IELTS essay writing mistakes - the definite article "the"
LikeThe IELTS (International English Language Testing System) from Cambridge English Assessment, is the most recognised English qualification in the world. Having a Band score 6.5 or above will allow you to enter some of the UK's best universities like Cambridge, Oxford, Kings College, UCL and others and set you on the path to a new life in any English-speaking country. It is also used to allow you emigrate to other English speaking countries such as Canada, Australia and the USA.
However, as a tutor for English as a foreign language, I´m well aware that getting a Band score 6.5 or above is not easy! The most common problem is passing the writing part of the test. It is separated in two parts and consists of Task 1 (writing about data) and Task 2 (an essay based on an a point of view or argument). Task 2 tends to be the hardest part because it requires you to think of ideas, plan an argument and that's before you have even thought about grammar and vocabulary! So what is the solution to pass the IELTS writing test? Some are more obvious than others, like English proficiency, whereas some are harder to perfect, like planning and idea generation.
There are lots of reasons why students fail the writing Task 2 in the IELTS exam and grammar is one of them. In this blog I will outline where students often go wrong and offer strategies on how to pass. From grammar to vocabulary to planning and task achievement, this is the place to keep up to date with everything IELTS!
So here we go. This is number 1 from the top 10 most common mistakes students make when writing an essay. Remember to leave enough time to check for these errors when you have completed your Task 1 essay or Task 2 essay.
Use of the word ‘the’
We use the:
- when there is only one of something in a particular area: the government, the police, the bridge, the river, the hospital.
- when there is only one in the entire world: the internet, the environment, the ozone layer, the atmosphere.
- with cardinal numbers: the first, the second, the third.
- with superlatives: the worst, the shortest, the lowest, the most beautiful, the least impressive.
- with places where the name refers to a group of islands or states: the USA, the UK, the Maldives, the Middle East, the United Arab Emirates.
- before nouns which describe general things: exercise is good for the body, the motorbike is the most common form of transport in Asia, the role of the teacher has changed in recent years.
- before abstract nouns used to describe a situation, process, quality or a change: over the years the development of the town accelerated, the frequency of violent crime decreased over the period, the improvement in living standards.
We don’t use the:
- to talk generally we drop the word ‘the’ and use the plural: dogs don’t like cats, people with dyslexia have reading problems, Japanese cars are very reliable, German products are very high quality.
- with a single place or country: Ireland, China, Vietnam, Europe, South America.
If you´re a student of English as a foreign language and you´re seeking private tuition, I´m an English tutor offering lessons. Don´t hesitate to get in touch for further information.