15 Grammar Structures to Boost Your IELTS Score

Achieving a high score in the IELTS exam requires more than just vocabulary and fluency; your grammar plays a crucial role in demonstrating your language proficiency. Using a variety of grammatical structures correctly can impress examiners and significantly impact your score. In this blog, we’ll explore 15 essential grammar structures to help you shine in the IELTS exam.

1. Conditionals

Conditionals are used to express possible or hypothetical situations. Mastering them helps demonstrate your ability to discuss various outcomes.

• First Conditional: If + present simple, will + verb
  Example: “If I study hard, I will pass the exam.”
• Second Conditional: If + past simple, would + verb
  Example: “If I had more time, I would travel the world.”
• Third Conditional: If + past perfect, would have + past participle
  Example: “If I had studied harder, I would have passed the test.”

2. Relative Clauses

Relative clauses add information about a noun. They help you provide more details and sound more natural in your speaking and writing.

• Defining Relative Clauses: “The book that I read was amazing.”
• Non-defining Relative Clauses: “My brother, who lives in London, is visiting us next week.”

3. Modal Verbs

Modal verbs express necessity, possibility, or advice. Using a range of modal verbs shows your versatility.

• Can / Could: “She can swim very fast.”
• Should / Ought to: “You should eat more vegetables.”
• Must: “He must finish the project by tomorrow.”
• Might / May: “We might go to the cinema later.”

4. Passive Voice

The passive voice emphasizes the action over the subject. It’s useful in formal writing and when you want to focus on what is done rather than who does it.

• “The report was completed by the team yesterday.”
• “The house is being renovated right now.”

5. Perfect Tenses

The perfect tenses express actions that are completed or ongoing with relevance to the present, past, or future. They are useful for talking about experiences or changes over time.

• Present Perfect: “I have studied English for five years.”
• Past Perfect: “She had finished her homework before the party.”
• Future Perfect: “By next year, I will have completed the course.”

6. Adverbs of Frequency

Adverbs of frequency help describe how often something happens. They are useful for talking about habits and routines.

• “I always go for a run in the morning.”
• “She rarely eats junk food.”

7. Causative Form (Have/Get something done)

The causative form expresses actions that someone does for you or that happen because of something else.

• “I had my car washed yesterday.”
• “She got her hair cut at the salon.”

8. Reported Speech

Reported speech is used to tell someone what another person has said. It’s important for answering questions and conveying information indirectly.

• “She said that she would be late.”
• “They asked me if I had finished my homework.”

9. Inversion for Emphasis

Inversion is a technique used for emphasis or to form questions. Using inversion in statements can help make your language more varied and sophisticated.

• “Never have I seen such a beautiful sunset.”
• “Not only did she pass the test, but she also got the highest score.”

10. Phrasal Verbs

Phrasal verbs are common in both spoken and written English. Learning them can help you express ideas more naturally.

• “She broke down after hearing the news.”
• “I ran into an old friend at the store.”

11. Subjunctive Mood

The subjunctive is used to express wishes, suggestions, or hypothetical situations. It’s often used in formal language.

• “I wish I were able to go.”
• “If I were you, I would study harder.”

12. Gerunds and Infinitives

Both gerunds (verbs ending in -ing) and infinitives (to + base verb) are used to express actions. Knowing when to use each can refine your grammar.

• Gerund: “I enjoy reading books.”
• Infinitive: “She plans to study abroad next year.”

13. Comparatives and Superlatives

Using comparatives and superlatives allows you to compare two or more things, adding depth to your descriptions.

• Comparative: “This exam is more difficult than the last one.”
• Superlative: “She is the smartest student in the class.”

14. Time Clauses

Time clauses are used to describe when something happens. They often start with conjunctions like “when,” “while,” “before,” and “after.”

• “I will call you when I arrive.”
• “She was listening to music while studying.”

15. Quantifiers

Quantifiers express the amount or number of something. They are essential for describing quantities in your speaking and writing.

• “There are several options available.”
• “He has much more experience than I do.”

Conclusion

Mastering these 15 grammar structures can significantly improve your performance in the IELTS exam. Whether you’re aiming for a high score in Writing or Speaking, using varied grammar correctly will help demonstrate your proficiency. Be sure to practice these structures regularly, and try incorporating them into your daily conversations and writing exercises. By doing so, you’ll feel more confident on exam day and increase your chances of success!