IELTS Writing Book

Sunday, December 20, 2015
A note about grammar
The two lessons below demonstrate how crazy grammar 'rules' can be. Most people learn that
we always use the word "the" with superlatives (e.g. the highest, the oldest), but in reality the
English language breaks this 'rule' on many occasions.
I'm not a fan of learning such detailed grammar rules myself; I prefer my students to focus on
vocabulary. So don't worry if my "superlative without the" lessons seemed confusing to you.
It wouldn't affect your score if you made a mistake when using one of these phrases.
Posted by Simon in Vocabulary/Grammar | Permalink | Comments (5)
IELTS Grammar: superlative without 'the' (part 2)
Following on from yesterday's lesson, here are some key points to remember.
1) Superlatives can be used after possessive forms, without "the":
My highest IELTS score was...
His fastest running time was...
Britain's oldest person is...
2) Miss "the" if the noun is before (not after) the superlative:
The UK had the highest revenue from bananas. (noun after, use "the")
Revenue from bananas was highest in the UK. (noun before, no "the")
3) Miss "the" when the meaning is "at its..." or "at their...":
Revenue from bananas was (at its) highest in the UK.
Temperatures are (at their) warmest in the south of the country.
Task:
Here's a puzzle for you. The sentence below is correct, but it seems to break the 'rule' in point
2 above. Can you explain why I wrote "the oldest" even though there is no noun after the
superlative?
The London underground is the oldest.

Saturday, December 19, 2015

IELTS Grammar: superlative without 'the'
In this lesson I gave a grammatical explanation of when to write "highest" without the word
"the" before it. For example:
- The UK had the highest rate of unemployment. (the highest + noun)
- The unemployment rate was highest in the UK. (noun before 'highest', no 'the')
However, there might be an easier way to remember when to miss the word "the". We miss
the word "the" when "highest" means "at its highest" or "at their highest" e.g. The
unemployment rate was at its highest in the UK.
Let's try this with a few more examples:
1. Rainfall is highest in October. (Rainfall is at its highest in October)
2. Temperatures are warmest in the south of the country. (at their warmest)
3. Traffic is slowest between 7 and 9am. (at its slowest)
In the above examples, don't put the word "the" before the superlative adjectives.
Note:
I'll add a bit more to this explanation in tomorrow's lesson, so feel free to ask any questions in
the comments area below.

IELTS Vocabulary: useful phrases
I used some good phrases in yesterday's letter task. Even if you're doing the academic IELTS
test, I recommend that you note them down.
at short notice
made the spontaneous decision
to eat out
we could not have chosen a better restaurant
the ceremony had taken place
my friends and I
we were relieved to have finally (+ past participle)
we were in good hands
friendly and obliging
such a memorable evening
Task:
Think about how you could use these phrases in your speaking test.

IELTS Vocabulary: this week's review
In my Saturday blog lessons, I often list the good vocabulary from the previous week. Today
I'm going to ask you to do this week's vocabulary review.
So, look back through this week's lessons here on the blog, and make a note of any good
vocabulary that I used. Feel free to share your lists in the "comments" area below.
Sunday, November 15, 2015

IELTS Vocabulary: try this exercise
Let's take some of the phrases from yesterday's lesson, and see if you can use them to make
new sentences about completely different topics.
Here are the phrases to use:

1. The focus of _____ is on _____ rather than _____.
2. I've recently started taking an interest in _____.
3. I would never have _____ when I was younger.
Remember to choose a new topic (not TV). You can put as many words as you want in the
gaps.

IELTS Grammar: conditional mistakes
Can you correct the mistakes in the following conditional sentences?

1. If there was a ban on cigarette, less people would smoke cigarette.
2. If the tax rate on junk food had increased, people would likely to prefer making food
at home.
3. If schools administered with any teachers, disorder and lawlessness would arise.
4. If uncensored commercials had been banned, the crime rate would be seized from
rising.
Saturday, October 31, 2015

IELTS Vocabulary: 'less common' phrases
Did you note down the following 'less common' phrases from the description that I wrote
yesterday? Could you use these phrases in your own sentences?
each episode featured
spectacular footage
it was broadcast
the DVD box set
it was advertised repeatedly
it was aired (means 'it was shown on TV')
the trailers were eye-catching
incredibly beautiful images
the voice of the narrator
stunning photography
global scope
to film such interesting creatures in so many locations
opened my eyes to the hidden wonders of our planet
Note:
The phrase 'less common vocabulary' (or 'uncommon lexical items') is used in the examiner's
mark scheme. It refers to any vocabulary that examiners don't expect most candidates to use.
But this doesn't mean 'difficult' words; it means the kind of 'natural' phrases that native
speakers use. A good example is "DVD box set" - this isn't a difficult phrase, but it's
something that English learners might not be expected to use.

IELTS Vocabulary: weekly review
Did you note down the good vocabulary from this week's lessons? Here's a list of some of the
best words and phrases. Try using them to make your own sentences.
erratically
precipitation
mishandling, bungling
convenient, handy
certain key subject areas
the courses of their choice
from a personal perspective
on the societal level
job opportunities, career progression, better salaries
knowledge and skill gaps are covered
greater future prosperity
passionate about what they are learning
value creative thinking skills above practical or technical skills
if this were the case
I personally prefer the current system in which...
Sunday, September 20, 2015

IELTS Grammar: correct the mistakes
Here are some phrases (parts of sentences) that people wrote below Thursday's writing task 1
lesson. Can you find and correct the mistakes?
Note: I'm focusing here on the parts of people's sentences that contained a problem. Don't
worry about the information that I've missed out.
1. The highest numbers of sales were 3 million Euros and 15 million Euros respectively.
2. The highest sales figures for Fairtrade coffee and bananas was recorded in
Switzerland.
3. Switzerland was earning 15 million euros of fairtrade bananas.
4. ...with the sales figures for coffee and bananas stood at 3 million Euros and 15 million
Euros respectively.
5. Switzerland was the highest sales in fairtrade of coffee and bananas.
In case you didn't see it, here's my correct version:
In 1999, Switzerland had the highest figures for sales of both Fairtrade coffee and Fairtrade
bananas, with 3 million and 15 million Euros of sales for the two respective products.

IELTS Grammar: 'by/in contrast' and 'on the contrary'
A few people have asked me about these phrases. Do they have the same meaning? When is
each one used?
By contrast / In contrast
I often use these two phrases in both writing task 1 and 2. They are exactly the same, and are
used in a similar way to "however" or "on the other hand" to introduce a contrast /
comparison. Put "By / In contrast" at the beginning of a sentence, with a comma after
"contrast".
Example
Unemployment rose in the UK. By contrast, the number of unemployed people in Canada
fell.
On the contrary
I don't think you'll need this phrase for any part of the IELTS test. It doesn't mean the same
thing as "by / in contrast". We use "on the contrary" to deny that something is true, and to
explain that the opposite is true.
Example
- Person 1: "You had some problems with your hotel, didn't you?"
- Person 2: "On the contrary, the hotel was great, but the airline lost my suitcase."
Sunday, August 30, 2015

IELTS Grammar: 'future perfect' tense
Did you notice that I used the 'future perfect' tense in the answer that I wrote for Thursday's
writing task 1 lesson? Here's the sentence:
- By 2024, a third building will have been constructed.
In fact, this is a 'future perfect passive' sentence. Another option was to write:
- In 2024, a third building will be constructed. (simple future, passive)

There's a small difference in meaning between these two sentences. The future perfect
sentence suggests that construction of the building will already be finished in 2024, whereas
the simple future sentence suggests that the construction work will happen in the year 2024.

