IELTS grammar lessons for Writing and Speaking

Short grammar lessons with rules, model sentences, common mistakes and a self-check.

• Articles: a, an, the and zeroThe most frequent error in IELTS writing — and the easiest marks to win back. Free IELTS grammar lesson: rules, examples, common mistakes, self-check.
• Subject–verb agreementMake verbs match their subjects, even when the subject is long or tricky. Free IELTS grammar lesson: rules, examples, common mistakes, self-check.
• Countable and uncountable nounsAdvice, research, evidence, equipment — the nouns that never take an 's'. Free IELTS grammar lesson: rules, examples, common mistakes, self-check.
• Present perfect vs past simpleFinished time or up to now? Choose the right tense every time. Free IELTS grammar lesson: rules, examples, common mistakes, self-check.
• Tenses for describing dataPast, present and future tenses for charts, tables and projections in Task 1. Free IELTS grammar lesson: rules, examples, common mistakes, self-check.
• Talking about the futureWill, going to, present continuous and future perfect — for plans, predictions and hopes. Free IELTS grammar lesson: rules, examples, common mistakes, self-chec
• ConditionalsZero, first, second, third and mixed — the structures examiners look for at Band 7. Free IELTS grammar lesson: rules, examples, common mistakes, self-check.
• Relative clausesWho, which, that, whose, where — add detail and combine ideas precisely. Free IELTS grammar lesson: rules, examples, common mistakes, self-check.
• Complex sentencesCombine ideas with subordinate clauses for the range examiners reward. Free IELTS grammar lesson: rules, examples, common mistakes, self-check.
• The passive voiceShift focus to the action — essential for processes and formal writing. Free IELTS grammar lesson: rules, examples, common mistakes, self-check.
• Modals and hedgingMay, might, could, tend to — make careful, academic claims instead of absolute ones. Free IELTS grammar lesson: rules, examples, common mistakes, self-check.
• Comparatives and superlativesCompare figures and ideas accurately — the backbone of Task 1. Free IELTS grammar lesson: rules, examples, common mistakes, self-check.
• Linking words and cohesionConnect ideas smoothly without sounding mechanical. Free IELTS grammar lesson: rules, examples, common mistakes, self-check.
• Referencing and substitutionThis, these, such, the former — avoid repetition and make text flow. Free IELTS grammar lesson: rules, examples, common mistakes, self-check.
• Prepositions for numbers and trendsRose to, by, from, at, with — small words that make Task 1 numbers accurate. Free IELTS grammar lesson: rules, examples, common mistakes, self-check.
• Punctuation and sentence boundariesStop run-on sentences and comma splices — the errors that blur your meaning. Free IELTS grammar lesson: rules, examples, common mistakes, self-check.
• Gerunds and infinitivesEnjoy doing or want to do? Learn the patterns that trip up even strong speakers. Free IELTS grammar lesson: rules, examples, common mistakes, self-check.
• Nominalisation and noun phrasesTurn verbs into nouns to write in a concise, academic style. Free IELTS grammar lesson: rules, examples, common mistakes, self-check.
• Concession and contrastAlthough, despite, whereas, however — acknowledge the other side precisely. Free IELTS grammar lesson: rules, examples, common mistakes, self-check.
• Participle clausesHaving finished… Faced with… — compress clauses for a sophisticated style. Free IELTS grammar lesson: rules, examples, common mistakes, self-check.
• Emphasis: cleft sentences and inversionWhat matters most is… / Not only… but also — add weight to key points. Free IELTS grammar lesson: rules, examples, common mistakes, self-check.
• Quantifiers and approximationFew vs a few, less vs fewer, almost half, just over — talk about amounts precisely. Free IELTS grammar lesson: rules, examples, common mistakes, self-check.