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Basic Grammar Rules for IELTS (PART 1)

Successfully passing the IELTS exam requires good grammar knowledge. Grammar is assessed in all four modules of the test: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. To help you prepare, we will cover some key grammar rules that can improve your results.

1. Verb Tenses

Present Simple

Used for regular actions, general truths, and habits.
Example: "I study English every day."

  • Usage: Describe things you do regularly or facts.
  • Structure: Subject + base form of the verb (add 's' or 'es' for he, she, it).

Past Simple

Used for actions completed in the past.
Example: "I studied English yesterday."

  • Usage: Talk about actions or events that happened and finished in the past.
  • Structure: Subject + past form of the verb (regular verbs end in -ed; irregular verbs have unique forms).

Future Simple

Used for actions that will happen in the future.
Example: "I will study English tomorrow."

  • Usage: Discuss future actions or plans.
  • Structure: Subject + will + base form of the verb.

Present Perfect

Used for actions that started in the past and continue to the present or were completed recently.
Example: "I have studied English for three years."

  • Usage: Show a connection between past actions and the present, or actions that happened at an unspecified time.
  • Structure: Subject + have/has + past participle of the verb.

Past Perfect

Used for actions that were completed before a certain point in the past.
Example: "I had studied English before I moved to England."

  • Usage: Describe an action that was completed before another past action.
  • Structure: Subject + had + past participle of the verb.

2. Modal Verbs

Can, Could, May, Might, Shall, Should, Will, Would, Must, Ought to: These verbs are used to express possibility, probability, necessity, and other modalities.
Example: "I can speak English." (possibility)
"I should study more." (advice)

  • Usage: Express ability, permission, obligation, or advice.
  • Structure: Modal verb + base form of the verb.

3. Passive Voice

Used when the focus is on the object of the action, not the subject.
Example: "The book was read by millions of people."

  • Usage: Emphasize the action or the receiver of the action, rather than who performed it.
  • Structure: Object + form of "to be" + past participle of the verb.

4. Sequence of Tenses

When using multiple verbs in a sentence, it is important to correctly sequence the tenses.
Example: "I knew that she had been studying English."

  • Usage: Ensure that the tenses logically fit together in complex sentences.
  • Structure: Match the tenses appropriately based on the timing of actions.

5. Prepositions

Correct use of prepositions is very important.
Example: "I live in a house." vs. "I live on the street."

  • Usage: Indicate relationships in time, place, and direction.
  • Common Prepositions: in, on, at, by, for, with, about, against, between, among.

6. Articles

Use of definite (the) and indefinite (a, an) articles.
Example: "I saw a dog." vs. "I saw the dog."

  • Usage: Specify whether you are talking about something specific or general.
  • Structure:
    • Use 'a' or 'an' for something non-specific (an apple, a book).
    • Use 'the' for something specific (the apple, the book).

7. Subject-Verb Agreement

The verb must agree with the subject in number and person.
Example: "She walks to school." vs. "They walk to school."

  • Usage: Ensure that verbs correctly match the subject.
  • Structure: Singular subjects take singular verbs, plural subjects take plural verbs.

8. Subordinate Clauses

Use different types of subordinate clauses to connect ideas.
Example: "I know that you are studying." (noun clause)
"When she arrived, I was studying." (adverb clause of time)

  • Usage: Provide additional information within a sentence.
  • Types:
    • Noun Clauses: Act as a subject, object, or complement (e.g., "What she said was surprising.").
    • Adjective Clauses: Describe a noun (e.g., "The book that you gave me is interesting.").
    • Adverb Clauses: Describe a verb, adjective, or another adverb (e.g., "She cried because she was sad.").

9.Word Formation

Correct use of nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs.
Example: "happy" (adjective) vs. "happiness" (noun) vs. "happily" (adverb).

  • Usage: Use different forms of words appropriately to fit the sentence.
  • Structure:
    • Adjectives describe nouns (happy child).
    • Nouns name things or concepts (happiness).
    • Adverbs describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs (happily).

10. Punctuation

Punctuation helps structure the text and clarify meaning.
Example: "Let's eat, grandma!" vs. "Let's eat grandma!"

  • Usage: Clarify the meaning of sentences.
  • Common Punctuation Marks: periods (.), commas (,), question marks (?), exclamation marks (!), quotation marks (" "), and others.

Conclusion

These basic grammar rules will help you feel more confident in the IELTS exam. Practice regularly, read in English, and pay attention to how grammatical structures are used in texts. The more you practice, the better your skills will become, which will be reflected in your exam results.

Remember, good grammar is the foundation of successful communication in any language. Good luck on your exam!

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