To easily conquer the IELTS exam, you not only need to practice soft skills but also focus on honing the four main skills including Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing. Among these, proficiently using grammatical structures and vocabulary is an extremely important factor. Let's explore the IELTS grammar topics to help you build the most solid revision plan to apply in the exam.
English Tenses
Verb Tenses in English always accompany the subject and verb, used to indicate the state of the verb in a specific time frame. Sentences in the text can be expressed in past, present, or future actions.
To achieve high scores, you need to master and understand verb tenses, their formulas, and memorization tips. Basically, English has 12 tenses as follows:
Past Tenses
Tense | Formula | Usage |
For regular verbs: S + V (ed) + O Example: He was a good guitarist. For the verb To be: S + Was/were + N/adj Example: My cousin was a good student. | Past Simple is used to express an action that occurred and ended at a specific time in the past. To identify this tense, words like: last, ago, the past often appear in the sentence. | |
S + was/were + V-ing + O Example: We were playing basketball at 9 o'clock yesterday. | Past Continuous is used to express an action that was ongoing in the past but ended before another action. You will encounter words commonly appearing in sentences: Until then, By the time, Prior to that time, Before, after,... | |
S + had + Vpp Example: He had gone out when I came into the house. | Past Perfect is used to express an action that occurred before another action in the past. Typically, Past Perfect often accompanies Past Simple. You may encounter the following words: - Before, after, Until then, by the time, for, as soon as, by,... - When, when by, by the time, by the end of + time in the past,... |
Present Tenses
Tense | Formula | Usage |
Present Simple | For regular verbs: S + V (s/es)+ O Example: He goes to school. For the verb To be: S + is/am/are + N/Adj Example: I am a boy. | Present Simple is used to express: - A truth or obvious fact. - Habits, preferences, or events that repeat daily. - An individual's experience or ability. In Present Simple sentences, you will see the appearance of frequency adverbs such as: usually, always, often, rarely, never, or every. |
Present Continuous | S +am/is/are + V-ing Example: She is writing a letter. | Present Continuous is used to express an action occurring at the present moment, ongoing and lasting for a period in the present. Do not use Present Continuous with words expressing emotions like: forget, understand, hear, feel, realize. |
Present Perfect | S + have/has + V3 Example: I have played basketball for 2 hours. | Present Perfect is used to express an action that occurred in the past but still continues or has a direct impact on the present. Words indicating this tense are usually: Before, recently, for, since, yet, so far, up to now. |
Present Perfect Continuous | S + have/has been + V-ing + O Example: She has been running around this neighborhood for more than 1 hour. | Present Perfect Continuous is used to indicate an action that started in the past and continues to the present moment. Basic identifying signs include: - Since + point in time. - For + duration of time. |
Future Tenses
Tense | Formula | Usage |
For regular verbs: S + will + verb Example: He will go to school. For the verb To be: S + will + be + N/adj | Simple Future is used to express actions that will occur in the future. It can be an invitation, a suggestion, or a promise. You can identify this tense through time adverbs: tomorrow, next week, next year… | |
S + will + be + V-ing Example: I will be going home at 9 am tomorrow. | Future Continuous expresses an event or action occurring at a specific time in the future. You can also use this tense for events or actions lasting for a specific period in the future. Or events occurring as part of a plan. Identifying words include: In the future, next year, next week, next time, soon. | |
S + will + have + Vpp Example: I will have watched my favorite film by the end of this month. | Future Perfect is used to express an action that will be completed at a specific time in the future. You can identify this tense through phrases like: - by the time .. - by + future time - by the end of + future time. | |
Future Perfect Continuous | S + will + have + been +V-ing Example: She will have been practicing guitar for 5 years by next month. | Future Perfect Continuous is used to indicate an action that will occur and continue continuously until a specific time. Time adverbs used in this tense: - by … for + duration of time - by then … - by the time … |
See more:
Detailed guide on adding s/es in Present Simple
Summary of all knowledge related to Present Simple with To be
2. Parts of Speech (Nouns - Verbs - Adjectives - Prepositions) in IELTS grammar
Nouns
Countable Nouns
Countable nouns exist in both singular and plural forms. However, you will encounter nouns that only have plural forms: socks, trousers.
