It is an irresponsible idea to captive animals in zoos.
This is a word with many forms. Let’s look at how they work in sample sentences and then try some practice. Continue reading
speaking
The workplace
Modern technology is becoming more common both at home and in workplaces.
the workplace (uncountable!)
When you use the workplace (uncountable) you’re talking about the abstract idea of the workplace as a feature of people’s lives along with school and the home. In addition, you’re usually talking about one or more of the following: Continue reading
A critique of ‘critic’
Many teachers believe that smartphones should not be allowed in class because they distract students and do not help them to develop learning skills. However these critics are wrong, for the following reasons.
Critic is one of those words that has several forms, some of which have been borrowed by other languages and some of which have not. Consequently there is potential for word form error when critic is used by non-native speakers.
Indonesians often use critic when they mean criticism! Continue reading
Describing transformational change(s)
The farmland was transformed become residential areas.
I have written elsewhere about how Indonesian IELTS candidates often use become to talk about a constant, where in English it is only ever used to describe a change. However, although become is used to describe a change, we would not use become AND transform together. Continue reading
Nothing is happened
Child marriage affects both genders but it is commonly happened among girls.
This is a particularly Indonesian problem, but I’d be interested to know if it affects speakers of other languages – comments below! Continue reading
Chicken because egg because chicken
Earth hour can have a significant impact on our planet. Because much can be achieved when people work together towards a shared goal.
I’ve posted about because before – here, here, and here. It’s such a common word and so you should make a special effort to use it correctly. Incorrect use can have a negative effect on your IELTS speaking and writing scores! Continue reading
In, at, by the end
In the end of the period the figure was almost 200.
Houston. We have a preposition problem! Continue reading
Better off using ‘better off’
Many students spend hours reading grammar books in order to improve their English. However, they are probably better off reading novels instead.
Most people are familiar with better off as the comparative form of well off (= wealthy). However, better off has other uses in IELTS speaking and writing (Task 2). Continue reading
The university, the school
Before they study at the university, students should spend a year traveling and working.
OK so there’s a difference between university and the university. The same difference applies to school and the school. Continue reading
Scissor
Indonesian students of English are lucky in that the sounds of their language are quite close to the sounds of English. However, here is a song that focuses on two pronunciation features that are rare in Bahasa Indonesia: Continue reading