A common
misconception that most IELTS takers believe is that grammar knowledge only
affects their writing performance. So, they only put in a token effort toward
developing their grammar know-how. Don’t make the same mistake.
On-point
grammar and structure knowledge is crucial to achieving a high score—not only
in the writing exam, but in the other three sub-tests as well. So, make sure to
hone yours during your IELTS review. Start by
keeping the following grammar errors off your verbal and written responses.
1.
Incorrect Use of Uncountable Nouns
Converting
singular nouns to plural nouns is simple.
Add
“s” to nouns that end in vowels and “es” to nouns that end with consonants.
Most IELTS takers got this rule down pat—that is, until uncountable nouns come
into play. There are two things you need to know about these nouns:
·
They
always appear in the singular form.
·
Adding
“s” or “es” to them will not make them plural.
Here
are some of the uncountable nouns that IELTS takers misuse.
·
information
·
research
·
advice
·
knowledge
·
literature
Find
out more about uncountable nouns by enrolling in an affordable
IELTS review.
2.
Inaccurate Modal Verbs
Modal
verbs (e.g., could, might, may, must, etc.) are used to indicate varying
nuances like the degree of certainty behind an act. Consider the following
guidelines to use them accurately.
·
Use
“must” when you are sure that something true.
·
Use
“must have” when you are sure that something that happened in the past is true.
·
Use
“can” when indicating general and possible statements about the present.
·
Use
“can’t” or “cannot” when referring to something impossible.
·
Use
“may,” “might,” and “could” when referring to possible but indefinite actions
in the future.
·
Use
“may have,” “might have,” and “could have” when referring to possible but
uncertain actions in the past or present.
3.
Improper Use of the Article “The”
The
misuse of the article “the” is one of the most common grammar errors IELTStakers commit. You can easily avoid misusing it by keeping the following
guidelines in mind.
Don’t
use the…
·
…before
a single country or place (e.g., Japan, India, Russia). Study up on geography
to ace this.
·
…when
talking about something in general. Mention the word in plural form instead
(e.g., say “dogs don’t like cats” instead of “the dogs don’t like the cats”).
Be
mindful of how you use this article during your IELTS
review period.
Don’t sabotage
your IELTS performance with poor grammar knowledge. Keep these grammatical
errors off your answers. Want to learn more ways to enhance your test
performance and guarantee IELTS success? Enroll in an affordable IELTS review course!
References:
“7 English
Grammar Rules You Need to Get a Higher IELTS Score.” Fluentu. Accessed
September 28, 2018. https://www.fluentu.com/blog/ielts/ielts-grammar/
Gwendolyn. “5+
Common Grammar Mistakes in IELTS Writing.” Magoosh. July 7, 2016. Accessed
September 28, 2018. https://magoosh.com/ielts/5-common-grammar-mistakes-ielts-writing/
Pell,
Christopher. “Top 10 IELTS Grammar Mistakes and How To Avoid Them.” IELTS
Advantage. Accessed September 28, 2018. https://www.ieltsadvantage.com/2015/04/20/ielts-grammar-mistakes/