Characteristics of countable nouns:
These nouns can take either singular or plural verbs.
You can replace them with singular or plural pronouns.
The singular form can follow the articles a/an/the
Uncountable Nouns
Uncountable nouns refer to nouns that cannot be counted in plural form (news, physics).
Characteristics of uncountable nouns:
Only take singular verbs
Can only be replaced with singular pronouns
Can only be measured through specific, countable units of measurement (a bottle of water, one bar of soap)
Cannot follow the articles a/an
Verbs
Intransitive Verbs: Basically, intransitive verbs describe actions performed by the speaker or the direct performer of that action. Intransitive verbs do not take direct objects. If there is an object, it must be preceded by a preposition.
Examples:
She swims.
Children play in the yard.
See more: Subjects and Objects in English
Transitive Verbs: Transitive verbs describe an action directly affecting another person or thing. Transitive verbs are typically followed by an object. They always need a noun or pronoun following them to make the sentence complete.
I ate an apple.
In the above sentence, you cannot just say "I ate" as it would be unclear and incomplete. You must add a noun after it called an object ("an apple" is the direct object of "ate").
To Verb | Ving |
To verb is a verb form created by adding "to" to a base verb. Examples of To Verb in English: run → to run sleep→ to sleep | V-ing - gerund, is a form of verb. Gerunds are typically formed by adding -ing to the base verb. A gerund functions both as a verb and a noun. Examples of gerunds: run → running sleep→ sleeping |
Modal Verbs: Modal verbs are considered irregular verbs that support the main verb in a sentence. They are typically used to express purpose, meaning, prediction, requirement, possibility, and permission.
For verbs following modal verbs, you keep them in their base form without conjugation. Common modal verbs include: Can, Will, May, Used to, Should, Must.
Characteristics of Modal Verbs:
Must always be followed by a base verb.
Example: He must be at home before curfew.
The form of Modal verbs doesn't change with the subject.
Basically, regular verbs add -s or -es if the subject is singular. But after modal verbs, the verb form doesn't change:
Example: My brother can eat a whole birthday cake.
When used in negative form, you don't need an auxiliary verb, just add 'not' after.
Example: He should lie to his friends. → He should not lie to his friends. (no auxiliary needed)
When forming questions, you don't need an auxiliary verb, just invert the modal verb before the subject.
Example: He can speak Japanese. → Can he speak Japanese?
No V-ing, V-ed, or to Verb forms.
Example: the modal verb Must has no forms like musted, musting, or to must.
Adjectives
Adjectives (adj) are used to describe characteristics, personality traits, and properties of any object or phenomenon. The role of adjectives is to modify nouns. Based on their nature and usage, adjectives are classified into the following groups:
Descriptive Adjectives
This type of adjective describes nouns, helping to answer questions about what the noun is like. Descriptive adjectives include two types:
General description (not capitalized): big, tall, ugly, small
Specific description (adjectives formed from proper nouns, must be capitalized): Vietnamese, American, Australian,...
Example: My sister is tall.
Possessive Adjectives
Possessive adjectives describe ownership of objects. You'll commonly encounter these possessive adjectives: my, his, her, their, our. If you want to remove the nouns or pronouns, you need to replace them with mine, his, hers, theirs, ours.
Examples:
This is my house.
His shirt is dirty.
See more: There - Their - They're – Understanding the Difference
Demonstrative Adjectives
Demonstrative adjectives indicate which noun or pronoun you're referring to. They typically include: this, that, these, those. Demonstrative adjectives always precede the object they refer to.
Examples:
Which cake would you like to order?
I would love to take this one.