IELTS Vocabulary: paraphrasing
In last Sunday's lesson I wrote that an advanced user of any language is someone who can
express the same idea in a variety of ways. When you do this, you are paraphrasing.
Let's practise paraphrasing some of the ideas from Friday's speaking lesson. Can you express
the ideas below in one or two (or more) different ways? Note: you don't need to use exact
synonyms - just make sure you communicate the same overall idea.
1. Traffic clogs up the main street.
2. Local people need to bring the problem to light.
3. They should come up with some possible designs.
4. This would have a positive knock-on effect.
Saturday, August 15, 2015

IELTS Vocabulary: from yesterday's lesson
Here's some of the good vocabulary that I used in yesterday's speaking lesson. Would you be
able to use these phrases in your own sentences? If you're not sure, look the phrases up in a
dictionary, or use Google to search for examples of their use.
local neighbourhood
pedestrianisation
traffic diverted
clogs up the main street
congestion, noise and pollution
pressure from local people
bring a problem to light
a campaign by residents
come up with some possible designs
a bypass
blocked off
quality of life
outdoor seating
a safer and more pleasant place
a positive knock-on effect
Saturday, July 25, 2015

IELTS Vocabulary: investigate!
Whenever you see a new word or phrase, it's a good idea to investigate. By this I mean that
you should search for the word or phrase online, and see how it is used in a variety of
sentences.
For example, take this phrase from yesterday's lesson: "I'm not one for...". If you search for
this phrase on Google, you'll see examples like:
I'm not one for complaining, but...
I'm not one for writing reviews, but...
I'm not one for settling for mediocrity.
I'm not one for love songs.
I'm not one for celeb news.
I'm not one for too much structure.
I think you need to see five or more examples of a new phrase before you start to really see
how you could use it yourself. Can you see any 'rules' for the phrase "I'm not one for"? Can
you explain what it means? Can you use it in your own sentences?

IELTS Vocabulary: from this week
Here are some good words and phrases from this week's blog lessons:
an exact replica
a mock-up
to gauge
painstaking work
hands-on experience
priceless
outdated
a career for life
fixed roles of men and women
take pride in your work
the Hollywood formula
a popular subject for film-makers
share the experience
replicate that cinema atmosphere
Did you notice that the noun 'replica' and the verb 'replicate' both appeared in this week's
lessons, and in very different contexts?
Sunday, July 05, 2015

IELTS Speaking: verb tenses and vocabulary
In yesterday's lesson I asked you to find examples of verb tenses and good vocabulary in my
sample answer about a film that I would like to see.
Here are examples of different verb tenses that I used:
Future with 'going to': its going to be called Spectre
Future with 'will': I dont know exactly what it will be about
Present simple for the future: when it comes out later this year
Present simple: I think Spectre refers to...
Present perfect (active): I've seen the official trailer
Present perfect (passive): hasn't been released yet
Past simple: I saw in the news
Past continuous: when I was watching the news
Here are some examples of 'band 7-9' vocabulary:
when it comes out (meaning: when it is released)
refers to the name of
the imaginary criminal organisation
hasnt been released yet
on a mission to save the world
an arch-criminal
a plot line involving lots of twists and turns
to defeat his nemesis
the official trailer
cast to play supporting roles
James Bond films are always big news
action scenes and special effects
take place in spectacular locations
unrealistic, you could even say ridiculous
like a roller-coaster ride
Posted by Simon in IELTS Speaking, Vocabulary/Grammar | Permalink | Comments (9)
Saturday, June 27, 2015

IELTS Vocabulary: more good phrases
There were several good words and phrases in this week's lessons here on the blog. Here are
some of them, and I've left gaps to encourage you to look a bit harder!
1. universities became accessible to the ______
2. talented ______ film-makers
3. given the opportunity to ______ themselves
4. a ______ of other costs
5. partly ______ by government subsidies
6. foreign productions ______ the market
7. percentage of ______ inhabitants
8. each five-year age ______
9. each five-year ______
10. No significant ______ differences can be seen

This week's lessons contained some good vocabulary. Here are some of the words and
phrases that you could put in your notebook:
cartography
symptoms manifested
fundamental things
balance, symmetry and repetition
soul-destroying
rigid, bleak, relentless, harsh
established film industries
huge budgets, big-budget films
shoot scenes in spectacular locations
Hollywood blockbusters
global appeal
they star the most famous actors
made by the most accomplished producers
suffers in comparison
in theory, in practice
made a mess of (informal)
the core of
the point at which

Can you correct the small mistake(s) in each of the following sentences, or change the
sentences to make them more natural?
1. Global filmmaking companies have more budget for action, special effects and
spectacular locations.
2. Governments should support local film industries by financially support the film
makers.
3. If governments help local movie industry, it would create employment opportunities.
4. There are several reasons why locally made films lose popularity to foreign films.
5. The following essay will discuss in details about the issue.

IELTS Vocabulary: lists of 3
For my first answer in yesterday's lesson I wrote: "I like reading, learning from others, and
trying to understand difficult concepts." As you can see, I gave a list of 3 things that I like
about studying.
Here are some more "lists of 3" that I could have used in my answers:
I prefer to study alone so that I can concentrate, think deeply, and stay focused on the
task.
I like studying in the library because of its peaceful, studious and contemplative
atmosphere.
When someone disturbs me I feel frustrated, annoyed and impatient.
Making "lists of 3" is a good way to practise adding variety to the language that you use. Try
it yourself!
Sunday, May 24, 2015

IELTS Vocabulary: collocations and phrases
There were some good collocations and phrases in the 'improved sentences' that I wrote for
yesterday's lesson. Did you write them in your notebook?
give a presentation
members of the audience
my mind goes blank
use visual aids
engage the audience
feel anxious
regardless of how (+ adjective) something is
adequate preparation
the key to doing something
Saturday, May 23, 2015

IELTS Speaking / Grammar: improved sentences
Here are my suggestions for improved versions of the sentences in yesterday's lesson.
Compare both versions carefully to learn from the changes that I made.
1. In my opinion, people are afraid to give presentations when they think that members
of the audience might know more than they do.
2. My mind often goes blank when starting a new slide.
3. I believe that using visual aids can help to engage the audience.
4. Of course, giving a presentation can make people feel anxious, regardless of how
confident they normally are.
5. I think that adequate preparation is the key to giving a good presentation.


IELTS Vocabulary: review and practice
If I asked you to list the 10 best phrases from yesterday's speaking lesson and Wednesday's
writing lesson, which would you choose?
Could you then use those 10 phrases in your own sentences?

IELTS Grammar: 'to' with 'ing'
Many students have learnt that 'to' can't be followed by a word ending in 'ing'. But did you
notice the following phrase in the question in Wednesday's lesson?
"strict punishments for driving offences are the key to reducing traffic accidents"
This phrase is completely correct, so it must mean that the "rule" was wrong! You can put 'to'
with 'ing' in many situations. Here are some examples:
The key to being more productive is...
I look forward to seeing you.
He admitted to taking the money.
Scientists are closer to being able to...
Seven steps to reaching your goals!
Can you find any more examples?

