ielts-simon.com

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. You should learn to use both forms correctly.

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)

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.

IELTS Grammar: correct the mistakes

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.

IELTS Grammar: correct the mistakes

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.

Can you write an error-free sentence?

Yes? How about an error-free paragraph? That's not so easy.

If you want to get a band 7 or higher for IELTS writing, the examiner needs to see that you "regularly write error-free sentences". This means that some (maybe half) of the sentences in your essays should contain no mistakes.

The best way to improve your grammatical accuracy is by learning from your mistakes. Try to find a teacher or native speaker who can check your work and highlight the errors. Then make sure you understand the mistakes you made, and try to avoid making them again. Aim to write more error-free sentences each time you write an essay.

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.

IELTS Grammar: correct the mistakes

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.

Please share your corrections in the "comments" area below this lesson. I'll add my corrections tomorrow.

IELTS Grammar: correct the mistakes

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.

Please share your corrections in the "comments" area below this lesson. I'll add my corrections tomorrow.

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 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: 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 Grammar: 'by' or 'to'

In IELTS writing task 1, you might need to use verbs like increase, decrease, rise and fall. These verbs can be followed by the words 'by' and 'to', but what's the difference?

Let's use these figures:
Company profit in 2005 = £20,000
Company profit in 2010 = £25,000

Now compare these sentences:
- Company profit rose to £25,000 in 2010.
- Company profit rose by £5,000 between 2005 and 2010.

It's easy: 'to' is used before the new figure, and 'by' is used to show the change. It's the same when you are talking about a fall.

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.

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? Both 'prime' and 'primary' can mean 'main' or 'important', and there is no grammar rule to explain which one is best.

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: correct the mistakes

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 children’s 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: correct the mistakes

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?

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.

IELTS Grammar: correct the mistakes

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.

IELTS Grammar: double, twice as, twofold

A few students have asked me about how to use 'double', 'twice as', 'three times', 'twofold', 'threefold' etc. Compare how each word/phrase is used in the following examples:

1. 'double' (verb)

The number of unemployed people doubled between 2005 and 2009.

2. 'twice as...as/compared to', 'three times as...as/compared to'

There were twice as many unemployed people in 2009 as in 2005.
Twice as many people were unemployed in 2009 compared to 2005.

3. 'twofold', 'threefold' (adjective or adverb)

There was a twofold increase in the number of unemployed people between 2005 and 2009. (adjective with the noun 'increase')
The number of unemployed people increased twofold between 2005 and 2009. (adverb with the verb 'increase')

Try using these forms in your own sentences. Make sure you follow the patterns.

IELTS Grammar: correct the mistakes

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: 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?

IELTS Grammar: million or millions?

Students often make mistakes with thousands, millions and billions. It might seem strange, but you should say "10 million" not "10 millions". It's the same with hundred, thousand and billion.

Correct: 10 million people
Wrong: 10 millions people, 10 millions of people, 10 million of people

Note:
When there is no number, we do write "millions of".
e.g. Millions of people travel abroad each year.

IELTS Grammar: find the mistakes

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.

IELTS Grammar: 'perfect' homework

Students often make simple mistakes that could be avoided. In the exam you don't have much time, but there is no excuse for not checking your homework!

IELTS Writing homework should not be a test. You should aim to write "perfect" essays. Check everything carefully. Homework is an opportunity to learn and improve, not just a test of your current level.

IELTS Grammar: 2 common mistakes

Here are 2 mistakes that I've seen a lot recently:

• Using "although" wrongly
• Always putting a comma after "that"

Look at these incorrect sentences:

1. Although, tourism has many benefits, but it also has several drawbacks.
2. Many people believe that, parents should be strict.

Now look at the correct sentences:

1. Although tourism has many benefits, it also has several drawbacks.
2. Many people believe that parents should be strict.

If you want to improve your level of English (and your IELTS band), it's important to notice small mistakes like this, and try not to make them again.

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.