Prepositions
Prepositions are words that indicate position, time, and show relationships between other words in phrases and paragraphs. Additionally, prepositions are used in sentences to connect words, helping you understand sentences in different contexts.
Common types of prepositions:
Preposition | Usage | Examples |
on | For time:days of the weekFor position:hanging objectson defined surfaceson building floorsfor public transportfor television, radioleft, rightfor rivers | on Fridaythe picture on the wallon the tableon the second flooron a plane, on the buson TV, on the radioon the left, on the rightLondon lies on the Thames. |
3. Comparative sentences in IELTS English grammar
Comparative sentences are often used to compare different qualities, events, or phenomena. Basically, there are three types of comparisons including: equal comparison, comparative, and superlative.
Equal Comparison
For adjectives:
S + be + as + Adj + as + N/Pronoun
Example: The black bag is as expensive as the white one.
For adverbs:
S + V + as + Adv + as + N/Pronoun (+V)
Example: Amy doesn't sing so well as she used to.
Note: After 'as', you must use a subject pronoun, not an object pronoun.
Comparative
With short adjectives (single-syllable adjectives)
S + V + Adj + -er + than + N/pronoun
Example: My brother is taller than me. (She is taller than me.)
With long adjectives (adjectives with two or more syllables)
S + V + more/less + Adj + than + N/pronoun
Example: Many people said that David is more intelligent than his brother.
Superlative
With short adjectives (single-syllable adjectives)
S + V + the + Adj + -est…
Example: She is the shortest girl in the village.
With long adjectives (adjectives with two or more syllables)
S + V + the most/ the least + Adj...
Example: I chose the least expensive oven in the store.
Note:
For short adjectives ending with a consonant, and immediately preceded by a single vowel, you need to double the consonant and then add "er" for comparative and "est" for superlative.
Example: cold - colder - coldest
- For two-syllable adjectives ending in -y, change -y to -i and add "er" for comparative and "est" for superlative.
Example: lazy - lazier - laziest
- Adjectives with two or more syllables are called long adjectives, while adjectives with only one syllable are called short adjectives. However, some two-syllable adjectives ending in -y, -le, -et, -ow, -er are still considered short adjectives
Example: simple, heavy, funny…
4. Passive voice in IELTS grammar
When an object is affected by a subject, and the speaker wants to emphasize the affected object, we use passive voice. The passive sentences use the appropriate form of "to be" according to the tense.
General structure:
S + (aux) + be + V3 + (by + n)
Example: They stole my motorbike last night.
Passive form: ➤ My motorbike was stolen last night.
Passive voice in other structures:
Structure | Passive Structure |
"be going to" | S + is/are (not) + going to be + V3 Example: Active: Santa Claus is going to give nice children Christmas presents tonight. Passive: Nice children are going to be given Christmas presents by Santa Claus tonight. |
Reporting verbs (agree, believe, claim, disclose, expect, know, predict, report, say, suggest, understand) | It is + V3 + that + clause Example: Active: Many people expect that Hillary will become the new president. Passive: It is expected that Hillary will become the new president. |
5. Relative clauses in IELTS grammar
Relative Clauses are a common grammatical structure in English and are frequently tested in IELTS skills. A relative clause follows and modifies a noun.
Example:
He is the man that I talked to yesterday.
