In order to score highly for grammatical range in IELTS Writing, it’s necessary to build complex sentences. Below you’ll find 7 of the key ways to do this.
7 ways to build complex sentences and add grammatical range:
1. Using a relative clause
There are two types of relative clause: defining and non-defining relative clauses. Relative clauses are extremely important - they help you give more information about the subject or object of a sentence. Relative clauses are introduced by relative pronouns such as "who," "whom," "whose," "that," and "which."
For example:
The government should encourage people who have necessary skills and expertise to immigrate to the country.
The countries which export a lot of goods and services benefited greatly from trade agreements.
The Louvre Museum, whose collection of artwork is famous around the world, is located in Paris.
You can also begin relative clauses with “when”, “whereby”, and “where”.
There was a time when train travel was cheap.
The system of globalisation, whereby countries become more interconnected through trade, has benefited both importing and exporting countries.
There are many examples where people choose to save money for a future purchase.
In some schools teachers face a situation where students are undisciplined and disruptive.
For more information and exercises go to: Relative Clauses (fastforwardielts.com)
2. Linking adverbs "Linkers":
Adverbs are very important as discourse markers - to show the reader how the ideas in your ideas flow and connect together. For this reason, good use of linking adverbs, “linkers”, will improve the coherence and cohesion of your essay while also helping you build some complex sentences.
These linkers can be separated into 4 categories based on why they are used: result, reason, purpose, and contrast.
Result: so, therefore, thus, consequently, and as a result.
The experiment yielded consistent results. Therefore, the hypothesis was supported.
The new teaching method was implemented, and as a result, student engagement and performance showed significant improvement.
Cause: because/ as/ since/ because of/ due to/ owing to
He failed the exam because he didn’t study.
Due to the use of coal power stations, there is a serious air pollution problem.
Purpose: to/ in order to/ so as to/ so that
Governments should take actions in order to reduce unemployment.
Smartphones should be banned in the classroom so that students are not distracted by them.
Contrast: but, while, however, nevertheless, although, even though, though, in spite of, despite
Many people were killed by the flood despite the efforts of emergency services.
Although genetics play a role in determining personality, childhood experience is more important.
For more information and exercises go to: Linking Adverbs & Phrases (Linkers)
3. Using 2nd Conditionals:
Second conditional clauses use “if” (or another conjunction: “provided”, “as long as”, or “unless”) and are used to show that something is imagined or hypothetical. They can often be used to present imagined solutions and their results in IELTS essays.
The structure of a 2nd conditional is: If + past simple, would/ could + infinitive
For example:
If we invested more in helping children from very poor families in our country, we could give them an equal chance at success in life.
If these measures reduced excessive alcohol consumption, they would help alleviate one of the main problems that causes illness and premature death.
For more information and exercises go to: 2nd Conditionals - The Unreal Present or Future (fastforwardielts.com)
4. Gerund clauses:
Gerunds are formed when we turn a verb into a noun. Using gerunds, a verb (or verb phrase, as below) acts like a noun and can be the subject of the sentence.
Growing up in poverty often leads to underachievement at school and increases the risk of becoming involved in crime”.
In this sentence, "Growing up in poverty" is a gerund clause serving as the subject of the main clause "often leads to underachievement at school." The gerund clause acts as a noun, and the rest of the sentence provides information about the action represented by the gerund.
For more information and exercises go to: Gerund Clauses
5. Infinitive clauses as subjects:
You can also use an infinitive clause to begin a complex sentence. In IELTS essays, these can be used to show why something should be done. The infinitive clause is therefore often followed by a modal verb such as would, should, may, might, can and could.
For example:
"To achieve a reduction in traffic congestion, the government should invest more in public transportation."
“To reduce homelessness, it would be best to focus on programmes that address drug addiction and mental health issues”.
6. The passive voice:
There are various reasons you might use the passive voice in English writing, but generally speaking, the passive voice is used regularly in formal and academic writing. That means it’s very useful for IELTS Academic Writing Task 1, for formal letters in IELTS General Test Writing Task 1, and of course in Writing Task 2.
For more information, examples and practice exercises, go to: Using the Passive Voice in IELTS Writing (fastforwardielts.com)
7. Not only… but… (Inversion):
One of my favourite expressions when I want to give two reasons why something is good or bad in an IELTS essay is not only…but….. . This grammar structure is an example of inversion. With inversion, the subject and verb order is changed so that the verb comes first. Look at the examples below:
Not only is eating in restaurants more expensive than eating at home, but it is more expensive too.
not only are outdoor activities far more beneficial for children’s mental and physical health, but they also give children more opportunities to interact with others and develop important soft skills.
I strongly believe that physical education classes are useful, because not only are they beneficial to health, but they can also help pupils concentrate more effectively on their academic studies.
Of course, there are other ways to add complexity to sentences, but if you can master these 7, you will be able to score highly in IELTS for your grammatical range.
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