When it comes to IELTS English Writing and Speaking tests, grammar plays an important role. But grammar stresses out many students, as it can be confusing and complicated. Needless to say, basic English grammar rules play an essential role in both the IELTS Academic and General tests. Grammar helps you understand complicated expressions that require the correct order or structure of words.
Even though grammar is not tested directly in the IELTS exam, it helps you achieve better scores in all the four tests of IELTS – Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking. Moreover, grammar is one of the score-deciding factors in both Writing and Speaking IELTS tests.
We have prepared a list of essential IELTS grammar tips for you to achieve the desired band score.
1. Read
Reading is one of the best ways to improve your grammar. Constant reading of words and phrases helps you learn and remember grammatical structures easily. By reading the passage or articles aloud, you can strengthen your English speaking skills. The combination of hearing, speaking, and reading solidifies your learning. Moreover, reading helps you get familiar with the rhythm of English, and with time it helps you notice when a sentence or a phrase doesn’t seem correct.
2. Purchase a grammar guide
It is useful to have a grammar guide/book to refer to while preparing for the IELTS exam. This way, you can quickly refer to the grammar guide when you are confused about the correct sentence structure/usage. Infact, there are many online resources available to help for free. You just need to find the right website.
3. Revise your basics
It is vital to spend some time learning and reviewing the basic grammatical rules. Read more on parts of speech and tenses. Students generally make careless grammatical mistakes in the test.
4. Practise
There are many online and offline resources available to enhance your IELTS grammar skills. Many students struggle while speaking and writing because they don’t know that they need to work on their grammar. The mere act of taking a practice test can help you improve your grammatical skills. After revising your basics, look at the examples provided after the rules and then develop your sentences. Ensure you have used the rules in your sentences. Then try to grammatical structure your writing tasks. It will help you navigate through your mistakes and bring improvements.
5. Proofread your answers
By re-reading the answers, you can ensure that the answers are entirely free of errors and polished according to the IELTS test standards. Without it, there are high chances that your answers might contain some grammatical errors such as misspelled words, grammar mistakes, and incorrect punctuation.
6. Practice writing
The more you practice writing answers, the more effortlessly you’ll be able to write. It also helps you connect your ideas with correct conjugations, improve your sentence construction, and get familiar with verb tenses.
IELTS Grammar for Beginners
The basic part of speech is the building block of every sentence you speak and write.
1. Noun
A noun is a name, place, animal or thing. It can be singular or plural or possessive.
Example:
- The book is filled with intrigue and interest.
- Please light the fire.
2. Pronouns
A pronoun is a word that takes the place of a noun.
Example:
- It is filled with intrigue.
- Please light their fire.
3. Verbs
A verb shows actions and can be a main verb (like ‘run’, ‘sit’) or a helping verb (like ‘were’, ‘has’).
Verbs also indicate tenses and change their form to show past, present, or future tense.
Example:
- Alex seemed excited when reading the new book.
- Mark has walked through the woods before.
4. Adjectives
An adjective modifies a noun or pronoun. It adds meaning by telling which one or what kind, or describing it in other ways.
Example:
- Lia wore a pair of faded jeans.
- This black coffee tastes amazing.
5. Adverbs
An adverb modifies a verb and shares more information about it, including how much, when, why, or how.
-
He arrived early on the first day of school.
-
I almost missed the ball.
6. Prepositions
A preposition demonstrates a relationship between nouns and pronouns. It is often used with nouns to indicate location. A preposition must always be followed by a noun or pronoun.
Example:
- The ball is beside the table.
- Take the bag in the living room.
7. Conjunctions
Conjunctions connect two words or phrases.
Example:
- Take the salad dressing but leave the pasta.
- He likes leafy greens, tomatoes, and cucumbers.
