3 ways to use parallelism in IELTS writing

Photo credit: aloshbennett on Flickr.

Here's one tip that you could use to show your skill in writing.

Make use of parallelism. Parallelism in grammar is known as the balance of two or more similar words, phrases, or clauses. In the IELTS, parallelism is important because it could help you demonstrate your understanding of coherence and cohesion as well as the grammatical range and accuracy of your writing task.

To see parallelism in action, we invite you to read an excerpt of President Benigno S. Aquino III’s recent speech after he signed four legislative measures on June 21, 2011. Note how the same grammatical structure of the clauses was maintained. Thus:

"Our administration was voted into office because our people believed in the promise of change—the promise of being able to walk into a hospital and see a doctor when they or their children need to; the promise of being able to overcome the widespread poverty that has for so long crippled this nation; and the promise that our administration would create in this country a level playing field for people and businesses alike."

So how do you use this technique?

The Los Angeles Valley College Writing Center shares 3 ways:

1. Retain the grammatical form of the words contained in a series or list.

Example:

"The energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to this endeavor will light our country and all who serve it."

(The words in italics are all nouns.)

2. Maintain the same grammatical structure of the connected clauses and phrases.

Example:

"Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, to assure the survival and the success of liberty."

(Note the verb-object format)

3. Allow verb tenses in a sentence to stay the same.

Example:

"Let both sides seek to invoke the wonders of science instead of its terrors. Together let us explore the stars, conquer the deserts, eradicate disease, tap the ocean depths, and encourage the arts and commerce."

(The verbs in italics are in the present tense.)

Read more about these tips at the Los Angeles Valley College Writing Center website.

Cheers!


Attribution to President Benigno S. Aquino III for his June 21, 2011 speech, to President John F. Kennedy for his inaugural speech on January 20, 1961, and to the Los Angeles Valley College for its article entitled "Parallelism".

14 ways to prevent subject-verb agreement errors

Occasionally, we notice that our students commit mistakes when it comes to subject-verb agreement during their IELTS preparation or review. When that happens, we always remind them of the rules and the pointers. A singular subject requires a singular verb. On the other hand, a plural subject requires a plural verb.

EXAMPLES:

Claire (singular subject) checks (singular verb) her Facebook account every day.

The boys (plural subject) communicate (plural verb) through Twitter.

Now we're going to share with you some pointers that you could use when you check your work. Here they are:

1. Avoid making the verb agree with words that come after it.

INCORRECT: A fond memory are the visits we made to grandma and grandpa.

CORRECT: A fond memory (singular subject) is (singular verb) the visits we made to grandma and grandpa

2. Be careful of sentences where the subject appears at the end of the sentence.

INCORRECT: Staying at Suite 1701 was our relatives.

CORRECT: Staying at Suite 1701 were (plural verb) our relatives (plural subject).

3. The verb should agree with its subject even if there are plural words that come between them.

INCORRECT: The common issue of these cases are the legality of his dismissal.

CORRECT: The common issue (singular subject) of these cases is (singular verb) the legality of his dismissal.

4. The verb should agree with its subject even if the phrases "as well as," "together with," "in addition to," and similar others, come between them.

INCORRECT: Jollibee, together with McDonalds, are popular in the Philippines.

CORRECT: Jollibee (singular subject), together with McDonalds, is (singular verb) popular in the Philippines.

5. The verb should agree with its subject even if a phrase starting with the word "not" comes between them.

INCORRECT: Ramon, not the other band members, are going to the party.

CORRECT: Ramon (singular subject), not the other band members, is (singular verb) going to the party.

6. Noun phrases that talk about a unit require singular verbs.

EXAMPLE: The rack and pinion is (singular) a pair of gears which convert rotational motion into linear motion. It is commonly found in the steering mechanism of cars or other wheeled, steered vehicles.

7. Mathematical phrases require singular verbs.

EXAMPLE: Fifteen and fifteen is thirty.

8. Note your use of collective nouns. If you are referring to the group as a whole, then it requires a singular verb. If, on the other hand, you are referring to the individuals comprising the said group, then use a plural verb.

SINGULAR: Patrick's family is respected in the community. ("Family" here is referred to as a group.)

PLURAL: Patrick's family are doctors.

9. Similarly, note your use of nouns that express amounts.

SINGULAR: Eight hours is the recommended length of time to sleep. ("Eight hours" is referred to as a unit.)

PLURAL: Eight hours for two consecutive weeks were required to finish the course.

