Grammar in IELTS Speaking

Introduction

Grammar is the conventions of presenting language and is an aid to communication. Grammar is one of the tools of language but is not the purpose, which is to communicate well. The aim of all IELTS students should be to use the conventions of the language that are used by native speakers. Native speakers in all languages express ideas in the simplest way possible, and students should do the same. Keeping language as simple as possible aids communication and helps avoid confusion. Using unnecessarily complex grammar can confuse native speakers because it is not standard language. This is particularly true if the vocabulary used is not precise. If a student confuses the examiner, it will have a significant impact on their score.

TIP: Keep grammatical structures as simple as possible.

Common Grammar Errors

I) Verb Tense Mistakes

Error: “Yesterday, I go to the store.” instead of “Yesterday, I went to the store.”

Misuse of past, present, and future tenses is common, particularly with irregular verbs.

Explanation:

1. Master the Basic Tenses: Present Simple (e.g., “I study”) for habits and facts. Past Simple (e.g., “I studied”) for completed past actions. Future Simple (e.g., “I will study”) for future actions.
2. Understand Perfect Tenses: Present Perfect (e.g., “I have studied”) for actions that happened at an unspecified time in the past or have a connection to the present. Past Perfect (e.g., “I had studied”) to show that one past action happened before another. Future Perfect (e.g., “I will have studied by 5 PM”) for actions that will be completed before a certain future time.

TIP: Make sure to match your tense to the time reference. For instance, use the past tense for actions that occurred in the past (“Yesterday, I went to the park”) and future tense for upcoming events (“Tomorrow, I will visit my friend”).

II) Subject-Verb Agreement

Error: “He go to school every day.” instead of “He goes to school every day.”

Non-native speakers often struggle with ensuring that the verb agrees with the subject, particularly with third-person singular forms.

Explanation:

1. Identify the Subject Correctly: The first step is to correctly identify the subject of the sentence. The verb must agree with the main subject, not with any words that come between the subject and the verb.
2. Match Singular Subjects with Singular Verbs: A singular subject takes a singular verb (usually ending in “-s” in the present tense). Example: “She runs every morning.”
3. Match Plural Subjects with Plural Verbs: A plural subject takes a plural verb (the verb typically does not have an “-s” ending). Example: “They run every morning.”
4. Watch Out for Collective Nouns: Collective nouns (e.g., family, team, audience) can be tricky because they refer to a group of people or things but are usually treated as singular in American English. Example: “The team wins the game.” (singular)
5. Be Careful with Indefinite Pronouns: Singular indefinite pronouns (e.g., everyone, someone, nobody) take singular verbs. Example: “Everyone is invited to the party.”
6. Pay Attention to Compound Subjects: Compound subjects joined by “and” are generally plural and take a plural verb. Example: “John and Mary are going to the store.”
7. Handle “There is” and “There are” Correctly: With sentences starting with there is or there are, the subject comes after the verb, so the verb must agree with the following subject. Example: “There is a book on the table.”
8. Ignore Words Between the Subject and Verb: Ignore any intervening words or phrases between the subject and verb, as they do not affect the verb’s agreement with the subject. Example: “The book, along with the notes, is on the table.”
9. Be Careful with Titles and Plural Forms: Titles of books, movies, companies, or other works are usually singular, even if they appear plural. Example: “The Chronicles of Narnia is a popular series.”
10. Double-Check Inverted Sentences: In sentences where the subject comes after the verb (common in questions or with “here” or “there”), make sure to check the subject-verb agreement. Example: “Where are the documents?”
11. Be Careful with “Each” and “Every”: “Each” and “every” take singular verbs, even when followed by a plural noun. Example: “Every student and teacher has a role to play.”
12. Check for Agreement in Relative Clauses: When using relative pronouns like “who,” “which,” or “that,” ensure the verb agrees with the noun the pronoun refers to. Example: “She is one of the students who are always on time.”

By following these rules and paying close attention to the subject and its relationship with the verb, you can avoid many subject-verb agreement mistakes in English. Regular practice and reviewing your sentences will help improve accuracy over time.

III) Preposition Misuse

Error: “I am waiting you.” instead of “I am waiting for you.”

Prepositions can be challenging because different languages use prepositions differently, leading to incorrect use or omission in English.

Explanation:

1. Learn Prepositions with Verbs, Adjectives, and Nouns: Some verbs, adjectives, and nouns require specific prepositions. Memorizing these combinations can help reduce mistakes. Example: “Depend on” (not “depend of”).
2. Understand Time Prepositions: At: Used for specific times (e.g., “at 6 p.m.”). On: Used for days and dates (e.g., “on Monday”). In: Used for longer periods (e.g., “in the morning”).
3. Understand Place Prepositions: At: Used for specific points or locations (e.g., “at the door”). In: Used for enclosed spaces (e.g., “in the room”). On: Used for surfaces or specific lines (e.g., “on the table”).
4. Pay Attention to Prepositions in Phrasal Verbs: Phrasal verbs (verbs followed by prepositions or adverbs) have meanings different from the individual words, and the prepositions used can change the meaning. Example: “Look up” (search for information).
5. Avoid Direct Translation from Other Languages: If English isn’t your first language, be cautious of translating prepositions directly. English prepositions don’t always align with those in other languages.
6. Use Prepositions of Direction Correctly: Prepositions of direction indicate movement, and they differ from location prepositions. Example: To: Use when moving toward a destination (e.g., “I’m going to the store”).
7. Watch for Collocations with Prepositions: Some words tend to “collocate” with certain prepositions in common expressions. Example: “In advance,” not “on advance.”
8. Use Prepositions of Cause and Purpose Correctly: For: Indicates purpose or reason (e.g., “This gift is for you”). Because of: Indicates a cause or reason (e.g., “I missed the meeting because of the traffic”).
9. Watch Out for Preposition Omission: In some cases, non-native speakers may omit prepositions where they are required. Example: “She is interested in art” (not “She is interested art”).