Tip: try searching on Google for "to being", "to having", "to doing" etc.
Saturday, April 25, 2015
Do you keep a notebook for useful words and phrases? And do you review the vocabulary in
it regularly?
For example, here's a quick review of some useful vocabulary from the last seven days of
lessons on this blog:
compile a list
build a repertoire
the current generation of language learners
don't know how lucky they are
they have the Internet at their disposal
they have access to videos, podcasts and audiobooks
they have the chance to immerse themselves in the language
to take advantage of
overuse of a word
the charts compare three countries in terms of...
dispose of harmful waste
hazardous materials
are buried underground / are recycled
know the basics
rely on pre-prepared meals
that would surely be a good thing
Remember: Understanding a word is not the same as being able to use it. Practise using the
phrases above in your own sentences.
Saturday, March 28, 2015

IELTS Vocabulary: from this week's essay
Did you write down the good vocabulary from the essay that I shared on Wednesday? Here
are the 'band 7-9' words, collocations and phrases that I used:
are increasingly likely to
take on the role of househusband
breadwinners
equal rights movements
made great progress
gain qualifications
pursue a career
become socially acceptable
the rising cost of living
marriage partners
starting a family
personal preference
should be seen as progress
equal opportunities
put under pressure
sacrifice their careers
assume childcare responsibilities
parental role
their particular circumstances and needs
wider changes in society
these developments are desirable
Try writing your own full sentences using each vocabulary item above.
Posted by Simon in IELTS Writing Task 2, Vocabulary/Grammar | Permalink | Comments
(13)
Sunday, March 22, 2015

IELTS Grammar: for band 7
I don't think that using 'difficult' grammar is the best way to get a band 7.
If you want a band 7, the most important thing is to be able to write error-free sentences. If all
of your sentences contain small mistakes, it's unlikely that you'll get a 7. It might be better to
take fewer risks with complex structures, and aim for more error-free sentences.

IELTS Grammar: using 'by'
A student asked me about the two uses of the word "by" in these sentences:
Korea was the only country that managed to reduce its waste output by the year 2000. Korea
cut its waste output by 12 million tonnes between 1990 and 2000.
Questions:
1. Can you explain how "by" is used in the two cases above?
2. What is the difference between "by the year 2000" and "in the year 2000"?
(24)
Saturday, February 28, 2015

IELTS Grammar: nouns and verbs
Sometimes the noun form and the verb form of a word are the same. For example, the word
increase can be a noun or a verb. The problem is that nouns and verbs are used differently.
Here are some examples:
Increase
There was an increase in the unemployment rate. (noun)
The unemployment rate increased. (verb)
Lack
There is a lack of investment in hospitals. (noun)
Many hospitals lack the investment they need. (verb)
Pay
Companies should give men and women equal pay. (noun)
Companies should pay men and women equally. (verb)
It's the little words like "an increase in" that cause most problems for students. Examiners do
notice these things, so it's worth getting them right.

Here are some sentences that people wrote below yesterday's speaking lesson (about
'collecting'). Can you find and correct the mistakes?
1) There are a lot of things that people often are collect.
2) I think people often go to gather small things such as stamps.
2) Whenever I went in a vacation, I used this opportunity to buy another object.
3) Let me think, may be valuable watches which their prices increase by time.
5) People collecting things for many reasons for example they do it as a hobby.
IELTS Grammar: using 'the'
People often ask me for help with articles (the, a, an). You really need to consult a specialist
grammar book if you want to know everything about articles, but here's a useful question
about my use of "the" in a recent lesson:
Look at the following sentences.
1) I would need time, commitment and the passion to keep working.

2) I would need the time, commitment and passion to keep working.
3) I would need time, commitment and passion to keep working.
Are all three sentences correct? Is one better than the others? Does the position or absence of
"the" change the meaning?

IELTS Vocabulary: future plans
Here are the band 7-9 phrases from yesterday's lesson. Remember that I'm not trying to use
strange or difficult words; I'm trying to speak in a natural way, using 'native speaker'
collocations and phrases.
a future aim of mine
the plot would be fictional
influenced by some of my own experiences, ideas and views
I might suddenly be inspired
a vague objective
time, commitment and passion
to set a goal
Ive always wondered how
create a work of fiction
bringing a story to life
follow in the footsteps of my favourite authors
Saturday, January 31, 2015

IELTS Vocabulary: which sentence is best?
A student asked me which sentence I prefer from these two:

1. There is an array of reasons for the proliferation of high amounts of waste disposal.
2. There are various reasons for the rise in the amount of waste that we produce.
Although sentence 1 might look more 'difficult' (due to the use of array, proliferation and
disposal), I definitely prefer sentence 2.
The problem with sentence 1 is that it seems forced and unnatural:
"Array of reasons" is fine, although no better than "various reasons".
"Proliferation" and "high amounts" sound strange together. I would use one or the
other, but not both.
"The proliferation of waste disposal" also sounds wrong to a native speaker. It isn't a
collocation that I would expect to read or hear.
I think the topic would be about "waste production", not "waste disposal". The root
problem is that we are producing more waste, not that we are throwing it away more
often. The word "disposal" looks good, but for me it affects the coherence of the
sentence.
I think this is a great example of what I said in Wednesday's lesson about having the
confidence to keep it simple. When students try too hard to be difficult, they write unnatural
sentences like number 1 above.

IELTS Grammar: wide range or error-free?
A student, Kishanth, asked me about two of the points in the grammar criterion for band 8
writing (both task 1 and 2):
uses a wide range of structures
the majority of sentences are error-free
Here's the problem with these two points:

When you try to use a wide range of grammatical structures, you risk making more mistakes
(errors). But to reduce the number of mistakes, you might have to simplify your sentences.
So what should you do?

My advice is this: Forget about the 'wide range of structures' point. If all of your focus is on
using complex grammar, you'll probably do something worse than just make mistakes; you'll
probably forget to answer the question properly. The people who worry most about grammar
usually neglect task response, coherence and vocabulary.
For me, grammar is the least important criterion to worry about. I tell students to focus on the
other 75% of the scoring system: task response, coherence and vocabulary. However, if you
want my tip for improving your grammar score, I'd say that it's better to focus on reducing
errors. I think examiners notice errors more than they notice grammatical range, and if you
write a mix of short and long sentences, you'll probably fulfil the 'wide range of structures'
requirement without realising it.

