10 Important IELTS Grammar Topics to Know

To get a high score in the IELTS exam, in addition to mastering the 4 main skills, IELTS grammar also plays an extremely important role. If you are still wondering how to improve your foundation IELTS grammar effectively, let's ETEST English for Study Abroad master the main points IELTS Grammar – IELTS Grammar often appear in the exams in the article below.

Why is grammar important in IELTS preparation?

Grammar plays a key role in assessing your English proficiency in the IELTS test. It not only helps you gain a deep understanding of the language but also determines your score in all four skills of Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing.

• Listening: When you master grammar, you will easily recognize sentence structures, distinguish between types of questions and find the correct answer. For example, when you hear the question “What time does the library close?”, you will immediately recognize that this is a question about the simple present tense and find the answer that matches this tense.
• Speaking: Grammar helps you express your ideas accurately and fluently. Using a variety of sentence structures and conjunctions will help you speak coherently and impressively. For example, instead of saying “I like to eat”, you can use a more complex sentence like “I am fond of eating Vietnamese food because it is delicious and nutritious.”
• Reading: Grammar helps you deeply understand the meaning of each sentence and paragraph. When you encounter complex structures such as conditional sentences and passive sentences, you will easily analyze and grasp the content of the reading.
• Writing: Grammar is a decisive factor in the quality of your writing. Using the correct tenses and sentence types will help your writing have a clear, logical structure and achieve a high score. For example, in Task 2, you can use conditional sentences to make hypotheses, or use passive sentences to make your writing more formal.

Grammar is an important tool to help you conquer IELTS. By investing time and effort to learn and practice grammar, you can absolutely achieve a high score in the test.

10 important IELTS grammar topics to know in the test

If you want to strengthen your foundation IELTS grammar Here are some important things you must remember and master:

Tenses

Using IELTS grammar related to tenses is one of the extremely important foundational knowledge when learning English. However, although the importance of using tenses has been emphasized, many IELTS candidates still have difficulty in flexibly applying tenses in the test.

Using tenses not only ensures grammatical accuracy but also contributes to making the writing more coherent, natural and easier to understand. Therefore, practicing tense skills is extremely necessary to achieve a high score in the IELTS test.

According to many IELTS examiners, many candidates make the mistake of forgetting to conjugate verbs when doing the Listening and Reading tests. Many candidates still conjugate the tenses incorrectly when taking the Writing and Speaking tests.

In fact, English tenses are not a difficult form of knowledge.

There are 12 common tenses in total, however you only need to master how to use and apply the formulas of the following 6 specific tenses:

Type	Recipe	Signs of recognition	Use
Present Simple	S+V(e/es)+O For example: I usually lie on the couch all day long	Adverbs of frequency such as: usually, frequently, sometimes, often, occasionally,…	The present simple tense is used to describe actions and events that happen in the present regularly, repeatedly or are obvious.
Present Continuous	S+be(am/is/are)+Ving+O For example: Now I am lying on the couch and watching a TV series	Adverbs of time: Right now, Now, At present, It's + specific time + now, At present The verbs appear: Look!/ Watch, Listen, Watch out! = Look out, Keep silent	The present continuous tense describes an action that is happening and continuing at the present time.
Present perfect	S+have/has+V3+O For example: I have never lain on the couch for so long	just, recently, lately, already, before, ever, never, for + period of time, since + time frame, yet, …	The present perfect tense describes an action from the past to the present that has an effect on the present moment.
Past simple	S+V2+O For example: I lay down on the couch	Often appear the words: last, ago, the past.	The simple past tense describes an action that took place and ended at a time in the past.
Past Continuous	S+was/were+V Ing+O For example: I was lying on the couch	Encountered words: Until then, By the time, Prior to that time, Before, after,…	The past perfect continuous tense describes an event in the past that finished before another action.
Simple future	S+will+V Inf For example: I will never get up off the couch	Adverbs of time: tomorrow, next week, next year…	The simple future tense expresses actions that will happen in the future, including invitations, offers and promises.

The remaining tenses such as past perfect, future perfect... almost only need to be known at the recognition level.

