ENGLISH IELTS PRACTICE

Verbs useful for Task 1 – IELTS Writing – practice sentences

Rise/rose/risen

The price of bread in Chile has risen since January.

The levels of pollution in London rose between 1950 and 2000.

The amount of my debt is rising right now because of …

The number of people who speak Spanish has risen since 2010.

The percentage of water consumption rose in 1940 in Guatemala.

Grow/ Grew/Grown

Plants don’t grow in African’s desert.

The amount of cheap clothes buyers has grown since 2019

The percentage of vegan population is growing everyday

The cost of food has grown since strikes started in Chile

Cat’s adoption grew last year

Increase/Increased

My anxiety has increased since I am studying for IELTS

Chocolate consumption increased in 2000

Milk production has increased this year

The number of students who go abroad had increased in 2010 until it declined in January, 2011.

The amount of Korean dorama fans increased in 2018

Decline/Declined

Vegetables consumption declined last month

My relaxing time has declined since I started to work for OPC

The number of people who eat beef has declined since 1998

Dancing reggaeton percentage declined in 2000

The amount of MSN users declined in 1990

Decrease/Decreased
The prices of clothes will decrease on summer

The percentage of oil production in Asia has decreased this last month

The number of car users have decreased since winter.

The proportion of single people in China decreased in 1990

Fruit eating has increased for the last 5 years

Fall/fell/ fallen

I fell in love with my cat

Prices of houses in New York have fallen this semester

Soup consumption fell in Japan during 1950

Divorce has fallen in India since the new law of marriage.

The amount of vegetarian people will fall in 2030

Fluctuate/Fluctuated

Comparatives and superlatives

Paragraphs connectors

ADDING

I like tomato soup and I enjoy it a lot. Additionally, I enjoy cooking my own tomato sauce with
natural tomatoes because it is delicious in pizza and pasta. Also, I think cherry tomato are the best
kind of tomatoes.

SEQUENCING

First, it is necessary to say that people don’t like to use bicycles in Chilean streets because it is
dangerous. For example,
Variations in language for task 1

Under About Over

Advantages/Disadvantages essay structure for task 2

Paragraph Sentence type Contents for this essay

Paragraph 1: Introduction Sentence 1- Paraphrase Paraphrase the statement.

Sentence

Sentence 2- Give your opinion. Decide.

Thesis Statement

Sentence 3- Advantages: useful for learning

Outline / overview Statement Disadvantages: addictive
Paragraph 2 - Sentence 4- Topic Sentence Useful tool for teaching a wide range
advantages

Sentence 5- Explanation Promotes creativity

Sentence 6- Example A game that helps you discover new

things in the world

Paragraph 3- Why Sentence 7- Topic Sentence addiction

disadvantage are weak

Sentence 8- Explanation Promotes violence/laziness/social

disconnect from people

Sentence 9- Example San Andreas

Paragraph 4- Conclusion Sentence 1- Summary of main Summary of main points and opinion
points and conclusion

Agree/disagree essay structure for task 2

Paragraph Sentence type Contents for this essay

Paragraph 1: Sentence 1- It is necessary that governments impose a higher tax

Introduction Paraphrase Sentence for fast food because it affects people’s health.

Sentence 2- Agree
Thesis Statement

Sentence 3- Reasons to agree and reasons to disagree

Outline Statement

Paragraph 2 - Sentence 4- Topic Taxes can be given back to the health system
First reason for Sentence
dis/agreeing

Sentence 5- While there is a higher tax for fast food, there will be
Explanation more money for treatments of illnesses associated to
its consume.
 Sentence 6- Example Obesity and nutritional guide and treatment.

Paragraph 3- Reason Sentence 7- Topic It is not far to pay higher prices for food and not
2 why dis/agree Sentence having a salary increase

Sentence 8- People are free to choose what they eat while they
Explanation can afford it.But, it’s unfair to limit poor people to
access to fast food

Sentence 9- Example Healthy food as quinoa, salmon or even vegetables

will continue being expensive, so all food will be like
that.

