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. Try to avoid this mistake in writing task 1 - examiners notice it!
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.
hi simon
how should i pronounce the sentence
"820199 piece of cake ....."
i mean , is it true to say :
eight hundred and twenty thousand and one hundred ninety nine
or i should add s after hundred,thousand
thanks
Posted by: kusay | October 11, 2012 at 09:19
Kusay, the correct way to say it is eight hundred and twenty thousand one hundred and ninety-nine
Posted by: Syrym | October 11, 2012 at 09:30
Thank you first of all.
I have a confusion hope you will help me out .Whether its good to express our opinion in the conclusion or throughout the essay in discussion with opinion essay.
Thanks
Posted by: saraswati | October 11, 2012 at 10:26
Hi saraswati,
Simon said before,we do not need to save our opinion until the end of the essay as examiners dont like any Surprise conclusion!Just state your opinion in your main paragraph,have a look at writing task 2,you will see some sample essays provided by simon!
^^ Good luck!
Posted by: yap | October 11, 2012 at 10:45
Thanks YAP..I have one more question for Simon is milloins of dollar correct of million of dollars..
Thanks
Posted by: saraswati | October 11, 2012 at 12:27
Hi simon,
I am practacing some mistake sentences in this blog and I came across this one:
The pollution and waste we produce affect animals.
Pollution and waste are both uncountable nouns, but becouse there are two uncountable nouns in the sentence shouldn't the verb be plural?
SARASWATI:
it is 10 million of ...
and millions of ... (without a number you add -s to million. for example: millions of dollars are wasted on something.
TIP for other students:
It took me a while to figure out that many words have an uncountable and countable version. For example cost and costs. I think it is a good idea to study this as well.
Posted by: Wietske | October 11, 2012 at 12:42
@yap,
Wrong, You need to state your opinion in Introduction and Conclusion.
Thank you,
HP
Posted by: HP | October 11, 2012 at 14:37
HP :
Thx ^^
Sorry that i misunderstand the question Saraswati ask.
I thought that he/she ask 'Express our opinion' and think that express our opinion is use to write main paragraphs.
Sorry too,saraswati!Hope you will see the error i have made!
Posted by: yap | October 11, 2012 at 15:12
Hello Simon,
I have been practising through your blog from past two months and today i have the IELTS exam.I must say that this site had been very useful to me for all the modules.Thanks for providing us this useful material.I HAVE A QUERY PLEASE HELP TO SORT THAT OUT.
The question for task 2 was:
In some societies consumer goods are relatively cheaper.
Do you think its advantages outweigh disadvantages.
COULD YOU PLEASE TELL ME THAT I ADMITTED IN INTRODUCTION THAT ADVANTAGES OUTWEIGH DISADVANTAGES BUT I SUPPORTED BOTH SIDES WITH EQUAL POINTS. WOULD IT AFFECT MY SCORE?
PLEASE REPLY..
Posted by: MANISHA | October 11, 2012 at 15:22
sorry i took the ielts exam...
Posted by: MANISHA | October 11, 2012 at 15:24
Dear Manisha,
I do not think it will not affect your score.
Please see the link below:
http://ielts-simon.com/ielts-help-and-english-pr/2011/09/ielts-writing-task-2-do-the-advantages-outweigh.html
Hope this help,
Good luck for your result,
HP
Posted by: HP | October 11, 2012 at 17:27
Oh my bad! I mean I do not think it will affect your score. Sorry :D
HP
Posted by: HP | October 11, 2012 at 17:30
Hi Manisha,
Where was your IELTS test center?
Posted by: Swams | October 12, 2012 at 00:02
One question about listening..
If i wrote Northernstar instead of Northern Star(which is the correct answer),would it mark as wrong?
Posted by: yap | October 12, 2012 at 05:32
@swams it was at MAURYA SHERETON
@ HP THANKS FOR YOUR REPLY.HOPE I WOULD GET THE REQUIRED BAND.
Posted by: manisha | October 12, 2012 at 05:58
@swams i mean in INDIA.
Posted by: manisha | October 12, 2012 at 06:02
Hi simon and all,
i got question about how to correctly use one tenth and one out of ten to replace with 10% of people for example.Could anyone make some examples for me, cheers.
Posted by: sonny | October 12, 2012 at 08:50
Thanks Manisha...best of luck for your results..!
Posted by: Swams | October 12, 2012 at 09:18
FROM SIMON:
I'm afraid I no longer have time to answer everyone's questions individually. However, I do still read them all, and I try to answer some questions in a lesson once a week (usually Saturdays).
Posted by: Simon | October 17, 2012 at 13:49
Hi Simon,
I have got my IELTS General Training result today and I scored 6.0 in writing. I need to improve it somehow and will take IELTS again in a month time. Please help me and let me know from where should I prepare so that I can get at least 7.0? I have written nearly 345 words in task 2. Is it bad for me or writing more than 250 words is fine?
My Previous writing exam (held on Feb. 02, 2013) has the following topics:
-----------------------
WRITING TASK 1
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
You are applying for a job and need a letter of reference from someone who knew you when you were at school.
Write a letter to one of your old teachers asking for a reference. In your letter:
- describe a job you have applied for
- explain why you want this job
- suggest what information the teacher should include
Write at least 150 words.
Begin your letter as follows:
Dear __________
--------------------
WRITING TASK 2
Some people think that parents should teach children how to be good members of society. Others, however, believe that school is the place to learn this.
Discuss both of these views and give your own opinion.
=======================
Posted by: Rohit | February 15, 2013 at 13:08
About 19 million tons wheat in Canada was exported in 1985.
Canada exported around 19 million tons wheat in 1985.
The number for wheat exports in Australia was 15 million tons, lower than in Canada.
Wheat exports in Canada increased by about 5 million tons in 1988.
Posted by: Keddie Z. | June 30, 2016 at 14:51
Please check my essay on why we need music?...
Music is a food for soul. Music is very important way of relaxation of mind. Now-a-days music is a need of everyone to get rid from all the worries, depression, tiredness of work and so. If we are depressed or feeling alone so music is the best companion for removing the loneliness and depression. Doesn’t matter either we are listening a traditional music or international music. Both music’s are good for listening and enjoyment. But first we should know about our country's traditions, habits, cultures, food and life style. Basically traditional music is a representation of a country that “what are their traditions? How is their living style?” But according to my point of view we should provoke our country's traditional music so that our new generation will know more about the country otherwise they wouldn’t be able to tell anyone about their traditions and cultures. Music is the best way to explore the our views and ideas about our traditions and cultures. If we look in our surroundings, we will find most of children and adults they are influenced by the international music they don’t have any interest in their country. They want to be a part of international music. If everyone does like this then who will sing for the own country ? Who will spread the traditions and cultures of a country through the music to others? So in my point of view first we provoke our own country’s music then to others. By listening international music ,we know about others customs and traditions. So both music’s are important for relaxation of mind and getting information about others and own country.
Posted by: Usama | July 12, 2016 at 06:37