Grammar for IELTS Essay Writing Task 2
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IELTS writing task 1 and task 2 in the IELTS use the same scoring criteria. However, task 2, which is an essay, requires a minimum of 250 words and carries more marks than writing task 1. It also allows more opportunities for using a wide range of grammatical structures.
Table of Contents
1. Sentence Structures
Using a variety of sentence structures is crucial if you want to get a high band score. This doesn’t mean you have to limit yourself to only incorporating complex sentences, but rather a combination of simple and compound sentences as well.
1.1 Simple
Contains one independent clause.
Example: Traffic has become a big problem in the city.
1.2 Compound
Contains two independent clauses joined with a coordinating conjunction. Remember to always use a comma before coordinating conjunctions when joining two independent clauses together
Example: Traffic has become a big problem in the city, so it is time the community finds a solution.
1.3 Complex
Contains a dependent clause and a subordinating conjunction.
Example: Traffic has become a big problem in the city because of the increase in the number of cars on the road.
2. Conditionals
Conditional sentences might not be suitable for all essays, but whenever you can use them, you should, as they are an excellent way of including more advanced sentence structures.
Familiarise yourself with the structures of conditionals:
- 1st conditional: If + present simple, will
- 2nd conditional: If + past simple, would
- 3rd conditional: If + past perfect, would have
Example: In my opinion, if the entire world worked together, climate change would no longer be a problem.
3. Relative pronouns
Using relative pronouns to create more complex sentences and add information is essential if you’re aiming for a high band score.
Relative pronouns (like which, where, when, whose, who, and that) modify nouns.
If the information added is crucial to the meaning of the sentence, you don’t have to use commas. However, if it’s not important, you can place it between commas.
Example: Governments play a crucial role in shaping environmental policies, which are increasingly seen as essential for sustainable development.”
4. Adverbial Phrases
This is an excellent way to add more information to your simple sentences. These are phrases that can be placed at the beginning of a sentence to provide information on time, place, manner, or frequency.
Don’t forget to place a comma after the adverbial phrase.
Example: In developing countries, access to clean water remains a big issue.
5. Punctuation
The comma is the punctuation symbol that gets overused or misused most often.
Avoid writing unnecessarily long sentences and make use of conjunctions.
When should you use a comma?
- Place a comma before a coordinating conjunction (and, but, yet, so, or nor, for) to join two complete ideas (independent clauses).
- Use a comma after a phrase or clause that introduces a sentence, signalling the end of the introductory part and the beginning of the main clause.
- Use commas when separating each item in a series of three or more items that have the same function and form in a sentence.
- Enclose clauses that are not essential to the meaning of the sentence (nonrestrictive clauses). These clauses can begin with relative pronouns like who, whom, whose, that, and which.
6. Gerunds and Infinitives
Gerunds are verbs ending with -ing that function as nouns in sentences.
Example: Creating a plan to improve waste management is a crucial step to ensuring you succeed.
Infinites are the base of the verb with “to” in front.
Example: The community refuses to give up.
7. Subject-verb agreement
This is a fundamental rule in IELTS writing. If the subject in the sentence is singular, the verb has to be as well. To master this, you need to be able to differentiate between singular and plural nouns.
“A group of people” is often mistaken for plural. However, saying “the group” makes it singular.
Example: The government has implemented new laws.
8. Tenses
All tenses must be used accurately within this essay to ensure your meaning is clear. On top of this, you’ll need to incorporate a variety of tense structures to obtain a high band score for grammatical range and accuracy.
The most common tense to use in an IELTS essay is the present simple tense. This is because you’ll mostly be stating facts in the essay.
Example: Pollution is a massive issue in big cities.
You can also incorporate the future tense if you want to make predictions.
Example: By 2050, renewable energy sources will hopefully replace most fossil fuels.
The past tense should be used when discussing past events. When stating a specific date in the past, you’ll make use of the past simple tense.
Example: About 50 years ago, people didn’t understand the need to recycle.
9. IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample
Some people think that environmental problems should be solved on a global scale while others believe it is better to deal with them nationally.
Discuss both views and give your opinion.
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10. Types of Essays in Task 2
The grammar rules stay the same, regardless of the essay type, yet there are some sentence structures we’d recommend using to express your opinion, etc.
10.1. Suggested Structures for Various Essay Types
Let’s delve into 4 complex sentence structures you can use in your introduction for
10.2 How to Give Opinion
Some people think that more money should be spent on protecting endangered species while others think it is a waste of valuable money.
What is your opinion?
Suggested Structure: Other view + Opinion
Example: Even though some people might think that spending money on protecting endangered species is a waste of money, I believe that it’s essential for people to do everything they can to stop species from going extinct.
10.3 How to List Advantages and Disadvantages
In the past, when students did a university degree, they tended to study in their own country. Nowadays, they have more of an opportunity to study abroad.
Do the advantages of this development outweigh the disadvantages?
Suggested Structure: Not only + but also
Example: Not only does studying abroad improve a student’s communication skills, but it also creates independence as they learn to navigate life away from home.
10.4 How to Express Problem and Solutions
One problem faced by almost every large city is traffic congestion What do you think the causes are?
What solutions can you suggest?
Suggested Structure: Both + ___ + ___ contribute to
Examples: Both overpopulation and a lack of roads contribute to the overall congestion of traffic in the city.
Suggested Structure: While ____ + also
Example: While expanding the metro can help address the issue, the city also needs to create plans to build more roads in te future.
10.5 How to Make a Comparison
Some people think that environmental problems should be solved on a global scale while others believe it is better to deal with them nationally.
Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Suggested Structure: It is argued by some + whereas
Example: It is argued by some that environmental issues should be solved on a global scale, whereas others feel that they are best dealt with nationally.