Paragraph 4- Sentence 1- (i need more time!)

Conclusion Summary of main
points

Restate your opinion

Vocabulary for IELTS

Family

mother/mom aunt/uncle
father/dad niece/nephew
parent cousin
children husband/wife
son/daughter sister-in-law/brother-in-law
sister/brother mother-in-law/father-in-law
grandmother/grandfather partner/fiancé/fiancée
grandparent
grandson/granddaughter/grandchild

Sports

Food

Clothes
Used to
One way of describing how things have changed is to use “used to”. We use it to
refer to facts or situations that were true in the past but are not true now. When the
change occurred is not important.

Example:

“Vietnam used to be a colony of France, (but now it is independent)”

“Jimmy Carter used to be the President of the United States, (but now he isn’t.)”
This can, of course be used to give personal information.

“I used to smoke, (but I gave up 2 years ago.)”

“Mike used to be a detective in the CID, (but now he’s a teacher)

Comparatives
In these types of questions the function being tested is “compare”, so using
comparatives is obviously a good way of answering the question and speaking
about change.

Example:

"Thirty years ago, the streets were much quieter than now.”
“I think that reading was much more popular in the past.”
When talking about how things are different now, the present perfect is often used
as well as the present simple.

“The streets have become much noisier.” (Notice, a time is not needed)
“Reading is much less popular than it was in the past.”

Speculation
Particularly for some of the longer periods, you may not be sure of exactly how
things have changed and it is all right to speculate.

“Would” can be used for strong speculation.

Example:

“It would have been harder for my grand father to find out about international
news, because there was no radio or T.V in his village.”
“In the past, people would have traveled less often.”
When you are not so sure you can use other words. (perhaps, possibly, might,
may, etc.)
 “I’m not sure but, perhaps, they might have studied less science thirty years
ago”
“Possibly, in my father’s day, people could have played more sport.”

Will and Going to

Lesson 4
Usually in part 3 of the speaking test you will be asked to talk about the future in at
least one of the questions (some of the questions in part 1 may also be about the
future).

Will and going to are popular words to do this, so we will look at them, but there
are some other ways too.

It is important to notice when a question is about the future so you can make sure
that your response is also using the future tense.

Here are some example questions:

 Do you think any new national celebrations will come into being in the future?
 How do you think the internet will change people's buying habits in the future?
 Do you think it will be more or less important to have a good education in the future?
Here is an explanation of will and going to and some other useful structures for
discussing the future

Will
There are various uses of ‘will’, but in IELTS part 3 we can use it when we want to
talk about future events that we believe are certain.

‘Will’ is followed by verb 1, or the infinitive.

Education will be more important in the future because as populations increase,

there will be greater competition for jobs.
If you use ‘will’ on its own, this means you believe in what you are saying 100%, or
you have 100% evidence to back up your claim.

You can add in a word like ‘definitely’ if as well if you want to emphasize your
certainty even more:
Education will definitely be more important in the future because as populations
increase, there will be greater competition for jobs.
If you are less certain (which is often the case as we usually don’t have evidence
with us) then we use words such as 'maybe', 'perhaps', 'possibly', 'probably' and
‘likely’.

Education will probably be more important in the future because as populations

increase, there will be greater competition for jobs.

Going to
Will and Going to are used in similar ways. We can use ‘going to’ to talk about a
plan we have, but in the IELTS test part 3 we usually use it when we are making a
prediction based on evidence we know of, often from what we can see in front of
us.

‘Going to’ is followed by verb 1, or the infinitive.

The sky is very black (the evidence we can see). I think it’s going to rain. (not an
IELTS example)
The internet is getting much easier to use and safer (the evidence), so I think
it’s going to be very popular for buying clothes in the future.
The climate is going to become warmer and warmer because the government is
not doing enough to prevent global warming.

Will or going to?

‘Will’ is more common for giving predictions about future events, so if you are
unsure of the difference between them, just use ‘will’.

