Learning English grammar is an important step towards cracking your IELTS exams, especially because our languages are quite different. And English isn’t always straightforward—its rules often don’t match those of Indian languages like Hindi, Marathi or Bengali, which makes it even tougher to grasp.
But don’t worry! Learning grammar is totally possible and we are here to help you make the process easier.
So, let’s break it down in a way that’s simple & most importantly effective.
Table of Contents
- Why Is Grammar Important For IELTS?
- How To Learn English Grammar Easily?
- In Conclusion
- Frequently Asked Questions
Why Is Grammar Important For IELTS?
Let’s start by talking about why grammar is so important for the IELTS exam. IELTS has four components—Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. While you might feel comfortable with listening or reading comprehension, grammar is an area where many students struggle, especially when it comes to writing and speaking.
- In Writing: Grammatical accuracy is directly linked to higher band scores. If your grammar isn’t correct, your sentences will be unclear or confusing. It’s not just about having fancy vocabulary—correct grammar is what makes your ideas easy to understand.
- In Speaking: Your ability to speak clearly and confidently can be impacted by your understanding of grammar. Whether you’re talking about your daily life or describing a complex issue, grammar helps you convey your message effectively.
How To Learn English Grammar Easily?
Now, you might be wondering, “How can I master English grammar easily for the IELTS?” Let’s dive into the step-by-step process.
Step 1: Start with the Basics
It’s tempting to jump straight into complex grammar rules, but the key to learning grammar easily is to start with the basics. Just like when you first learned your native language, you need to build a strong foundation.
1) Understand Sentence Structure
In English, a sentence usually follows the Subject + Verb + Object (SVO) pattern.
For example:
- I ate an apple (S+V+O)
- She speaks English (S+V+O)
This structure is simpler than what you might be used to in languages like Hindi, where the structure can be Subject + Object + Verb (S+O+V).
For example
- मैंने सेब खाया (S+O+V)
- वह इंग्लिश बोलती है (S+O+V)
Understanding this pattern will help you build basic, correct sentences.
2) Know the Tenses
Tenses in English can be tricky because they describe when an action takes place (past, present, future). But once you understand the basic tense structure, it becomes much easier to use them correctly.
- Present Simple: I study every day
- Past Simple: I studied yesterday
- Future Simple: I will study tomorrow
There are different versions of these tenses. But go to that later. Focus on getting a grip on present simple, past simple and future simple tenses first. These are the most commonly used tenses in IELTS writing and speaking tasks.
Step 2: Learn Parts of Speech
The next step is to focus on the parts of speech. In every sentence you create, you’ll find these essential building blocks. Once you master them, it will become much easier to structure sentences for your IELTS exam.
1) Know what is Nouns, Verbs, Adjectives and Adverbs
- Nouns: People, places, things or ideas. For example, dog, India, happiness.
- Verbs: Actions or states of being. For example, run, is, eat.
- Adjectives: Words that describe nouns. For example, beautiful, tall, fast.
- Adverbs: Words that describe verbs, adjectives or other adverbs. For example, quickly, very, carefully.
Each part of speech plays a unique role in a sentence. For instance, in the sentence “She speaks English fluently,” “She” is a noun (subject), “speaks” is a verb (action) and “fluently” is an adverb (describes the action).
2) Practice with Examples
It’s important to apply these parts of speech in real sentences. Here are a few examples you can practice with:
- Noun: The book is on the table.
- Verb: I will write a letter.
- Adjective: She has a beautiful dress.
- Adverb: He runs fast.
Start by making simple sentences and gradually add more detail as you get comfortable.
Step 3: Avoid Making Common Grammar Mistakes
We’ve seen our students make the same grammar mistakes again and again. It’s helpful to be aware of these mistakes and avoid them. Here are some common ones:
1) Subject-Verb Agreement
This rule means that the subject (the person or thing doing the action) and the verb (the action word) must match in number. If the subject is singular (one person or thing), the verb must also be singular. If the subject is plural (more than one person or thing), the verb must be plural.
For example:
- She plays football. (She is one person, so the verb play with s should be used)
- They play football. (They refer to more than one person, so the verb play without s should be used)
Incorrect usage would look like this:
- She play football.