Then	Signs of recognition
Present perfect continuous	Since + time mark. For + period of time
Past perfect	Encountered the following words: – Before, after, as soon as, Until then, by the time, for, by,… – When, when by, by the end of + time in the past by the time, b,…
Future Continuous	Come across the following phrases: In the future, next year, next time, next time, soon.
Future Perfect	Recognize this tense through phrases like: – by the time .. – by the end of + future time – by + future time
Future Perfect Continuous	Adverbs of time: – by … for + period of time – by then … by the time

Relative Clauses

An important criterion to achieve band 6+ in the Writing and Speaking sections is the ability to use complex structures, in which Relative Clauses are considered a necessary element. Therefore, if you aim to achieve a score of 6+ or higher, mastering the grammar section is essential. IELTS method is something that cannot be ignored.

Relative pronouns	Use	For example
Who	Used to replace a noun referring to a person and can be an object or subject. Noun (person) + WHO + V + O	She is the person who teaches me
Which	Used to replace a noun and can be an object or subject. Noun (thing) + WHICH + V + O Noun (thing) + WHICH + S + V	The book which I bought is very interesting.
Whose	Used to replace nouns referring to people and things. Noun (person, thing) + WHOSE + N + V …	The woman whose car was stolen reported the incident to the police.
That	Used to replace nouns referring to people and things and can be subject/object Use “that”: After the superlative, “only”, “the first”, “the last”. When before nouns (people and things) or after indefinite, negative pronouns: no one, nobody, anything… Do not use “that”: Non-defining relative clause. After preposition.	The book that I am reading is very interesting.
Where	Used to replace nouns of place: at/on which/ in/ from	I live in Hanoi where the food is very good
When	Used to replace the time nouns on/ at/ in which	I will remember the time when I was a child forever.
Why	Used to indicate a reason instead of for that reason, the reason .	I can't understand why he did that.

Passive Voice

Passive voice is a IELTS grammar structure important in English, especially in the IELTS test. It is used when you want to emphasize the person affected by an action, or when the person performing the action is unclear or unimportant.

In addition, the passive voice also makes the sentence more formal. Using the passive voice flexibly will help you achieve higher scores in the Writing and Speaking sections of the IELTS test.

Recipe: S + be + V3/Ved + by + O…

For example:

• Active sentence: They will announce the results tomorrow. In this sentence, the subject they is the person who performs the act of publication.
• Passive form: The results will be announced tomorrow. In this sentence, the subject results affected by the act of publication.

The passive voice is a powerful tool for paraphrasing, but you should not overuse it in your exam. In Task 1, you should only have one sentence like “The results will be announced tomorrow” was able to impress the judges.

Using Word Formation

Using word forms is a skill. IELTS grammar important. Each word can belong to groups such as noun, verb, adjective, or adverb. Depending on the context, you need to choose the appropriate word class. Moreover, mastering prefixes and suffixes also helps you easily distinguish words and determine their position in the sentence accurately.

For example:

Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
Knowledge	Knowledgeable	Know	Knowingly
Patience	Patient	Patiently	Patiently
Confidence	Confident	Confide	Confidential
Independence	Independent	Independently	Independently
Creativity	Creative	Create	Creatively
Flexibility	Flexible	Flexibly	Flexibly
Responsibility	Responsible	Respond	Responsibly
Efficiency	Efficient	Efficiently	Efficiently

Mastering IELTS grammar in the form of words will not only make your test more lively and engaging, but will also help increase your accuracy in the fill-in-the-blank sections.

Articles A, An, The (Articles)

Articles (a/an/the) are words that come before a noun, helping to determine whether the noun is defined or not. This is one of the IELTS grammar topics that many candidates easily make mistakes. Therefore, practice regularly to use it fluently.

Using articles correctly will help make your writing clearer and more precise. In the IELTS test, articles are often tested in the Writing and Speaking sections. Examiners will assess your ability to use articles to see how proficient you are in English.

Article	Use	For example
Indefinite article “a/an”	The article “a” before nouns with consonants. The article "an" before nouns with vowels.	I need a help
Definite article “The”	The article “The” refers to the specific or unique noun mentioned.	The dog is running across the road.

For example: Use safe before words that begin with a vowel sound, not just based on letters. For example: one hour but not an hour.

Conditional sentences 

Conditional sentences are a structure IELTS grammar important in English, used to describe something that will happen if a certain condition is met. Conditional sentences usually have two clauses: the conditional clause (which begins with “if”) and the main clause. There are many types of conditional sentences, each describing a different situation.