However, we often use will and going to inter-changeably. For example, in the
sentences above we can swap them without affecting the meaning:

The climate will / is going to become warmer and warmer because the
government is not doing enough to prevent global warming.
Education will probably / is probably going to be more important in the future
because as populations increase, there will be greater competition for jobs.

Modal Verbs
In addtion to will and going to, another way to talk about the future is to use modal
verbs such as ‘may’ and ‘might’.
Again, these are used when you are not certain about something. They have the
same meaning.

I think education may become more important in the future, but it really depends
on what happens to the job market.
The climate might get cooler in the future if we manage to restrict CO2
emissions.

Present Continuous
This is also used to talk about the future.

It is often used when we want to talk about what has been arranged for the future,
so it may be less common for part 3 and more common for part 1, but it is still
possible for some things you may want to say:

Our president is meeting the president of the USA next year, so hopefully they
will discuss the problems of our country.

Expressing Opinions
Expression Meaning Example

Clearly Easy to understand Clearly, the economy is not going to

Obviously or see improve this year.

Personally, I don't think the legal drinking

Showing that it is
Personally age should be reduced. Others may
your opinion
disagree.

Usually, or in most Generally, the trains are a lot more reliable

Generally
situations than the buses in my country.

Surprisingly, the government prohibited

Unexpectedly or in a
Surprisingly smoking in all public places last year. I never
way that is unusual
thought this would happen.

In a way that cannot I didn't study much. Inevitably, I didn't get

Inevitably
be avoided the score I needed.

Predictably, problems are now occurring in

Predictably As expected
the city because of overpopulation.

To be honest and Frankly, I wish I'd waited before taking the

Frankly
direct IELTS test as I'm not ready!
 Sadly Unhappy, sad or
Regrettably, my family could never return
Regrettably sorry about to their country because of the civil war.
Unfortunately something

And after expressing your opinions, here are some ways that you can justify them:

Justifying Opinions
Across one sentence

+ Subject Verb:

...as the government has invested a

lot of money into the system.

...because the government has...

...since the government has...

...due to the fact that the

government has...

+ Noun Phrase:
Generally, the trains are a lot more
...because of the government's
reliable than the buses in my country...
investment of money into the
system.

...due to the government's

investment of...

...as a result of the government's

investment of...

...as a consequence of the

government's investment of...

Across two sentences

Generally, the trains are a lot more

+ Subject Verb:
reliable than the buses in my country.
 The reason for this is that the
government...

This is because the government

has...

This is due to the fact that the

government has...

+ Noun Phrase:

This is due to the government's

investment of...

This is because of the government's

investment of...

This is as a result of the

government's investment of...

This is as a consequence of the

government's investment of...

Grammar: Complex sentences practice

Conjuctions
Coordinate Conjunctions

Coordinate conjunctions are normally used to join like with like. (In other words they join
a noun with another noun, an adjective with another adjective, and an adverb with another
adverb, etc.)

The most common ones are and, but and or.

Examples of Coordinate Conjunctions

Here are some examples of coordinate conjunctions (shaded):

The comment was blunt but effective.

(Here the conjunction joins two adjectives.)

Familiarity breeds contempt...and children.

(Here the conjunction joins two nouns.)

If a man should challenge me to a duel, I would take him kindly and forgivingly by the
hand and lead him to a quiet place to kill him.
(Here the first conjunction joins two adverbs (kindly and forgivingly). The second joins two verbs
(take and lead).)

Correlative Conjunctions

Correlative conjunctions are used in pairs to join alternatives or equal elements. The most
common pairs are either/or, neither/nor, and not only/but also.

Examples of Correlative Conjunctions

Here are some examples of correlative conjunctions (shaded):

I could neither laugh nor cry.

She was not only smart but also beautiful.

Read more about correlative conjunctions.

Subordinate Conjunctions

Subordinate conjunctions are used to join subordinate clauses to main clauses. Common examples
are although, because, since, unless, until, and while.