10. Indefinite pronouns like someone, somebody, everyone, etc. are considered as singular and thus require a singular verb.

EXAMPLE: Everyone is (singular) invited to my birthday party.

11. Either/or and Neither/nor require singular verbs.

EXAMPLE: Either the Evolution or the Impreza is (singular) at the parking lot.

12. Note that some nouns appear plural. However, they are actually singular.

EXAMPLE: Gymnastics is (singular) a sport I would like to watch.

13. Some nouns ending in "-ics" can be singular or plural.

SINGULAR: Economics is a subject that he wants to teach.

PLURAL: The economics of the situation involve a reduction of unnecessary spending.

14. Finally, note the plural forms of foreign words.

EXAMPLE: The syllabi (plural of syllabus) have been submitted two weeks ago.

There you have it. Feel free to use the tips and pointers whenever you practice or review for your IELTS writing and speaking.

We hope that you liked our tips for today. Cheers! :)

Provide more description via relative pronouns and clauses

Here's a tip that could help you supply additional information about a topic.

Use relative pronouns and clauses.

This could be handy when it comes to your IELTS speaking test.

Relative pronouns are used to present details about a certain subject matter. Common relative pronouns are "who," "which," and "that."

"Who" is used for people.

Example:

The lawyer, who cross-examined the witness, is a senior partner of a prestigious law firm.

On the other hand, "which" and "that" are used for things.

Examples:

The red car that I detailed this morning belongs to my father.

My favorite step in the detailing regimen is the machine polishing stage, which I usually do for around 5 hours.

Notice how the relative pronouns/clauses were able to supply us with additional information on the nouns they were modifying.

Please remember though that you could use the relative pronoun "that," when the information is important for the understanding of the main clause. Otherwise, just use "which." Read more about this in Laura Hale Brockway's blog post "'That' vs. 'Which': Easy tips for determining when to use each word"

To sum it up, we recommend that you add information and description to your statements. One good way to do this is through the use of relative pronouns and clauses. Not only would you be able to show your skill in handling complex sentences, but you would also be able to make your language vivid and rich.

Using the Passive Voice in IELTS Academic Writing Task 1

Photo credit: Christy C on Flickr.

In Task 1 of the Academic Writing Module, you could be asked to describe a process. In such a case, one technique we could share is for you to use the passive voice. In the passive voice, the subject is the recipient of the action and it essentially centers on the events that happen to the subject.

To see how the passive voice is used in describing processes, we invite you to read an excerpt of a Wikipedia article that informs us about the chemical process of photosynthesis. Thus:

"Although photosynthesis can happen in different ways in different species, some features are always the same. For example, the process always begins when energy from light is absorbed by proteins called photosynthetic reaction centers that contain chlorophylls. In plants, these proteins are held inside organelles called chloroplasts, while in bacteria they are embedded in the plasma membrane. Some of the light energy gathered by chlorophylls is stored in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). The rest of the energy is used to remove electrons from a substance such as water. These electrons are then used in the reactions that turn carbon dioxide into organic compounds. In plants, algae and cyanobacteria, this is done by a sequence of reactions called the Calvin cycle, but different sets of reactions are found in some bacteria, such as the reverse Krebs cycle in Chlorobium. Many photosynthetic organisms have adaptations that concentrate or store carbon dioxide. This helps reduce a wasteful process called photorespiration that can consume part of the sugar produced during photosynthesis."

Observe how the events as mentioned in the stages focus on the subjects of the highlighted sentences. Notice likewise how the paragraph appears more formal and non-subjective.

To sum up, when describing processes or procedures, you should write in a formal tone. To do this, one of the things we suggest is the use of the grammatical construction called the passive voice. Not only does this make your work have an impersonal tone, but it also highlights each step or stage of the process you're describing.

Unlock the secret to your IELTS Preparation

When you decide to prepare for your IELTS, there could be a possibility that you'd find it rather daunting, especially if you find the lessons and activities too difficult to answer. One piece of advice we could share is this: always keep your goal in mind; be eager to do what you can in order to improve yourself.

There are no shortcuts to preparing for the IELTS.

You just have to put in the work. The wonderful thing about it is that when you consistently focus your efforts on improving yourself, you'll begin to notice that you'll slowly, but surely, learn new things. Each practice session that you have and every mistake you make will add to your experience and make you better.

Preparing for the IELTS can be said to have a number of similarities with exercising.

