IELTS Writing Task 2: vocabulary and grammar review

Let's review some of the good topic vocabulary from the three media essay that I shared recently.

Remember: these are collocations and phrases, not big or 'academic' words.

• the most powerful of these media
• not the best medium
• a much more effective medium
• the most dynamic of these media
• its ability to communicate information
• the communication of up-to-date information
• reliable sources of information
• research a subject in depth
• news broadcasts
• what the broadcaster is describing
• events as they happen
• events as they take place
• no visual element
• brings us closer to reality
• the body language of a politician
• interrupted by advertisements
• presented in limited depth
• excellent communication tools
• an even greater impact on the viewer

And here's a task for grammar fans. Can you find the following in the essay?

1. a noun phrase added on the end of a sentence (after a comma)
2. a compound sentence
3. a complex sentence
4. three different verb tenses
5. three pronouns that refer back to nouns
6. a relative pronoun
7. two examples of passive verbs
8. extra information surrounded by commas
9. use of a semicolon to link two related sentences
10. an extra clause added on the end of a sentence (after a comma)

Comments

[Sunil]

Hello everyone, I also have a question. I want to understand that while writing this sentence "more than from other nationalities", why the author used hyphens instead of commas? Is there a particular rule that governs the use of hyphen vs commas, or we can use them interchangeably?

Sentence -

A global survey of recreational drug-use, which for the first time polled respondents from India, has found that Indians — more than from other nationalities — are seeking help to reduce their alcohol intake.

[Pachu]

1 , namely books,radio and television.
in terms of its ability to communicate information.

2 People tend to refer to books when they want to research a subject in depth,and for this reason they continue to play an important role in education.On the other hand,
books quickly go out of date, and therefore they are not the best medium for
communicating news stories.
compound complex sentence-We can listen to news broadcasts about events as they happen, and a key benefit of radio is that we can listen to it while doing other activities, such as driving or
working.
8.The main drawback of radio, when compared to books or television, is that there
is no visual element; we cannot see what the broadcaster is describing.
3. complex sentence-In my opinion, television is the most dynamic of these three media because it brings us closer to reality than a book or radio programme ever can.
6.who is being interviewed.The disadvantages of television are that
programmes tend to be short and interrupted by advertisements, meaning that information
is presented in limited depth.
7 are usually considered. is being interviewed.
9 is that there is no visual element; we cannot see what the broadcaster is describing.
4. will discuss,will argue, tend to , can listen,compared
5 it,these,they

[Pachu]

For vocabulary : types of collocations
.the most powerful of these media.Adj + Noun
.not the best medium.Adj + Noun
.a much more effective medium.Adj+ Noun
.the most dynamic of these media-Adj + Noun
.its ability to communicate information-Noun + verb
.the communication of up-to-date information.Noun + preposition
.reliable sources of information.Adj + noun + expression
.research a subject in depth- Verb + Noun
.news broadcasts. Noun + Verb
.what the broadcaster is describing-noun + Verb
.events as they happen-Event collocation
.events as they take place- Event collocation
.no visual element- Adj + noun
.brings us closer to reality- Verb + Noun
.the body language of a politician- Noun + Noun
.interrupted by advertisements- Verb + Noun
.presented in limited depth-Verb + preposition
.excellent communication tools- Noun + Noun
.an even greater impact on the viewer- Adj + Noun

[Zoe]

Sunil

In general, it is not a good idea to use dashes (which are longer than hyphens) in your IELTS exam writing. If you must insert information out of order, use parentheses (brackets) as above. However, in scholarly writing, ideas should be expressed in as linear an order as possible, so organize your points so that there is a clear logical progression.

There are notes on dashes and colons here:
https://www.grammarly.com/blog/dash/

But in general there is no need for them in IELTS.

[Sunil]

Zoe,

Thanks a lot for clarifying. I took this line from an article published by one of the reputed newspapers, and that is why I wanted to understand more about its structure. I think I have got the answer.

Regards
Sunil

[Khang]

hi Simon,
I would have a question to ask. should I use phrasal verbs in my essay

[Khe]

Khang

https://ielts-simon.com/ielts-help-and-english-pr/2014/07/ielts-grammar-are-phrasal-verbs-ok.html

[Nora]

a noun phrase added on the end of a sentence (after a comma) television can have an even greater impact on the viewer

a compound sentence we can watch events as they take place on the other side of the world, or we can see the body language of a politician

a complex sentence The main drawback of radio, when compared to books or television, is that there is no visual element

three different verb tenses books quickly go out of date/ the broadcaster is describing/ This essay will discuss

three pronouns that refer back to nouns it brings us/ they are not the best medium/ its ability to communicate information

a relative pronoun a politician who is being interviewed

two examples of passive verbs information is presented/ programmes tend to be interrupted by

extra information surrounded by commas The main drawback of radio, when compared to books or television, is that there is no visual element

use of a semicolon to link two related sentences is that there is no visual element; we cannot see what the broadcaster is describing

an extra clause added on the end of a sentence (after a comma) programmes tend to be short and interrupted by advertisements, meaning that information is presented in limited depth.