Essential Grammar Rules Every IELTS Candidate Must Know

Grammar plays a major role in both the IELTS Speaking and Writing exams. Mistakes in tense, sentence structure, or articles can significantly affect your score. Master these 10 key grammar rules to improve clarity, accuracy, and overall performance.

1. Subject-Verb Agreement

Ensure that the subject and verb agree in number. For example: “He likes apples,” not “He like apples.”

2. Use of Tenses

Know when to use present simple vs. present continuous, past simple, present perfect, etc.

3. Articles

Understand the difference between “a,” “an,” and “the.”

4. Prepositions

Watch your use of “in,” “on,” “at,” “to,” etc. These are often misused.

5. Modal Verbs

Use modals like “can,” “should,” “might” correctly.

6. Passive Voice

Know how and when to use the passive form, especially in Writing Task 1.

7. Complex Sentences

Combine ideas with conjunctions like “although,” “because,” “while,” and “however.”

8. Conditional Sentences

Practice the zero, first, second, and third conditionals.

9. Question Formation

Practice forming both WH- and yes/no questions properly.

10. Common Errors

Be aware of common grammar pitfalls — e.g., “advices” (uncountable), “informations,” “she don’t,” etc.

Understanding and applying these grammar rules in context will dramatically improve your fluency and coherence in the IELTS exam.