You won't be able to have a healthy body if you don't become physically active for a regular period of your day or week. Your IELTS preparation follows a similar pattern. Your preparation shouldn't take a majority of your time every day. But, it cannot be denied that it does take a bit of your time every single day. Thus, being consistent is really your key here. Sadly, many people desire a high score, but only a few of them actually do anything about it.

If ever you're one of those who find it hard to understand your IELTS lessons, please don’t lose hope.

We all have to start somewhere. Your road to success with your IELTS preparation depends on the quality of your commitment to your goal and on the amount of work you perform on a consistent basis. In other words, just be persistent, and always work a step closer towards your purpose, vision, and goal.

Transition phrases for IELTS writing (Cohesion, Part 4 of 4)

We're now going to talk about transition words and phrases in relation to cohesion in writing.

Transition words and phrases are basically those which connect ideas, sentences, and paragraphs together.

These words and phrases signal that something is to be added, listed, compared, constrasted, emphasized, concluded, or provided with an example or result.

To see the technique in action we'd invite you to read an excerpt of Mignon Fogarty's article entitled "Yoda Grammar." Notice how the article was able to connect the ideas and sentences via a list ("Finally"), example ("For example"), and conclusion ("So"). Thus:

"Finally, both Carson and websites [and here] note that when Yoda has something really important to say, he tends to say it in standard English. For example, he uses standard word order and not Yodish when he tells Anakin, "The fear of loss is a path to the dark side" and when he comments that, "A Jedi uses the Force for knowledge and defense, never for attack." One theory is that Yoda is making an extra effort to speak standard English when his point is critical so that his listeners understand his point.

So, although Yodish may not conform to the most common form of standard English, it's hard to say it isn't real English when we have acceptable phrases like "With this ring, I thee wed." It's certainly a fun topic for linguists."

There are other examples of transition words and phrases such as "moreover," "similarly," "in contrast," and "as a result," among others. Use them well in your writing tasks.

There you have it. We hope that you liked our tips on cohesion and IELTS writing.


Attribution to Mignon Fogarty and her article entitled "Yoda Grammar."


Read the related tips:

• Why Pronouns and Reference Words are Important (Cohesion, Part 1 of 4)
• Improve your IELTS writing skill via conjunctions and linking words (Cohesion, Part 2 of 4)
• Synonyms as tools in IELTS writing (Cohesion, Part 3 of 4)
• Transition words and phrases for better writing (Cohesion, Part 4 of 4)

Synonyms as tools in IELTS writing (Cohesion, Part 3 of 4)

One cohesive device that you could use for your writing tasks is that of synonyms.

Synonyms are words that have the same or nearly the same meaning as other words.

To see how this technique works, we'd like to invite you to read excerpts of Hamish Fletcher's article at the NZ Herald entitled "Don't upset 'digital natives' bosses told." He writes:

"Employers cracking down on Facebook at work are 'cutting off the air supply' to the digital generation, says an Auckland academic.

While many bosses are locking out their workers from social networking sites, the University of Auckland's Michael Myers believed this is not the best way to deal with 'digital natives'."

Upon closer examination, you will notice that there were 3 instances where the technique was used:

1) Note how the word "employers" was expressed at the second paragraph.

"Employers cracking down on Facebook at work are 'cutting off the air supply' to the digital generation, says an Auckland academic.

While many bosses are locking out their workers from social networking sites, the University of Auckland's Michael Myers believed this is not the best way to deal with 'digital natives'."

2) Notice also how the actions of the employers were written.

"Employers cracking down on Facebook at work are 'cutting off the air supply' to the digital generation, says an Auckland academic.

While many bosses are locking out their workers from social networking sites, the University of Auckland's Michael Myers believed this is not the best way to deal with 'digital natives'."

3) Finally, observe how the workers or employees were described.

"Employers cracking down on Facebook at work are 'cutting off the air supply' to the digital generation, says an Auckland academic.

While many bosses are locking out their workers from social networking sites, the University of Auckland's Michael Myers believed this is not the best way to deal with 'digital natives'."

To summarize, apart from showing your skill in lexical resource by avoiding to write repetitive words, an advantage that you could have by using synonyms is that you could enable the reader of your writing task to easily determine how the sentences in your paragraphs are connected.

We hope you liked our tips for today.

Next, we will be sharing our tips with regard to cohesion through transition words and phrases. Cheers!


