IELTS Grammar Guide
Focus on the essential grammar areas frequently tested in IELTS and crucial for achieving a higher band score in Writing and Speaking.
Key Grammar Topics
Accurate use of tenses is fundamental. Focus on:
- Present Simple vs. Present Continuous: For habits, facts vs. actions happening now.
- Past Simple vs. Present Perfect: For completed past actions vs. actions with present relevance.
- Past Perfect: For actions completed before another past action.
- Future Forms: `will`, `be going to`, Present Continuous for future arrangements.
Example areas: Describing trends in Task 1, discussing past experiences in Speaking Part 2, expressing future plans.
Correct use of articles is often challenging but important for clarity.
- `a/an`: For singular, countable, non-specific nouns.
- `the`: For specific nouns (already mentioned, unique, defined).
- Zero Article (no article): For plural countable nouns (general sense) and uncountable nouns.
Example areas: General statements in Task 2 essays, specific references in descriptions.
Using conditionals allows you to express hypothetical situations, possibilities, and regrets.
- Type 1 (Real Present/Future): `If + present simple, ... will + base verb`
- Type 2 (Unreal Present/Future): `If + past simple, ... would + base verb`
- Type 3 (Unreal Past): `If + past perfect, ... would have + past participle`
Example areas: Discussing potential solutions in Task 2, speculating in Speaking Part 3.
Useful when the action is more important than the doer, or when the doer is unknown.
- Form: `be + past participle` (in various tenses, e.g., `is built`, `was developed`, `will be required`).
Example areas: Describing processes in Task 1 Academic, formal writing in Task 2.