IV) Word Order

Error: “I like really it.” instead of “I really like it.”

The sentence structure in English may differ from that of other languages, causing non-native speakers to mix up word order.

Explanation:

1. Understand Basic Sentence Structure: English sentences usually follow a Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) structure. Example: “She (subject) reads (verb) a book (object).”
2. Place Adjectives Before Nouns: Adjectives usually come before the noun they describe. Example: “A beautiful house.”
3. Position Adverbs Correctly: Adverbs of frequency (always, often, sometimes) usually come before the main verb but after “to be” verbs. Example: “She often goes to the park.”
4. Avoid Misplacing Modifiers: A modifier (adjective or adverb) should be close to the word it describes. Example: “I nearly missed the train.”
5. Use Correct Word Order in Questions: In questions, the word order often changes. Example: “Where are you going?”
6. Be Careful with Negative Sentences: In negative sentences, the auxiliary verb (do, have, be) comes before “not”. Example: “I do not (don’t) like that movie.”
7. Maintain Word Order with Indirect and Direct Objects: If there is both an indirect object (to whom/for whom) and a direct object (the thing), the word order is usually: Verb + indirect object + direct object. Example: “I gave her the book.”
8. Relative Clauses Follow Nouns: Relative clauses (which, who, that) directly follow the noun they describe. Example: “The book that I bought is interesting.”
9. Order of Multiple Adjectives: When using multiple adjectives, there is a general order to follow: Opinion → Size → Age → Shape → Color → Origin → Material → Purpose → Noun. Example: “A beautiful small old round blue Italian wooden table.”
10. Keep Prepositions in the Right Place: Prepositions usually come before the noun or pronoun they refer to. Example: “She is talking about the project.”
11. Inverted Sentences: In certain cases (questions, conditionals, after negative words), the word order may be inverted. Example: “Never have I seen such beauty.”
12. Maintain Parallel Structure: When using lists or paired ideas, keep a parallel structure to avoid awkwardness. Example: “She likes swimming, hiking, and dancing.”

Generating Ideas

1. Education: Present: Education is more accessible today with online platforms like Coursera or edX. Past: In the past, education was often limited to formal classroom settings and was inaccessible to many. Future: In the future, virtual reality may become a core part of the learning experience, making education more immersive.
2. Technology: Present: Technology plays an essential role in daily life, from smartphones to AI assistants. Past: A few decades ago, communication relied on letters and landline phones. Future: Future technologies may include advancements in artificial intelligence that can mimic human behavior even more accurately.
3. Environment: Present: Environmental awareness has increased, leading to a focus on sustainability and reducing carbon footprints. Past: In the past, industrialization led to significant environmental damage without much regard for its long-term effects. Future: Renewable energy sources will likely dominate, with efforts to reverse the damage caused by climate change.
4. Work: Present: Many people work remotely due to technological advancements and the COVID-19 pandemic. Past: A typical workday was structured around office environments with strict hours. Future: The future of work could involve more automation, reducing human involvement in repetitive tasks.
5. Travel: Present: Travel has become easier and more affordable with budget airlines and extensive transportation networks. Past: Travel was once considered a luxury, accessible only to the wealthy or for essential purposes. Future: Space tourism might become a reality, offering new horizons for travel beyond Earth.
6. Health: Present: Preventive healthcare is emphasized, with a focus on fitness and mental well-being. Past: Medical advancements were limited, and many diseases were incurable or fatal. Future: Genetic engineering may allow us to prevent or cure diseases before they even appear.
7. Family: Present: Families are smaller now, and dual-income households are common. Past: Traditional families had clear roles, with men as breadwinners and women as homemakers. Future: Families might become even more diverse, with greater acceptance of different family structures.
8. Leisure: Present: People spend leisure time on social media, streaming services, and video games. Past: Leisure activities included more outdoor games, reading, and face-to-face social gatherings. Future: Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) might redefine leisure activities, creating immersive virtual environments.
9. Food: Present: The popularity of organic and plant-based diets has grown due to concerns about health and the environment. Past: People typically consumed locally sourced and home-cooked meals with less processed food. Future: Lab-grown meat and insect-based protein might become common as sustainable food alternatives.
10. Transportation: Present: Public transportation and electric vehicles are gaining popularity due to environmental concerns. Past: Cars and buses running on fossil fuels dominated transportation. Future: Autonomous vehicles could become mainstream, and high-speed hyperloop systems may revolutionize travel.