IELTS Writing Task 1: Grammar Secrets

Apr 9, 2020 | IELTS WRITING TASK 1

Grammar accounts for 25% of your writing score, so do not take it for granted. Try to diversify your grammatical structures, use them with accuracy, and a score of 6.5 and above is within reach. Trust me, it is doable!  

  1. Trend structures

Formula: Subject + verb + adv + data + time period

Example: Laptop sales rose dramatically from 1.4 to 3.5 million over five years.

Formula: Subject + see/witness/experience + adj + noun + data + time period

Example: Laptop sales experienced a dramatic rise from 1.4 to 3.5 million over five years.

Formula: There + be (was/were, is/are, or will be) + adj + noun + data + time period

Example: There was a dramatic rise in laptop sales from 1.4 to 3.5 million over five years.

Formula: Time period (as subject) + see/witness/experience + adj + noun + data

Example: The five-year period saw a dramatic rise in laptop sales from 1.4 to 3.5 million.

Note: You had better pay close attention to the years so that you work out the tense(s) for the verbs appropriately.

  1. Comparison structures

Comparative

Examples:

  • X is considerably higher/ lower than Y.
  • X is slightly more popular than Y.
  • X increased much more sharply than Y.

Superlative

Examples:

  • X was the most popular reading category in …
  • Y produced the highest level of emission in …

Equal comparison (as … as)

Formula: X + verb + as many/ much noun as + Y

Example: Vietnam does not have as many confirmed cases of Covid-19 as China.

Formula: X + verb + as adj/ adv as + Y

Examples:

  • Surgical masks in Korea do not cost as much as in Vietnam.
  • Surgical masks in Korea are not as expensive as in Vietnam.
  1. Participle clauses

Formula: Subject + verb + adv before V_ing + data

Example: Hamburger consumption dropped sharply between 2003 and 2005 before hitting a low of 102 grams per month in 2006.

Formula: Having + past participle + adv + time period, subject + verb + data

Example: Having dropped sharply between 2003 and 2005, hamburger consumption hit a low of 102 grams per month in 2006.

  1. “Proven by” and “Making it” (applicable for Superlatives only)

Formula: Noun + superlative, proven by the highest/ lowest figure of + data

Example: Magazines were the most favorite reading category among male teenagers, proven by the highest figure of 55%.

Formula: Data + verb, making it + superlative

Example: 55% of male teenagers read magazines, making it the most favorite reading category.

  1. Relative clause

Formula: Subject + verb, after which + subject + verb

Example: The amount of carbon emissions per person in Sweden climbed dramatically from 8 metric tons in 1967 to 11 metric tons in 1977, after which this figure fell sharply to just under 6 metric tons by 2007.

Formula: Subject + verb, at which point + subject + verb

Example: The amount of carbon emissions per person in Sweden climbed dramatically from 8 metric tons in 1967 to 11 metric tons in 1977, at which point this figure started to fall sharply to just under 6 metric tons by 2007.

  1. “Followed by”

Formula: Subject + verb, followed by + noun

Example:  The amount of carbon emissions per person in Sweden climbed dramatically from 8 metric tons in 1967 to 11 metric tons in 1977, followed by a sharp fall to just under 6 metric tons in 2007.

Happy learning and good luck!

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