Examples of Subordinate Conjunctions

Here are some examples of subordinate conjunctions (shaded):

We'll stay here while the weather is fine.

I am not attending the meeting until the game has finished.

Grammar: First conditional practice
if + will

All the advice uses the first conditional: if + will. We use the first conditional to talk
about possible future situations (or 'conditions') and their results. The person giving
the advice doesn't know whether or not Sue will do these things.

A conditional sentence usually has two parts: the if part and the result (main) part.
For the first conditional we use the present simple in the if part, and will +
infinitive (without to) in the main part.

The two parts can be in any order. When the 'if' part comes first, we put a comma
between the if and the main part. We don't use a comma when the main part
comes first.

If I feel tired, I'll have a nap.

I'll have a nap if I feel tired.

It isn't certain that I'll feel tired.

Negative
If we don’t hurry, we’ll miss the train.

They won’t go to the beach if it isn’t sunny.

Question
If you get home early, what will you do?
How will he feel if he doesn’t get the job?

when + will

All of the plans are in the first conditional and use when + will. We use the first
conditional to talk about possible future situations (or 'conditions') and their results.
In activity 1, you saw use 'if' for things we think are likely to happen. In Sue's plans
she uses when for things she thinks are certain to happen.

A conditional sentence usually has two parts: the when part and the result (main)
part. For the first conditional we use the present simple in the when part, and will +
infinitive (without to) in the main part.

The two parts can be in any order. When the when part comes first, we put a
comma between the when and the main part. We don't use a comma when the
main part comes first.

When I get home, I'll cook dinner.

I'll cook dinner when I get home.

It's certain that I will get home. I will then cook dinner.

Negative
When I get home, I won’t watch TV.

We will not be here when you visit on Friday.

Question
When you finish school, what will you do?

How will he feel when he hears the bad news?

Grammar: Second conditional practice

N

Sss

Grammar: present perfect and present perfect continuous practice

Form

Positive
The present perfect is made with subject + have/has + past participle.
I've taught English in Italy and in Russia.

Johnny Depp has starred in lots of brilliant films.

Negative
The negative present perfect is made with subject + have/has not + past participle.

I haven't seen the first Bond film.

Questions
Present perfect yes/no questions are made from have/has + subject + past participle?

Present perfect question word questions are made from question word + have/has + subject +
past participle?

Ever and never

We often use the present perfect with the words ever or never. Ever mean at any time in
someone's life. We usually use ever in questions.

'Has he ever worked in China?' 'No, he hasn't.'

Never means not at any time in someone's life.

I've never seen the first Bond film.

Sometimes we ask questions with never. Often we do this to express surprise:

Have you never eaten a banana?

Past participles
The past participle is the third form of the verb. For example, with the verb to see, the three forms
are: see, saw, seen.

We use the past participle in present perfect sentences with ever and never.

Have you ever eaten sushi?

I've never seen the first Bond film.

Regular and irregular verbs

Many verbs are regular. The past participle ends with -ed

look - looked - looked

climb - climbed - climbed
want - wanted - wanted

Some verbs are irregular. Here are some of them:

become - became - become

eat - ate - eaten
forget - forgot - forgotten
give - gave - given
go - went - gone / been
have - had - had
know - knew - known
meet - met - met
read - read - read
ride - rode - ridden
run - ran - run
say - said - said
see - saw - seen
sell - sold - sold
sing - sang - sung
win - won - won
write - wrote - written

Present perfect

 I have lived in Italy since I am a child

 Carlos hasn’t eaten cake
 The climate has changed
 I’ve worked in OPC since January
 We’ve friends for 10 years
 Have you ever visit Buenos Aires?
 Have you never eat ramen?!
 The amount of food expenditure has increased since 1910
 The number of people who speak Italian haven’t growth for 10 years

Present perfect continuous

 I have been practicing my English for months

Grammar: passive and active voice practice

Sss

TASK 1 PRACTICE