The English teachers voice

What is the format of the IELTS test? If you have decided to register for the IELTS exam , you will need to prepare for this important assessment. You should be familiar with the structure and format of the test, and keep some key rules in mind. You can sign up at language centres , and choose specific IELTS exam preparation courses , but may also find online resources helpful. IELTS learning materials and resources provide very good practice for understanding the exact format of the tests. There are three versions of the IELTS test - Academic , General Training and Life Skills . The first two tests, Academic and General Training, are divided into four sections: Listening , Speaking , Reading and Writing . All candidates are required to take the same Listening and Speaking tests, but there are different requirements for the Reading and Writing sections. The Academic Reading and Writing questions will be more abstract than those in the General Training version. IELTS Life Skills incl...

  There is  and  there are What’s the difference between  there is  and  there are ? Depending on whether a singular or plural noun follows, we use ‘there is’ for singular nouns and ‘there are’ for plural nouns. Most natives will use the singular version ‘there is’ even with plural nouns, although this is actually incorrect and should only be used in informal speech . Do try to use the two forms correctly, for singular and plural nouns. Complete explanations with examples on  there is or there are  to follow: We use  there is  and  there are  to say that someone or something exists or is somewhere. We use them before the subject, or as a preparatory subject. For instance, it’s not correct to say; ‘a lot of people here’ or ‘they are a lot of people here’. The correct form would be ‘There are a lot of people here. There is : used with  singular   nouns There   is  a new  boy ...

  On and upon What’s the difference between on and upon?  There are two ways to answer this question, the first way is "Formality"!  ‘On’ is generally considered to be more common, and is preferred for everyday use. ‘Upon’ on the other hand, is far more formal, and should not be used all the time, instead of ‘on’. The two words, ‘on’ and ‘upon’ are mostly interchangeable, but not always. Both words function as prepositions and adverbs (also, ‘on’ can be an adjective).  Anytime, ‘on’ is being used, ‘upon’ could take its place, if the speaker wanted to do so. It’s generally best to use ‘on’ most of the time and use ‘upon’ more sparingly. Examples with ‘on’ I went on a school trip to Trujillo, Peru. Cristal put the books back on the shelf where they belong. I’ll be waiting for you on the third floor. On arrival, beware of the dogs. You can only enter on my authoriz...

Linking words are very important to know in any style of writing because they help the reader to follow what you are saying. Whether it’s an argument in an  essay  or a scene in a Harry Potter novel , the reader needs to be able to follow the true meaning of what they are reading.  What Are Linking Words? Linking words are words that connect ideas together in a piece of writing. It shows that two things are related in some way, or that the point you are making has supporting information. Linking words can be found at both the start of paragraphs as well as in the middle of sentences to connect two ideas together too. Why Learn Linking Words? The answer to that question is both simple and logical, if you don’t know a variety of linking words to connect ideas together in a piece of writing, then you’re writing won’t be understandable. In most cases, your readers will become confused and fail to follow the message you are trying to get across in your writing, because t...