IELTS Vocabulary: from the 'parks' topic
As I said yesterday, you don't need to 'show off' in part 1 of IELTS speaking. However, I did
use some nice vocabulary in my answers:
- every city needs some green space
- people can escape from the crowds
- Parks are like an oasis
- get away from the hustle and bustle* of city life
- take some exercise
- forget about work for a while
- I can't imagine what I would do
*hustle and bustle = busy activity, usually when describing a city
Saturday, November 29, 2014

IELTS Vocabulary: band 7-9 phrases
Let's review the vocabulary that I used in yesterday's speaking lesson. Here are the phrases
that I think would impress an examiner:
volunteer to run activity clubs
help out (phrasal verb)
residential homes for elderly people
support people living below the poverty line
there isnt a scale of importance when it comes to helping others
all forms of help are positive
experience difficult times
run the risk of losing our jobs
people help others because they empathise with them
Its impossible to generalise about...
from one generation to the next
judge or compare how altruistic people are

IELTS Grammar: 'natural' answers
The sentences in yesterday's speaking lesson contained some grammar mistakes. However,
perhaps a bigger problem was that the sentences didn't seem very 'natural' (most native
speakers wouldn't talk like that).
If you download the document attached below, you'll see my grammar corrections and my
suggestions for more 'natural' answers.
Click here to see the document

IELTS Vocabulary: less common phrases
Here is some 'less common' vocabulary from yesterday's lesson:
defeat the other player
trapping his King... checkmate
portable chess set
the chance to hone my skills
I made it onto the school team
the challenge of thinking ahead
trying to outwit my opponent
a very mysterious and intellectual game
taught me to learn from my losses
to congratulate the person who had beaten me
Sunday, October 26, 2014

IELTS Grammar: mistakes with the passive
In which of these sentences is the passive used correctly?

1. The amount of rainfall was increased last month.
2. An increase in rainfall was seen last month.
3. The UK was experienced an increase in rainfall.
4. Rainfall has been reduced this year.
5. Income tax has been reduced this year.

IELTS Vocabulary: review
Let's review the useful vocabulary that we've seen in this week's lessons:
inconvenient
nearby
surfing the web
an initiative
communal
tuition fees
applicants
surveillance
commonplace
an invasion of privacy
aged (adjective meaning 'elderly')
Would you be able to use all of these words and phrases in your own sentences?

IELTS Grammar: some conditionals
Did you notice that I used several conditional sentences in yesterday's speaking lesson? Here
they are again:
But if I had to choose, I'd say the living room...
...so that's what I'd change first.
I'd definitely move again at some point if I could afford to.
Notice that I use I'd instead of the full I would because these are spoken answers (although
it's fine to say I would).
Notice also that the 'if' conditional clause is missing from the second example. Sometimes we
miss the condition because it is understood from the context. We understand from the context
that I mean: "If I redecorated my home, that's what I would change first".

IELTS Vocabulary: notice, look up, use
Notice
A student called herry commented below this lesson that he/she noticed the phrase "resort to"
in my paragraph about credit cards.
Look up
Herry then looked the phrase up in a dictionary and found the meaning:
resort to something = do something that you do not want to do because you cannot find any
other way.
Use
The next step is to try using the phrase in a sentence of your own (e.g. Many stores have
resorted to cutting prices). If possible, ask a teacher to check your sentence to make sure it's
correct.
This is a great way to improve your vocabulary repertoire.

People often make mistakes when they try to use 'difficult' language. Can you correct the
following sentences and write them in a less complicated way?
1. Banks always motivates their customers for availing various types of credit cards.
2. As a credit card has become prevalent for which it is easy to apply and gain this, there
are several problems that people undergo.
3. Credit cards do have both pros and cons but it depends on the inevitability of user and
their attitude to know purposely that determines the usage of mostly worth of it.
Saturday, September 20, 2014

IELTS Grammar: Googling for grammar patterns
Have you tried using Google (or another search engine) to resolve grammar problems? For
example, students asked me to explain the following sentences from the essay in Wednesday's
lesson:
1. There are some basic preconditions to achieving happiness.
2. There do seem to be some common needs that we all share.
3. It is no doubt true that...
If we put quotation marks ("...") around the key words, and Google them, we can look for
patterns in the search results that help us to understand the grammar.
Example:
Try searching for "preconditions to achieving", then try "preconditions to being" and
"preconditions to doing". The search results should show you that "preconditions to +ing" is a
normal grammar pattern in English.
Now search for "there do seem to be" and "it is no doubt true that". You might find that
searching for grammar patterns is more useful than learning grammar rules.

IELTS Grammar: uncountable nouns
Students often make mistakes with uncountable nouns. These are nouns that you can't count.
Most importantly, they don't have a plural form.
For example, you can't say "an information, two informations, many informations". You can
say "some information, more information, a lot of information, a piece of information".
Below are some common uncountable nouns. Do you know any others?
give advice, some advice, a piece of advice (an advice, advices)
do research, carry out research (a research, researches)
gain knowledge, share knowledge, increase knowledge (knowledges)

IELTS Vocabulary: nice bits of language!
There were a few nice bits of language that you might have noticed in yesterday's speaking
lesson:
all sorts of things
a certain amount of
I pick up a newspaper most days
I usually have a book on the go
I couldn't put it down
opens the door to all aspects of education
These phrases made my answers sound very natural and "native-speaker-like". Try using
them in your own sentences.

IELTS Grammar: are phrasal verbs ok?
People often ask me whether it's ok to use phrasal verbs in the IELTS writing and speaking
tests.
My answer is yes; phrasal verbs are generally fine. In Friday's speaking lesson I used the
phrasal verb to grow up, and the 'multi-word verbs' to take place and to make sure. In this
essay, I used the phrasal verb to result in.
It isn't true that all phrasal verbs are informal. Read this article for a full explanation.
IELTS Grammar: be careful with the 's'
Notice where we put the "s" on the end of a word and where we don't:
Thousands of people watched the show.
Fifty thousand people watched the show.
over a period of ten years
over a ten-year period
The fish weighed 5 kilos.
It was a five-kilo fish.
The boy is three years old.
He is a three-year-old boy.
Sunday, June 08, 2014

IELTS Grammar: easy sentences
Here are my suggestions for the sentences in Friday's lesson. Remember, the aim was to make
the sentences as easy as possible.
1. I like learning languages because they help me to communicate with people from
other countries.
2. I do lots of reading in my spare time.
3. If you can speak the local language, it's easier to make friends.
4. Knowing a foreign language can help you to get a better job.
5. The best time to learn another language is when you are young.
6. Learning a foreign language opens your mind and expands your horizons.
7. The more you practise, the easier it becomes to communicate in a new language.

IELTS Advice: if you have a grammar question
If you have a grammar question, this website probably isn't the best place to find the answer.
There are many dedicated grammar sites, so all you need to do is put your problem into a
search engine (e.g. Google).
Example:
A student asked me to explain how to use "not only... but also...". If we do a Google search
for "grammar not only but also", here's the first website that Google suggests: click here.
After reading the explanation of "not only... but also...", you could try making your own
sentences about common IELTS topics, such as education, work or the environment.
Posted by Simon in Questions/Advice, Vocabulary/Grammar | Permalink | Comments (8)

IELTS Grammar: verbs and nouns
The problem with the following sentences is that the verbs and nouns (underlined) don't go
together. Do you know what the correct verbs should be?
1. I gave the IELTS exam last week.
2. I usually take a coffee in the morning.
3. This will bring a negative impact on people.
The correct 'verb + noun' groups are examples of collocation.

IELTS Grammar: lead, contribute, result
Students often make mistakes with the verbs lead, contribute and result. Try to correct the
sentences below.
1. Qualifications and skills may lead to get promotions.
2. Lack of exercise contributes to have an unhealthy body.
3. Violence on television is one factor that results to increase the crime rate.
What is the rule for these 3 verbs?
Sunday, April 20, 2014

Improve the following sentences. All of them are about the 'teleworking' topic.
1. There are several disadvantages to do work at home.
2. In comparison with office, home is a relatively quiet and comfortable place to work
at.
3. People's daily activity may be decreased.
4. Not everyone enjoy working and living at the same places.
5. Employee tend to put less important on work because there is no supervisor.

