IELTS Writing Grammar: Band 6 vs Band 8

Introduction

• Common struggles with IELTS writing grammar:
  • Sentence types
  • Subject-verb agreement
  • Tenses
• Focus of the video: differences between Band 6 and Band 8 grammar.

Key Aspects of Grammar

1. Types of Sentences
   • Simple sentences are easy to write but limit complexity.
   • Importance of using a mix of:
     • Simple Sentences
     • Compound Sentences (combination of two simple sentences)
     • Complex Sentences (using subordinate conjunctions like "if", "as", "though", etc.)

Example Transformation

• From simple to complex sentences:
  • Original: "Some people think social networking sites are harmful."
  • Complex: "Some people think that social networking sites are harmful, and they also believe these sites lead to less face-to-face interaction."
  • Importance of maintaining balance: Some simple sentences are necessary but should not overwhelm the writing.

Subject-Verb Agreement

• Definition: agreement between nouns and verbs.
• Common errors:
  • Singular nouns require verbs with s (e.g., "he eats").
  • Plural nouns do not take the s (e.g., "they eat").
• Example Errors:
  • "Some networking sites is..." (should be "are").
  • "They has..." (should be "have").

Tense Usage

• Importance of using present tense:
  • Present tense conveys facts and ongoing truths.
  • Avoid unnecessary past or perfect tenses unless contextually appropriate.
• Common tense errors:
  • Using past tense for ongoing or factual statements (e.g., "Social networking sites allowed").
  • Maintain consistency in tense throughout the writing.

Conclusion

• Focus on these three elements (sentence types, subject-verb agreement, tenses) to improve IELTS writing scores.
• Emphasize simplicity and clarity over complexity.
• Encouragement to seek feedback and assistance for continuous improvement.