There are 4 types of conditional sentences in total, namely types 0, 1, 2, and 3. Below are the formulas and examples for each type:

Conditional sentences type 0:

• Formula: If + S + V(s/es), S+ V(s/es)
• For example: If you heat ice, it melts.

Conditional sentences type 1:

• Formula: If + S + V(s/es), S + will/shall/can + V Inf
• For example: If it rains tomorrow, we will stay at home.

Conditional sentences type 2:

• Formula: If + S + V2/Ved, S+would/could/should + V
• For example: If I had a million dollars, I would buy a big house.

Conditional sentences type 3:

• Formula: If + S + had + V3/Ved, S + would/should/could, S + have + V3/Ved
• Example: If I had studied harder, I would have passed the exam.

Comparative sentences

Comparative structure is an important IELTS grammar point, used frequently in IELTS tests, especially Speaking and Writing.

Comparison type	Recipe	For example
Compare by	S + be + as + Adj + as + N/Pronoun S + V + as + Adv+ as + N/Pronoun (+V) S + to be + the same + (Noun) + as + Noun/ Pronoun	My sister is as tall as me. She sings as beautifully as an angel. Her eyes are the same color as the sea.
Comparative	S + V + short adj/ adv + er/ more + long adj/ adv + than + noun/ pronoun/ clause	She runs faster than a rabbit.
Superlative	Short adjectives: S + V + the + adj + EST … Long adjectives: S + V + the MOST + adj …	She is the youngest student in my class. This is the most expensive car in the showroom.

Modal verbs

Modal verbs are special verbs in English that do not express an action or a state but add meaning to the main verb that follows it. These verbs help us express ability, necessity, permission, doubt, certainty, etc.

For example:

• Can: Can (possibility)
• Must: Must (compulsory)
• May: May (permission)
• Should: Should (advice)
• Will: Will (predict)
• …

Characteristics of modal verbs:

• No division: Modal verbs do not change form according to tenses.

For example:

• I can play tennis. (I can play tennis.)
• She could play tennis when she was young.

As you can see, the modal verbs “can” and “could” do not change their form whether in the present or past tense.

• No -s/ -es added: With third person singular subject.

For example:

• She can dance. (She can dance.)
• He must go home.

With third person singular subjects, regular verbs take -s/-es but modal verbs do not.

He wants to go home.

• There is no V-ing, V-ed form: There is only one form.

For example:

• I can play tennis. (I can play tennis.)
• She could play tennis. (She can play tennis.)

Modal verbs do not have a V-ing or V-ed form, they are always in the infinitive form.

• Always followed by the infinitive: The main verb after a modal verb is always in the infinitive form.

For example:

• I must go now. (I must go now.)
• You should study harder.
• She can speak English. (She can speak English.)

The main verb after a modal verb is always in the infinitive form.

Simple sentence structure – compound sentence – complex sentence

• Simple sentence: is the simplest type of sentence in English, containing only one independent clause. An independent clause is a group of words containing a subject and a verb, expressing a complete thought. A simple sentence helps to convey a brief, clear message.

Example: She sings beautifully. (She sings beautifully.)

• Compound sentence: is a type of sentence formed by combining two or more independent clauses. Each independent clause can stand alone as a complete sentence, but when joined together with coordinating conjunctions or semicolons, they form a compound sentence that makes more sense.

For example:I like to read books, and my sister likes to watch movies.

• Complex sentence: is a type of sentence that includes at least one independent clause and one dependent clause. An independent clause can stand alone as a complete sentence, while a dependent clause cannot stand alone and must depend on the main clause to form a complete meaning.

For example: Because it was raining, I stayed at home.

• Compound-complex sentence: is a rather complex type of sentence in English, combining the characteristics of both compound and complex sentences. In other words, a complex sentence includes:

• • At least two independent clauses: Each of these clauses can stand alone as a complete sentence.
  • One or more dependent clauses: A dependent clause cannot stand alone but must depend on another independent clause.

For example: Although I love to read, I don't have much time to do it because I have a busy schedule, but I always try to read a few pages every day.