Find and correct the mistake in each of the sentences below:

1. Technology allowed the growing of factories.
2. Parents should be more conscious on their childrens online activities.
3. The Internet allows people from all over the world to involve in discussions about
current events.
I'll put my answers in the "comments" area tomorrow.

IELTS Grammar: two important points
Here are two grammar points to note from the mistakes in Friday's lesson:
1. Commas don't connect sentences
You can't write "They asked me to do an interview, I felt so shy" with a comma connecting
the two ideas. You would need a full stop or a linking word like "and" or "but" (e.g. They
asked me to do an interview, but I felt so shy).
2. Don't put "which" and "it" together
You can't write "a conversation which I found it interesting". Delete the "it".
Click here to see all of the answers to Friday's exercise.

Last Sunday's lesson was about using 'with' instead of 'and'. Several people tried to make
their own 'with' sentences, but some corrections are necessary. Can you help with the
following sentences?
1. He love that girl, with she loving another boy.
2. London is the world's sixth most expensive city, with being visited by almost 1
million tourists every day.
3. City life is quite stressful, with the people lacking of the sense of community.

IELTS Grammar: using 'with' instead of 'and'
Here's a structure that my students found interesting:

A) The IELTS exam is popular, and over 1 million people take it every year.
B) The IELTS exam is popular, with over 1 million people taking it every year.
A) The cost of living is high, and prices are going up every year.
B) The cost of living is high, with prices going up every year.
Notice the use of the 'ing' verb form after 'with'. Notice also that there is no auxiliary verb
'are' in the second example. To practise this type of sentence, try making an example of your
own!

IELTS Grammar: 'most' or 'most of'?
Should you write "most people", "most of people" or "most of the people"?
Answer:
1. Don't write "most of people".
2. "Most of the people" is correct when you are talking about a specific group of people
e.g. most of the people in my department.
3. For IELTS writing and speaking "most people" is the best phrase.
Here are some examples for IELTS Writing:
English is taught in most countries. (most of countries)
Most people agree that the ability to speak English is a useful skill.
Most products are made in factories rather than by hand.
Crime is on the increase in most major cities.

IELTS Grammar: collocations
A student asked me to explain which is better: 'a prime example' or 'a primary example'.
I would say 'a prime example'. Why? The answer is that 'prime example' is a normal
collocation in English. It's the phrase that English speakers would use.
Native speakers instinctively know which words go together more commonly. They recognise
groups of words like 'prime example'. This is what we mean by "collocation".
Tip:
Put "prime example" and "primary example" into Google (don't forget the speech marks), and
look at the numbers of results. It should be clear which collocation we prefer.

IELTS Grammar: 'lead to'
Students often make mistakes when using 'lead to' in their writing. What's the problem with
these sentences?
1. Consumerism can lead to increase the economy.
2. Tourism can lead to destroy natural habitats.
3. A competitive atmosphere in lessons leads to motivate students.
The problem is that we need a noun or noun phrase after 'lead to', not a verb.
So, here are some some ways that you could rewrite the sentences:
1. Consumerism can lead to a more successful economy.
2. Tourism can lead to the destruction of natural habitats.
3. A competitive atmosphere in lessons motivates students.
Notice that in sentence 3 it is better to keep the verb 'motivates' and miss out 'leads to'.

IELTS Grammar: passives, conditionals, subjunctives?
It seems that teachers in some countries are telling their students to fill their answers with
"difficult grammar devices" like passives, conditionals and subjunctives.
I tell my students to do the opposite: forget about these things!
In my experience, the more you focus on grammar (25% of your score), the less you focus on
answering the question well, organising your ideas, and using good vocabulary (75% of your
score). Worrying about "difficult grammar" is likely to ruin your answers rather than improve
them! Focus on the other 75%.

IELTS vocabulary review
Here's a quick review of the band 7-9 vocabulary from this week's lessons:
- the current generation of language learners
- have the Internet at their disposal
- the chance to immerse themselves in
- upset by
- opposed to... for ethical reasons
- carry out research
- stalls are spread across several sites
- the centrepiece
- an array of
- mouth-watering food and drink
- spilling over into other pedestrian streets
- attracting thousands of visitors
- the fantastic atmosphere
- Manchester seemed to come alive
- the streets were bustling
- there was a real festive feel to the city

IELTS Grammar: 'for example' and 'such as'
Students often make mistakes when using these two phrases. To avoid mistakes, follow this
simple advice:
- Use For example, at the start of a sentence.
- Use such as in the middle of a sentence.
Compare these examples:
1. Children should eat less junk food. For example, they should avoid eating burgers and
chips.
2. Children should avoid eating junk food such as burgers and chips.
Notice that 'For example' is followed by a comma and a full sentence. 'Such as' is in the
middle of the sentence, followed by two nouns. You can use 'For instance' instead of 'For
example'. You can use 'like' instead of 'such as'.

IELTS Grammar: rules and exceptions
When learning a language, grammar rules are useful because they show you how the
language normally behaves. For example, you might learn that the word "to" is followed by
the infinitive of the verb. The rule tells you that "to have" is correct and "to having" is wrong.
However, you should also be prepared to meet some exceptions to the grammar rules that you
learn. For example, students are often confused by phrases like 'look forward to having' or
'advantages to having', both of which are correct.
When you find an exception to a grammar rule, don't get frustrated; consider it an opportunity
to expand your knowledge of the language, and perhaps to impress the examiner!
Sunday, April 28, 2013

Try to improve the following sentences.

1. It is clear that, the commuter numbers by car are dominant.
2. The number of passengers in train showed upward trend.

3. The number of commuters favor car and train significantly increase.
4. About average 5 million commuters traveled by car.
5. The figure for train started from about 2 millions.
6. British people continuously used more car than other vehicles.

IELTS Grammar: opinion + conditional
Try this useful technique for IELTS writing and speaking:

Give an opinion, then follow it with a conditional sentence.
Look at these examples:
1. In my opinion, governments should invest more money in public transport. If rail and
bus services were more reliable, fewer people would need to drive.
2. Schools have an important role to play in children's health. If schools banned junk
food, they would help to reduce the problem of childhood obesity.
3. In the future I think more people will do their shopping online. But if Internet
shopping becomes more popular, many traditional shops will lose customers.
I've underlined the conditionals. Examples 1 and 2 are second conditionals, while 3 uses the
first conditional.
Practice:
Prepare your own "opinion + conditional" ideas for different topics. Having a few of these
ideas ready could help you in the writing and speaking tests.
Saturday, March 30, 2013

IELTS Grammar: 'finally' or 'at last'?
This week I wrote a lesson about using "Firstly, Secondly, Finally", and a student asked me
whether it's ok to use "at last" instead of "finally".
The answer is no. "Finally" and "at last" are not used in the same way.
Use "finally" in the IELTS writing test when you want to make your final point, or to talk
about the final stage in a process e.g. Finally, as well as making life more fun and interesting,
new experiences can be good for our physical and mental health. (taken from this lesson)
Only use "at last" when you have been waiting for a long time for something to happen e.g.
At last I've passed the IELTS exam!