2) Articles
In languages like Hindi, articles (like “a”, “an” and “the”) aren’t used, which often causes confusion in English.
- Correct: I saw a dog.
- Incorrect: I saw dog.
3) Prepositions
Prepositions can be tricky because they don’t always match with their equivalents in other languages.
- Correct: I’m going to the market.
- Incorrect: I’m going at the market.
Take time to practice these rules so that you can avoid making these mistakes on your IELTS exam.
Step 4: Practice with IELTS-Specific Grammar
For IELTS, there are certain grammar areas that you need to focus on more than others. These include:
1) Complex Sentences
Being able to use complex sentences effectively will show the examiner that you can handle more advanced English grammar. For example:
- I want to go to the cinema, but I don’t have enough money.
2) Conditionals
In IELTS Writing Task 2, you often have to discuss hypothetical situations or make recommendations. For example:
- If they had more time, They would definitely work effieciently.
3) Passive Voice
Understanding when to use the passive voice will help you express ideas differently.
- Active voice: The teacher explains the lesson.
- Passive voice: The lesson is explained by the teacher.
Practice these structures to improve your sentence variety and overall grammar score.
Step 5: Learn from Real-Life Examples
Learning grammar isn’t just about memorising rules. It’s about seeing how grammar is used in real-life contexts. Read books, newspapers and websites in English and pay attention to how grammar is used. You can also watch English movies or listen to podcasts to hear how native speakers use grammar in everyday conversations.
For example, notice how in the sentence “I’ve been studying for two hours,” the present perfect continuous tense is used. This tense shows the action started in the past and is still continuing. Learning from such examples will make grammar less abstract and more practical.
Step 6: Use Grammar Resources Effectively
There are countless online resources and books available to help you learn English grammar. But it’s important to use them effectively. Here are some recommendations:
- Grammar Books: A good grammar book can help you with clear explanations and practice exercises. We recommend English Grammar in Use by Raymond Murphy for beginners.
- Online Courses: An online course can give you structured lessons, especially if you want to focus on grammar for IELTS preparation. If you’re looking for a more guided approach, try searching for the best IELTS online course. In fact one is here right in front of you. You can enroll in IELTS online course at OOPS Study. Having trained 1000+ students, we know exactly where you struggle and how to improve at it. With us, you can learn grammar and other important skills in a more focused way.
- IELTS Preparation Websites: Websites like British Council and IELTS Liz have specific grammar lessons for IELTS preparation. These resources can help you understand what grammar structures are important for the test.
Step 7: Take it One Step at a Time
Don’t try to learn everything all at once. Break your study into smaller chunks, focus on one grammar topic at a time. For example, start with tenses, then move on to articles and finally, focus on more complex topics like conditionals or passive voice.
By taking it one step at a time, you’ll feel more confident as you progress and you’ll find it easier to remember the rules.
And when we say practise — we mean practise through materials. Do those exercises like you would in school.
We understand it’s difficult to crack IELTS and its grammar. But to get started you can opt for an English speaking course online that will help you at every step of your journey.
In Conclusion
English grammar can be confusing and really stressful. But it can be simple without being too overwhelming if you are under right guidance. At OOPS Study, we specialise in helping learners like you overcome grammar challenges with practical tips and a supportive learning environment.
If you’re looking for a clear path to improving your grammar, check out our best IELTS online course. It’s designed to make learning effective and enjoyable, ensuring you’re ready for any challenge that comes your way.
Happy Learning!
Frequently Asked Questions
1) How can I learn grammar fast?
Focus on mastering the basics like sentence structure, tenses and parts of speech first. Practice daily using real-life examples and take advantage of structured courses like our english speaking course online for guided learning.
2) How can I learn English grammar by myself?
Start with beginner-friendly resources like grammar books or apps. Practice writing and speaking regularly and use online platforms like OOPS Study to clarify concepts and stay consistent.
3) How do I improve my English grammar?
Break your learning into steps—start with basics, identify common mistakes and practice IELTS-specific grammar like complex sentences and passive voice. Enrolling in a course can give you the structure and support needed to stay on track.
4) What are the 12 basic rules of English grammar?
These rules cover key areas like subject-verb agreement, tenses, parts of speech, sentence structure and proper use of articles and prepositions. They form the foundation of constructing clear and correct sentences in English.