Attribution to Hamish Fletcher and his article at the NZ Herald entitled "Don't upset 'digital natives' bosses told."


Read the related tips:

• Why Pronouns and Reference Words are Important (Cohesion, Part 1 of 4)
• Improve your IELTS writing skill via conjunctions and linking words (Cohesion, Part 2 of 4)
• Synonyms as tools in IELTS writing (Cohesion, Part 3 of 4)
• Transition words and phrases for better writing (Cohesion, Part 4 of 4)

Use conjunctions in IELTS writing (Cohesion, Part 2 of 4)

In the IELTS writing test, a candidate should be able to use a variety of cohesive devices. The other day, we talked about using reference words. Today, you'll be able to add another tool to improve your writing skill. This involves the use of certain linking words which are known as conjunctions. Some examples of conjunctions that you could use are "and," "or," and "but," among others.

To see them in action, we'd like to invite you to read excerpts of Christine Sheehy's article at the NZ Herald entitled "Introducing 'The Beauty of Humanity Movement'".

Re: "and"

Use "and" to connect clauses that have equal ideas.

Example:

I read the first half of two promising books, before tossing them aside. They were decent enough and if I was reading for pleasure alone I would have continued.

Re: "or"

Use "or" to connect clauses that state alternative ideas.

Example:

I'm not expecting a masterpiece every time, but there has to be something challenging about it. Something that engages our emotions, takes us to a new place or encourages us to think about things in a different way. In other words, we need something to discuss.

Re: "but"

Use "but" to show contrast.

Example:

I'm not expecting a masterpiece every time, but there has to be something challenging about it. Something that engages our emotions, takes us to a new place or encourages us to think about things in a different way. In other words, we need something to discuss.

You could use other conjunctions, of course. We encourage you to research for them. With conjunctions, you'd notice that you'll be able to easily connect clauses, which, in turn, would result to a smooth flow of ideas. Therefore, use them to your advantage.

Next, we will be sharing our tips with regard to cohesion through synonyms. Cheers!


Attribution to Christine Sheehy and her article at the NZ Herald entitled "Introducing 'The Beauty of Humanity Movement'."


Read the related tips:

• Why Pronouns and Reference Words are Important (Cohesion, Part 1 of 4)
• Improve your IELTS writing skill via conjunctions and linking words (Cohesion, Part 2 of 4)
• Synonyms as tools in IELTS writing (Cohesion, Part 3 of 4)
• Transition words and phrases for better writing (Cohesion, Part 4 of 4)

Why Pronouns/Reference Words are Important (Cohesion, Part 1 of 4)

Coherence and Cohesion is a criteria considered by IELTS examiners when they check your writing tasks. Coherence relates to the way your ideas are organized. Cohesion, on the other hand, relates to the way your sentences are connected.

With regard to improving your writing skill via cohesion, remember to make use of these 4 word types:

reference words;

linking words;

synonyms; and

transition words.

Today we'll share with you our tips with regard to reference words. Reference words are those which refer back to previously mentioned words or phrases. Common examples of these are pronouns and their antecedents.

To have a good score when it comes to cohesion vis-a-vis reference words, be sure that your pronouns agree with their antecedent. To do this, make use of the tips in our previous post "[HOW TO] Check if a pronoun agrees with its antecedent" Thus:

1. Make sure that the pronoun agrees with its antecedent in gender (male or female).

Example:

"I like Rebecca Black. Her music is very good."

2. Make sure that the pronoun agrees with its antecedent in person (first person, second person, third person).

Example:

"The candidates here study and practice often. They really strive hard to increase their chances of achieving a high score in the IELTS exam." ("candidates" and "they" are in the third person)

3. Finally, make sure that the pronoun agrees with its antecedent in number (singular or plural).

Example:

"The candidates here study and practice often. They really strive hard to increase their chances of achieving a high score in the IELTS exam." ("candidates" and "they" are plural)

Why is this important for you? Well, if you remember to apply these tips, not only would they enable you to show your prowess in grammar, but they would also help your reader easily understand your writing task.

Next, we will be sharing our tips with regard to cohesion through linking words. Cheers!


Read the related tips:

• Why Pronouns and Reference Words are Important (Cohesion, Part 1 of 4)
• Improve your IELTS writing skill via conjunctions and linking words (Cohesion, Part 2 of 4)
• Synonyms as tools in IELTS writing (Cohesion, Part 3 of 4)
• Transition words and phrases for better writing (Cohesion, Part 4 of 4)