Try to correct the mistakes in the sentences below:

1. Most of advertising aim to persuade people that buying things will make them
happier.
2. Advertisers use every efforts to make their products more attractive.
3. Governments should control advertising or even banned.
I'll give you my answers in the "comments" area tomorrow.

IELTS Grammar: affect or effect?
Almost every week I see mistakes in the use of "affect" and "effect". These are common and
important words, especially in the IELTS writing test, so you need to get them right.
"Affect" is a verb. Don't write "affect on".
Smoking affects your health. (smoking affects on your health)
The Internet is affecting our way of life.
Children are affected by what they see on television.
"Effect" is a noun. Do write "have an effect on".
Smoking has a harmful effect on your health.
The Internet is having a significant effect on our way of life.
Television can have a negative effect on children.
If you use these words correctly, the examiner will be impressed.


IELTS Grammar: simplify to avoid mistakes
Try to correct / improve the following sentences by writing them in a simpler way.
1. There is no doubt that the attraction of video games are catching peoples attraction
easily.
2. In our world today where technologies bound to run in our daily existence, playing
video games plays a vital part to our own society.
3. All RPGs (role-playing games), as the name already suggests, involves the player
assuming a character and controlling the entire process and unlock tasks to advance.
4. On the one hand, it is undoubtedly that video games have offered much more benefits
to human beings.
5. I personally believe that video games seem to have noxious implications.

IELTS Grammar: find the mistakes
Find the mistakes in the following sentences. All of the sentences relate to the graph in this
lesson.
1. Families who do not have cars have decreased from 1971 to 2007.
2. Households without a car percentage gradually decreased.
3. There is a rise can be noted in the proportion of households with two cars.
4. The number of household with no car were well below 50% in 1971.
5. There were least percentage of household who had three or more cars, but it steadily
improved to 5% by 2007.
I'll put my answers in the comments area tomorrow.

Students' grammar questions
Here are a few grammar questions that I've been asked this week:
1. Which is better: "like normal" or "as usual"?
You might hear people say "like normal", but it's much better to use "as usual".
2. What do "in order to" and "in terms of" mean?
A dictionary will explain the meaning of these phrases. However, it's probably more useful to
see some examples of how they are used. A search engine like Google will give you many
more examples than I can.
3. Is it correct to write "it is worth spending maintaining libraries" or "libraries are worth
spending"?
Neither is correct I'm afraid. I would write: "It is worth spending money to maintain libraries"
or "libraries are worth maintaining".
4. Can we put "for example" in the middle of a sentence like this: "There are many
environmental problems, for example, people litter everywhere"?
The use of "for example" in the sentence above is not correct. To avoid confusion, I'd
recommend using "for example" only at the beginning of sentences. Use "such as" in the
middle (e.g. There are many environmental problems, such as air pollution).

Try to correct the mistakes in the following sentences.

1. More proportion of American people in 1970 than in 2000 got married.
2. There are many things easy enough for those young people to do.
3. I am agreed that volunteer work can build up the responsibilities in youngs.
4. Society gets benefitted as the juvenile crime rate reduced.
5. Having a work experience may help to having a job quicker and easier.
PS. Nobody answered this question from Monday's reading lesson:
If a survey showed that "households spent seven hours a day on transporting themselves and
their goods", does this mean that it was "a survey of household expenditure on transport"?

Here are some sentences about this week's writing task 1 question. Can you find and correct
the mistakes? Not all of them are grammar mistakes!
1. There were 51 million pmt incidents than 35 million pmt injuries by bus.
2. In general, both the figures for serious fatalities and injuries were dramatically higher
for the demand response field.
3. The number of people having injuries showed the more popular level than that of
people having incidents.
4. There is a somewhat difference between the number of people using heavy rail and
light rail.
5. The bar chart illustrates the amount of passengers who were been incidents and
injuries travelled by five types of transport such as demand response, bus, heavy rail,
light rail, and commuter rail in 2002.
6. The bus, which is used by almost 80 people, tallied 66 injuries.

7. In three types of rail, being lower than light rail, heavy rail surpassed commuter rail in
the amount of incidents and injuries.
8. Injuries by bus was went up approximately 4 times than commuter rail.

IELTS Grammar: cause and effect
Here are some useful phrases for describing causes and effects (for IELTS Writing Task 2 and
maybe Speaking Part 3). I'll use the topic of 'global warming' to show how the phrases work.
1. Cause and Effect
Pollution causes global warming.
Pollution leads to global warming.
Pollution results in global warming.
Pollution is the main cause of global warming.
Factories pollute the atmosphere. As a result, global warming is occurring.
2. Effect and Cause
Global warming is caused by pollution.
Global warming is the result of pollution.
Global warming is due to pollution.
Global warming occurs as a result of pollution.
Notice the different uses of 'result' (results in, is the result of, as a result). Students make a lot
of mistakes with these phrases.

IELTS Grammar: punctuation
Here are some simple rules to help you with punctuation for IELTS writing:
Full stops
Full stops are very important. Put a clear full stop at the end of each sentence, and then begin
the next sentence with a capital letter. If you don't do this, you will get a low score.
Commas
1. When you start a sentence with these words, put a comma after them:
Nowadays, Recently, Firstly, Secondly, Finally, Furthermore, In addition, Also,
However, By contrast, On the other hand, In my opinion,...
2. We use commas in lists:
e.g. This problem affects individuals, communities and society in general.
3. We don't usually put a comma after the word "that":
e.g. It is clear that the rate of immigration increased.
4. Don't worry about other uses of commas. The use of a comma is often optional in
other situations.
Apostrophes
Avoid contractions in IELTS writing. Use "do not" instead of "don't".
You may sometimes need to show possession e.g. the government's decision.
Other punctuation
You don't really need to use any other punctuation in IELTS writing.
My advice is to avoid trying to use colons and semicolons.

IELTS Grammar: verbs with 'exam'
A lot of students write to me saying "I gave the IELTS test yesterday". Please note that "give
an exam" is not correct.
Don't say:
- I gave an exam.
- I gave the IELTS test.
Do say:
- I took the IELTS exam/test.
- I passed the exam. (i.e. you were successful)
In other words, use "take" not "give".

Try to find and correct the mistakes in these sentences:

1. I agree that we should interest more with our own societies and countries.
2. There three main problems that we need to tackle first, education.
3. You should mention your opinion in the introduction so examiner have some idea
what to expect from your essay.
Feel free to share your corrections as 'comments'. I'll add my answers tomorrow.
Sunday, January 29, 2012

IELTS Grammar: articles
Today I'm attaching some questions that a student asked about articles. You can read my
answers below each question.
Click here to download
Please note that I cannot provide a complete explanation of all article rules and uses.
Grammar books take many pages to do this!
Article rules can become very confusing, so don't worry too much about them. Students who
are good at using articles have normally learnt by copying what they read and hear, rather
than by learning the 'rules'.

IELTS Grammar: capital letters
A few people have asked me about using capital letters in different parts of the IELTS test.
Here's my advice:
In the reading and listening tests, they don't care about capital letters. So you can
write everything in lowercase or in capitals, and it won't affect your score.
In the writing test, try to follow the normal rules for capital letters. Grammar books
and websites explain these rules in detail. Click here to see a website that summarises
the rules quite well.