Conjunction

Conjunctions are words that join words, phrases, or clauses together to form more complex sentences. There are three main types of conjunctions in English:

• Coordinating conjunctions: Join words, phrases, or clauses of the same grammatical rank. Common coordinating conjunctions include: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so. For example: I like apples, and she likes oranges.
• Correlative conjunctions: Always go in pairs to join words, phrases or clauses that have the same function in a sentence. For example: Either you can go to the party or you can stay at home.
• Subordinating conjunctions: Join the dependent clause with the independent clause. For example: Because it was raining, we stayed at home.

For example:

• Would you like coffee or tea?
• Both he and she like reading books.
• Although she is very busy, she always finds time to help others.

Most common IELTS grammar mistakes

Even people who have studied IELTS grammar for a long time often make the following mistakes. To improve, you need to practice every day until you master them:

• Error linking ideas: This is a common problem among beginners in English. Common mistakes include incorrect punctuation, not knowing how to use conjunctions appropriately, or choosing the wrong conjunction when connecting ideas in a sentence.
• Confusion between articles: Although a/an/the is a basic IELTS grammar topic, many candidates still have difficulty doing exercises related to them.
• Use the possessive case ('s) and of: To get a higher score, you need to use the possessive case and of naturally. Many long-time English learners still have difficulty distinguishing and correctly applying these two forms.

Improve grammar mistakes in IELTS Writing test

Writing a high-scoring IELTS essay not only requires you to have a rich vocabulary and the ability to express your ideas clearly, but also requires you to have a good grasp of grammar. To improve your IELTS grammar mistakes and achieve a higher score in the Writing section, you can refer to the following suggestions from ETEST Study Abroad English:

• Understand the scoring criteria: In the IELTS test, grammar counts for a certain percentage of the score. Understanding the specific criteria will help you identify the mistakes to avoid and the points to focus on. Read and analyse high-scoring sample essays to learn how to use grammar accurately and in a variety of ways.
• Identify and fix errors: Tools like Grammarly, LanguageTool, or Google Docs will help you detect and correct grammar errors quickly. However, don't rely too much on tools, but actively check your writing.
• Practice writing regularly: Writing a diary in English every day is an effective way to improve your grammar and vocabulary or read articles in English and try to rewrite them in your own language.

Improving grammar errors in IELTS Writing is a process that requires perseverance and regular practice. By applying the above suggestions, you can absolutely achieve your goal.

How to learn IELTS grammar effectively – IELTS Grammar Tips

Each person can have their own method to learn IELTS grammar effectively. You can enrich your learning by watching movies, listening to music, or choose the traditional method, as long as it is suitable and brings results.

Here are some tips that ETEST English for Study Abroad Share to help you master IELTS grammar topics quickly.

This IELTS grammar learning method will include 3 stages in total:

Phase 1: Master the core knowledge of each IELTS grammar topic. 

• Focus on remembering important elements such as formula, usage, identification signs, and necessary notes.
• Use examples to memorize easily: Instead of just memorizing the theory, give specific examples for each formula. When you need to review your knowledge, just look at these examples to remember quickly and effectively.

Phase 2: Practice to memorize

Practice by doing grammar exercises, paying attention to the context of each sentence so you can apply the knowledge to many different situations.

Many people often take this stage lightly and skip doing exercises, leading to the inability to use grammar fluently and naturally. When doing exercises, do not just focus on finding the correct answer but pay attention to the context of each sentence so that you can apply it flexibly in many different situations.

Phase 3: Apply knowledge to Listening, Speaking, Reading, Writing skills

• Practice using grammar in real-life situations
• For example: write an essay about something you did in the past, practice speaking on this topic.

If you are lacking in grammar and do not know how to effectively consolidate it, go to IELTS test preparation centers. ETEST English for Study Abroad With a team of teachers who graduated from the world's leading universities with many years of teaching experience and are former IELTS examiners, we will help you quickly build a solid grammar foundation.

Currently, ETEST English for Study Abroad is offering the Grammar Expert course, which specializes in both general and advanced English grammar. IELTS grammar. The course is built on IELTS learning roadmap Personalized, suitable for each person's ability and level, helping the grammar review process to quickly see results.

IELTS Course IELTS 1 on 1 course Above are some areas of knowledge IELTS grammar that you need to pay attention to and practice every day. Hopefully the article has provided you with the most general information, helping your exam preparation process become more effective.