The phrase "that I talked to yesterday" is a relative clause, modifying the noun "the woman"
To form relative clauses, we must discuss relative pronouns and adverbs. Here are the commonly used pronouns:
Relative Pronouns | Usage - Examples |
WHO | Used as subject or object, replacing nouns referring to people. … Noun (person) + WHO + V + O Example: The person I admire the most is my dad who is a dedicated teacher. |
WHICH | Used as subject or object, replacing nouns referring to things. … Noun (thing) + WHICH + V + O … Noun (thing) + WHICH + S + V Example: I really want to travel to Australia which has a lot of beautiful places. |
WHOSE | Used for both people and things … Noun (person, thing) + WHOSE + N + V … Example: Mr. Holland whose son has received a scholarship is very proud. |
THAT | Used as both subject and object, replacing nouns referring to both people and things. Example: Britney keeps talking about the book which / that she read yesterday. Cases where THAT should be used: - after superlative forms - after words: only, the first, the last - when the preceding noun includes both people and things - after indefinite pronouns, negative pronouns, and quantifiers: no one, nobody, nothing, anyone, anything, anybody… Cases where THAT should not be used: - in non-defining relative clauses - after prepositions |
WHERE | Used to replace nouns indicating places (at/ in/ from/ on which). Example: I will come back to the place WHERE my dad was born next year. |
WHEN | Used to replace nouns indicating time (on/ at/ in which). …. Noun (time) + WHEN + S + V … (WHEN = ON / IN / AT + WHICH) Example: Tell me the time when (= at which) we can depart. |
WHY | Used to indicate reason (replacing the reason, for that reason). Example: That is the reason why (= for which) he cannot pass the exam. |
See also: When to use Who and Whose? A simple guide to distinguishing Who - Whose
6. Quantifiers in IELTS Grammar
Quantifiers in English are words used to indicate quantity. Typically, these words are placed before nouns to add meaning to them.
Among quantifiers, some can be used with countable nouns, others with uncountable nouns, and some can be used with both types mentioned above.
Common quantifiers in English:
Quantifiers that can be
| Quantifiers that can be
| Quantifiers that can be
|
|---|---|---|
Few - A Few | Little - A little | Any |
Many | Much | Some |
Several | A great deal of
| Most - Most of |
Each / Every |
| Plenty of
|
A large number of
|
| All
|
See more:
Guide on using Some and Any - Comparing similarities and differences
7. Simple, Compound, and Complex Sentence Structures
Single sentence
Among the types of sentence structures in English, a single sentence has the simplest structure, with only one subject and one predicate. Upon closer analysis, the components in a single sentence are often similar to those that make up an independent clause. Therefore, we can also understand that a single sentence is a type of sentence that contains only one independent clause.
Example: My mother often goes to the gym every morning.
Compound sentence
A compound sentence, also known as a combined sentence or extended sentence. This type of sentence consists of two or more independent clauses that are related in meaning, connected by a conjunction or a semicolon.
Example: My sister loves going to the beach; however, she never plans on learning how to swim.
See more:The most common punctuation marks in English
Complex sentence
A complex sentence is a sentence consisting of one independent clause, or main clause, and one or more dependent clauses (subordinate clauses), linked by subordinating conjunctions or relative pronouns.
Example: His mother, who is a talented chef, always cooks delicious meals for the whole family.
Compound-complex sentence
A compound-complex sentence, also called a composite sentence or mixed sentence. This is a type of sentence that includes at least two independent clauses combined with one dependent clause. Because this sentence structure is quite complex, you need to understand the sentence structure and the connecting components in the sentence well.
Example: One frequently cited motive is safety; indeed, research at the UK's Transport Research Laboratory has demonstrated that more than 90 percent of road collisions involve human error as a contributory factor, and it is the primary cause in the vast majority. (Excerpt from the reading 'Driverless cars').
See more:
How to improve your Grammar score from 4.0 to 5.0?
Top 10 IELTS grammar books from basic to advanced for all levels
IELTS from A to Z: G for Diversity and Accuracy in Grammar | IDP IELTS
Above is a summary of the grammar topics you need to understand well before taking the IELTS exam. In addition to these basic grammar points, you also need to practice and improve your Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing skills to achieve high scores in the test.
In addition, you can also refer to the entire available IELTS materials to familiarize yourself with the test structure and confidently conquer the highest score in your test. The materials provided include Masterclass Seminars, Test Preparation Courses and test-taking tips from international IELTS experts! And when you are ready, register for IELTS with IDP today!