Find the mistakes in the following sentences:

1. Parents influence on their children and give them many advices.
2. Students need to develop their knowledges and skills.
3. We can use the Internet to do some researches.
4. If we want to find some informations fastly, the Internet is the best resource.
Feel free to share your answers in the "comments" area. I'll give you my answers tomorrow.

IELTS Grammar: 'highest' or 'the highest'?
Most grammar books will tell you that you need "the" before a superlative like "highest" or
"lowest", but this is not always true.
We use "the" when there is a noun after the adjective e.g. the highest number, the
highest proportion.
When we put the noun before, we don't need "the" e.g. the number was highest, the
proportion was highest.
So, compare these 2 sentences:
- The UK had the highest rate of unemployment.

- The unemployment rate was highest in the UK.

Here are some more sentences that contain mistakes. See if you can find them.
Children are not enough mature to make decisions.
Poor parenting has contributed children to misbehave more.
Good parenting encourages children acquire social skills.
Bringing up children and educate them is the responsibility of parents.
Please share your corrections in the "comments" area below this lesson. I'll add my
corrections tomorrow.

IELTS Grammar: number, amount, proportion, figure
Somebody asked me about the difference between these 4 words (for IELTS writing task 1).
I'll try to explain some basic ways to use them.
number
- Use "the number of + plural noun" e.g. the number of visitors.
- Don't use it to describe percentages or uncountable nouns e.g. money.
amount
- Use "the amount of + uncountable noun" e.g. the amount of money.
- Don't use it with countable nouns e.g. the amount of person/people.
proportion
- Only use this to describe percentages (not numbers).
- Use "the proportion of + plural noun" e.g. the proportion of people.
figure
- Use "the figure for + plural noun" e.g. the figure for visitors to the UK.
- Use it with uncountable nouns e.g. the figure for unemployment.
- Use it with countries e.g. the figure for Canada.
- Use it with percentages e.g. the figure (for...) rose to 10%.
Note:
If you've read any of my task 1 essays, you'll see that I like "the figure for" because it can be
used in almost any situation.

IELTS Grammar: using 'see' in writing task 1
A few people have asked me about using 'see' to describe numbers on a graph or chart. Look
at the following sentence:
In Britain, CD sales increased dramatically in the 1980s.
We can write the same sentence in various ways using 'see':
Britain saw a dramatic increase in CD sales in the 1980s.
The 1980s saw a dramatic increase in CD sales in Britain.
British shops saw CD sales increase dramatically in the 1980s.

(23)

Can you correct the mistakes in the following sentences?

1. The pollution and waste that we produce also affect on animals.
2. Many animals are in danger extinction.
3. Traffic congestion in nearly all over the world is on the increase.
4. Most of people who live in cities are suffering from traffic.

5. Schools can make a big part in educating children about this issue.

Can you find the mistakes in the following sentences? You might need to make several
changes.
1. It is clear that, diploma and degree were the most popular qualifications.
2. Parents are usually try to provide their children different alternatives.
3. Most of computer games contain several of violence.
4. The number of people living in cities will be sharply increased.
5. Advertising are widely spread nowadays.

IELTS Grammar: notice your mistakes
Students often don't notice when a teacher corrects their mistakes.

Look at this example of a conversation between a student and a teacher:
Student: I gave the IELTS exam last week.
Teacher: Oh, you mean you took the exam last week?
Student: Yes, I have given the exam twice. (should be 'taken')
The student doesn't notice that the teacher is correcting a mistake. Your teacher can 'give' you
a test or an exam, but you 'take' or 'do' the exam.
When a teacher repeats something that you said in a different way, you probably made a
mistake. Listen carefully, and try to correct yourself.

IELTS Vocabulary: word family for 'compare'
Let's look at the word family for 'compare'. Remember that we are looking at usage, not
meaning (I'm sure you know the meaning of these words).
The graph compares the number of males and females...
10% of males were unemployed, compared to only 8% of females.
The unemployment rate was high in 2008 compared with previous years.
The unemployment rate was high in 2008 in comparison with...
By/in comparison, the unemployment rate in 2008 increased to...
Figures for the USA were comparable with/to those for the UK.
The figure for females was comparatively low, at only 8%.
You've probably noticed that this word family is really useful for writing task 1.
PS. Thanks to Martin for sharing this online dictionary. The 'usage notes' at the bottom of the
page are especially helpful.

IELTS Grammar: word families
If you want to improve your vocabulary knowledge, it's a good idea to study word families.
Let's look at the word family for "different".
1. We usually say different from e.g. A is different from B.

2. The noun is difference e.g. There is a difference between A and B.
3. The verb is differ e.g. A differs from B (or A and B differ).
I'm sure you understood these words, but did you really know how to use them correctly?
We'll look at another word family next week.

The sentences below contain some common mistakes. Try to correct them.
1. The number of holidays abroad was dramatically increased in 2005.
2. The figure was raised again in 2006, but it reduced in 2007.
3. In 2008, the number of foreign holidays was reduced to its lowest point.
What grammar point can we learn by correcting these 3 sentences?
Sunday, June 12, 2011

IELTS Grammar: verb + noun collocations
When deciding whether to give a band 7 in IELTS speaking or writing, one of the things that
examiners look at is your use of collocations.
'Collocation' basically means using the right words together. Many students know a lot of
nouns, but they don't always know the right verbs to use with those nouns.
Here are some useful 'verb + noun' collocations:
to make a mistake (not 'do' a mistake)
to do/carry out/conduct research (not 'make' research, not 'a' research)
to make/take/reach a decision
to have/gain/lack experience
to have/face/experience difficulties
Think about this, especially when you are writing essays. Check in a dictionary to make sure
you have used the right verb with the right noun.

The following sentences contain mistakes. Can you find them?

1. Governments have played an essential place in society.
2. Lack of exercise has bad effects to health.
3. Qualifications lead to get promotions.
4. This may contribute to reach their dreams.
5. The main important thing is to make people aware for this problem.
I'll put my corrections in the "comments" area tomorrow.

Find the mistakes in the sentences below.

1. The graph shows the number of people travelled to and from UK.
2. In 1979, the number of people visited UK was 10 millions.
3. Turkey was the least country in terms of the number of people visiting it.
Feel free to share your answers in the "comments" area below. I'll post my answers tomorrow.

IELTS Grammar: using Google
If you are unsure about the correct way to use a word, Google can often solve the problem.
Here are 2 examples:
1. Yesterday I googled "drink driving" and "drunk driving". Both are correct, but which
is more common?
2. I wanted to explain the use of "having had", so I googled "having had grammar" and
found this page from the BBC.
Google and Wikipedia are two of the best tools for improving your vocabulary and grammar.
Try them the next time you have a language problem.
Sunday, February 20, 2011

IELTS Grammar: more mistakes!
Try to correct the mistakes in the following sentences:

1. I am completely agree that job satisfaction for workers are important.
2. On the other side, maybe it is difficult for all workers to be happy in their jobs.
3. Although, we all need to work in order to pay our bills etc, but we also need to enjoy
our jobs.
Be careful with "although". Most English learners make mistakes with this word.
Sunday, February 13, 2011

Correct the mistakes in the sentences below.

1. With developments in nuclear technology, the risk of accidents are being reduced.
2. Scientists need to make more researches to improve the safety of nuclear power
stations.
3. Using of nuclear power not only does it produce cheap electricity, but also it does not
have any pollution.
I'll put my answers in the "comments" area tomorrow.

