar is to practice. The more a candidate practices IELTS Grammar Exercises, they can expect better band scores in the IELTS grammar test.

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Basic Grammar for IELTS

The basic sentence is formed with a subject, verb and object. Candidates can also use adjectives and adverbs to add meaning to the other words. A candidate must have a strong basic knowledge of English grammar for IELTS Reading, IELTS Writing, IELTS Listening and IELTS Speaking. In the English language, there are 3 types of sentences.

• Simple sentence - A simple sentence has just one clause.
• Compound sentence - A compound sentence has more than one main clause.
• Complex sentence - A complex sentence has one main clause and one or more subordinate (dependent) clauses. A subordinate clause is used to link the sentences like, where, when etc.

Simple sentence example:

"I live in Australia. I come from India."
"I like reading crime thriller books."

Complex Sentence example:

"I left my country because I wanted to live with my family in Australia."
"My mother, who lives in Australia, asked me to visit her

A basic sentence is a complete idea. In grammar, it can stand alone independently. Basic sentences do not depend on any clause. It is usually quite short and only contains a single idea. Two sentences or clauses are not joined in a basic sentence.

IELTS grammar Rules

The best way to improve grammar for IELTS Writing and grammar for IELTS Speaking is to learn each and every aspect one at a time. Candidates can read some examples that are available online for Cambridge grammar for IELTS. They can make their own examples and then practice each rule by doing exercises. They can also check IELTS grammar practice books and documents that are available over the internet. This article lists a few of the Rules, tricks and tips that the candidates can follow to learn English grammar for IELTS.

Conjunctions in IELTS grammar test 

Conjunctions are words that join two sentences in English grammar for IELTS. It can also join 2 phrases in one sentence. Few words which are used as conjunctions are ‘and’, ‘but’, ‘or’, ‘yet’, and ‘so’. Candidates must keep in mind that these conjunctions should be used at the right places. Candidates can get a minimum band score if they use them at incorrect locations in a sentence..

There are two types of conjunctions that candidates can use while appearing for the IELTS Grammar test:

1. Co-ordinating conjunctions: These are used between the words or clauses that they join.

For example:

Normal Sentences: Traditional schooling is out of date. There should be educational alternatives.
Using co-ordinating conjunction: Traditional schooling is out of date, and there should be educational alternatives.

2. Subordinating conjunctions: These are used to join a subordinate (or dependent) clause to a main (or independent) contrasting clause.

For example:

1. Communication between family members is less nowadays (independent clause), even though (subordinating conjunction) we have more technological advances (dependent clause).
2. Children often play video games (independent clause), rather than (subordinating conjunction) conversing with their parents (dependent clause).

Past and Present Perfect tense

Tense is a very important part in IELTS grammar practice. This is applicable for IELTS Listening, IELTS Speaking and IELTS Writing. Using incorrect forms of tenses can score the candidate down in the IELTS band score. While using the past tense, we usually see that these past actions are not related with the present. They belong to the past, so we use the past tense to express them.

Example:

I ate my breakfast with Tony and then we saw a movie.

The speaker is saying this in the present but that does not have any relation with the past tense. These were done in the past.
For the action that happened in the past but has some kind of impact on the present, or if it continues into the present, we need to use the present perfect.

Example:

Sentence: I haven’t eaten breakfast yet, I’m starving.

The above is an example of present perfect because the action is of the past which is “haven’t eaten” but the speaker is now hungry, which is related to the present.
In the IELTS Exam the candidates might have to talk or write about events that happened in the past. So it is very crucial for the student to decide whether the incident of the past has an impact on the present.

Active and Passive Voice in IELTS Grammar

When the subject of the sentence is performing the action of the verb, the sentence is in active voice. The tone of the active voice is more direct than the passive voice.

When a subject is acted on by the verb, the sentence becomes passive. The passive voice can be formed by using the verb “to be” in the tense that the candidate wants, plus the past participle (the third form of the verb; for example, for the verb “write” you would use “written”). The use of participle is important in active or passive voice.

Examples:

The candidates must be alert while using Active or Passive voice. This might create a great amount of confusion if used incorrectly in the IELTS Grammar test.

Modal Verbs in IELTS Grammar

Modal verbs for IELTS grammar indicate modality such as a likelihood, ability, permission, request, capacity, suggestion, order, obligation, or advice. Words like can/could, may/might, will/would etc include modal verbs. This can be used to express the degree of certainty.

Examples:

1. We could be late if we stop for drinks now.
2. They could have left hours ago.
3. It’s almost midnight in Spain, the plane might have landed by now.
4. Students can be difficult to motivate in evening classes.

Candidates must keep in mind about the tense while using the Modal verbs. Using incorrect modal verbs in IELTS grammar can confuse the examiner regarding the tense. Hence, gaining a complete understanding is very important.

Spelling Mistakes in IELTS grammar test

Students usually make lots of spelling mistakes during the IELTS Exam. This will definitely affect the band score. Spellings can be checked in the IELTS Spelling list. Few common mistakes that students make in IELTS Exam are:

1. Double “L” in adverbs

Examples:
Beautiful ⇒ beautifully

2. Adding -ing and -ed to verbs. If the verb ends in an -e, then the -e is dropped before you add -ing or -ed:

Examples:

Live ⇒ living ⇒ lived
Fake ⇒ faking ⇒ faked
Candidates usually make these mistakes and they are very common in the IELTS grammar test.

Tips and Tricks for IELTS grammar test

Students can follow these IELTS Speaking tips and tricks to make the examiner understand what he/ she wants to say correctly. These will help the student speak, write and read IELTS grammar correctly.

1. Simple sentences should be correct.
2. Carefully link sentences with coordinating conjunctions.
3. Complex sentences should be linked with subordinating conjunctions.
4. Attempt a variety of grammatical structures
5. Read again to identify errors.
6. Practice papers for IELTS speaking.
7. Practice writing.

The more a student practices IELTS grammar, they will have more grip on each and every aspect of it. Having a variety of complex grammar and compound sentences, use of subordinating conjunctions, various parts of speech, phrases, and pronouns, will ensure that the candidate gets full points for grammatical range and accuracy in the IELTS Exam.