The following sentences contain mistakes. Try to correct them.

1. We are friends ever since we first met.
2. If people work in teams can help them to achieve more.
3. If we consider unemployment is another important issue.
4. It is difficult to live in a new country, it is also difficult to speak a new language.
5. Many children behave badly, could be because their parents are not strict enough.

IELTS Grammar: subject + verb
Question: Which of the following is a correct sentence?

1. Learning a foreign language.
2. Firstly, learning a foreign language in order to improve your career prospects.
3. For example, learning a foreign language by living in a country where that language is
spoken, and communicating with native speakers on a daily basis.
Answer: None of these are correct sentences. None of them has a main verb.
To make a sentence, you need a subject (noun/noun phrase) and a verb:
1. I am learning a foreign language. OR, Learning a foreign language is useful.
2. Firstly, many people learn a foreign language in order to improve their career
prospects.
3. For example, some people learn a foreign language by living in a country where that
language is spoken and communicating with native speakers on a daily basis.
Some students really need to work on writing correct "subject + verb" sentences. Missing the
verb in a sentence is a serious mistake that will definitely affect your score.

IELTS Grammar: while, whilst, whereas, as
Joshua asked me the following question:

"Can you explain while, whilst, whereas, as? Either can be used to connect two sentences,
but I am not sure how to identify them and quite often I use them wrongly."
Here's my simplified explanation:
1. While and whilst are the same, but whilst is a bit more formal (according to one
famous grammar book).
2. Whereas is always used for contrast. While/whilst can be used for contrast, OR to
mean "at the same time".
3. As can mean "because" or "exactly at the moment when".
Try to write an example sentence using each of these words. Feel free to share your sentences
in the "comments" area below.

IELTS Grammar: 'however' and 'whereas'
You can't use 'however' and 'whereas' in the same way. Follow these general rules in order to
avoid grammar mistakes:
Use 'however' (followed by a comma) at the beginning of a sentence to contrast with the
previous sentence:
Some people believe that schools are responsible for the behaviour of their students.
However, others argue that discipline is the responsibility of parents.
Use 'whereas' (after a comma) to contrast two ideas in the same sentence:
Some people believe that schools are responsible for the behaviour of their students,
whereas others argue that discipline is the responsibility of parents.
You can use 'on the other hand' or 'by contrast' in the same way as 'however'. You can use
'while' instead of 'whereas'.

IELTS Grammar: 'because of'
Last week I looked at how to use the word 'because'. One of my students then asked me to
explain the difference between 'because' and 'because of'.
Compare these two sentences:
I stayed at home because the weather was bad.
I stayed at home because of the bad weather.
The important difference is the use of the word 'was' in the first sentence. After 'because', you
need a subject and a verb (e.g. the weather was). After 'because of', we don't use a verb, only
a noun, nouns or noun phrase.

IELTS Grammar: because
Students often make mistakes when using the word "because". You can't use "because" to
connect ideas in two separate sentences. Put both the main idea and the reason in the same
sentence.
Which sentence is NOT correct?

1. Some children behave badly at school because their parents are too lenient at home.
2. Because parents are often too lenient at home, discipline in schools is becoming more
difficult to enforce.
3. Children's behaviour is getting worse nowadays. Because parents are not strict
enough.

IELTS Grammar: linking with "this"
All students learn to link ideas using words like "however", "furthermore" etc. Most students
don't realise that the word "this" is also a linking word. Look at the following examples:
Nowadays, people can use the Internet, fax and mobile phones to work from home. In
this way, people who do not have access to transport can find employment.
Most products are built to last only a short time, and this creates a "throw-away"
culture.
A global economy means free trade between countries. This can strengthen political
relationships.
The word "this" refers to the sentence or idea that came before. "This" helps you to link ideas
and avoid repetition. Native speakers and good writers use "this" a lot, and the IELTS
examiner will be impressed if you can use it.

IELTS Grammar: fall or reduce?
These two words are the opposites of 'rise' and 'raise' (see last week's grammar lesson):
something falls (e.g. the price fell)
somebody reduces something (e.g. the company reduced the price)
You will probably use 'fall' to describe numbers on a graph or chart for IELTS Writing Task 1:
In 2008, the number of customers fell. (verb, past)
There was a sharp fall in Internet usage. (noun)
'Reduce' and 'reduction' are probably more useful for Writing Task 2:
We need to reduce the amount of pollution from exhaust fumes. (verb)
Recycling leads to a reduction in waste. (noun)

IELTS Grammar: before or ago?
Don't say: I came to Manchester before two weeks.

Do say: I came to Manchester two weeks ago.
Use "past time + ago"
10 years ago, a long time ago, a few weeks ago, a couple of days ago
Use "before + action / event"
before you left, before we start, before lunch
Don't use "before + past time" (before two weeks, before three days)

IELTS Grammar: some typical mistakes
Find 5 common mistakes in the paragraph below:

Some people believe that, all police officers should carry a gun. While, others disagree with
this idea, and argue that it is intimidating to see armed police officers on the streets. From my
view, the advantages of police officers carrying guns have overweighed the disadvantages.
Because the police need to be able to protect both themselves and the general public.
Feel free to share your answers in the "comments" area below. I'll reveal the correct answers
tomorrow.

IELTS Writing Book

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Sunday, December 20, 2015

A note about grammar

IELTS Grammar: superlative without 'the' (part 2)

My highest IELTS score was...

His fastest running time was...

Britain's oldest person is...

2) Miss "the" if the noun is before (not after) the superlative:

3) Miss "the" when the meaning is "at its..." or "at their...":

Revenue from bananas was (at its) highest in the UK.

Temperatures are (at their) warmest in the south of the country.

The London underground is the oldest.

Saturday, December 19, 2015

Sunday, December 13, 2015

made the spontaneous decision

we could not have chosen a better restaurant

the ceremony had taken place

we were relieved to have finally (+ past participle)

we were in good hands

friendly and obliging

such a memorable evening

Saturday, December 05, 2015

Sunday, November 15, 2015

Here are the phrases to use:

Sunday, November 01, 2015

Can you correct the mistakes in the following conditional sentences?

Saturday, October 31, 2015

each episode featured

the DVD box set

it was advertised repeatedly

it was aired (means 'it was shown on TV')

the trailers were eye-catching

incredibly beautiful images

the voice of the narrator

to film such interesting creatures in so many locations

opened my eyes to the hidden wonders of our planet

Saturday, October 24, 2015

certain key subject areas

the courses of their choice

from a personal perspective

on the societal level

job opportunities, career progression, better salaries

knowledge and skill gaps are covered

greater future prosperity

passionate about what they are learning

value creative thinking skills above practical or technical skills

if this were the case

I personally prefer the current system in which...

Posted by Simon in Vocabulary/Grammar | Permalink | Comments (10)

Sunday, September 20, 2015

Sunday, September 06, 2015

Sunday, August 30, 2015

- In 2024, a third building will be constructed. (simple future, passive)

Sunday, August 16, 2015

Saturday, August 15, 2015

clogs up the main street

congestion, noise and pollution

pressure from local people

bring a problem to light

come up with some possible designs

a safer and more pleasant place

a positive knock-on effect

Posted by Simon in Vocabulary/Grammar | Permalink | Comments (5)

Saturday, July 25, 2015