Here is a collection of mistakes with suggested corrections/improvements (below) from a practice IELTS speaking test with one of my students:
Grammar (answers below)
Check you can correct the grammar mistakes in these sentences.
- I don’t know what is it
- Maybe people don’t really enjoy to buy
- The market sell
- That are the stuff men like.
- [Local people generally save money on food,] so they went to the wet market.
- Price is
- It sell different kind of stuff.
- [If the market closed down,) it will be a pity but I will go to another one.
- One time, I go to Victoria Peak.
- Now, when I grow up,
- I went overseas to study. When I return, …
- [I like to read about some famous person and] how they become
- If I have free time, then I will like to …
- with other peoples
- Even I don’t buy anything,
- more happier
- … with a lot of different peoples.
Pronunciation (answers below)
These are what I heard. Check you can say them correctly.
- Doze books are about …
- My mudder told me to learn it.
- At the market, there are a lot of tranny products.
- Take spots for example.
- Wunning Man
- Spot games
- Bought games
Phraseology (answers below)
These may or may not be grammatically correct, but can you say them in a more elegant way?
. 1a. Now, when I grow up,
. 1b. I keep my hobby.
. 2. From my impression,
. 3. That’s the stuff that men like to buy.
. 4. What is your question, again?
. 5. Take sports first.
. 6. … maintain a good body.
Collocations (answers below)
Try to correct or improve the following word combinations:
- … near to the MTR station.
- People like doing some indoor games.
- [By playing sports, you can get] healthy immediately.
- social circle will be broader
Other suggestions (answers below)
Which of the following would you say?
- more healthy vs healthier
- more happy vs happier
ANSWERS
[emember_protected do_not_show_restricted_msg=”1″ do_not_show_expired_msg=”1″] Grammar- I don’t know what it is
- Maybe people don’t really enjoy buying
- The market sells
- That’s the stuff men like.
- [Local people generally save money on food,] so they go to the wet market.
- Prices are
- It sells different kinds of stuff.
- [If the market closed down,) it would be a pity but I would go to another one.
- One time, I went to Victoria Peak.
- Now, having grown up,
- I went overseas to study. When I returned (to HK), …
- [I like to read about some famous person and] how they became / had become
- If When I have free time, then I will like to …
- with other peoples
- Even though / Even if I don’t buy anything, (depending on meaning)
- more happier
- … with a lot of different peoples.
Pronunciation
These are the correct words and how to say them properly:
- Those books are about … (tongue not touching behind top teeth, but touching below them)
- My mother told me to learn it. (see #1)
- At the market, there are a lot of trendy products (be sure not to lose the ‘d’ consonant sound)
- Take sports for example. (‘or’: tongue is pulled back, lips are not so open, longer duration that ‘o’)
- Running Man (‘r’ sound is mostly made using tongue, not lips)
- Sport games (see #4)
- Board games (the final ‘d’ consonant makes the vowel sound longer than a final ‘t’ would)
Phraseology
1a. Now, when I grow up, => Having grown up / (Even now,) as an adult / as a grownup
1b. I keep my hobby. => I’ve kept my hobby / It’s still one of my hobbies / It’s still a hobby of mine
2. From my impression, => My impression is that …
3. That’s the stuff that men like to buy. => Those are the kinds of things men like to buy
4. What is your question, again? => (Sorry,) could you repeat the question, please?
5. Take sports first. => (Firstly,) take sports for example.
6. … maintain a good body. => … keep in good physical shape / condition (depending on meaning)
Collocations
- … near to the MTR station. => near the MTR or close to the MTR
- People like doing some indoor games. => playing … games
- [By playing sports, you can get] healthy immediately. => immediate health benefits
- social circle will be broader: the stronger collocation for circle, and therefore safer option, is wider
Some commonly used phrases: “widen your social circle”, “expand your social circle”, “a wider circle of friends”, “widen your circle of friends”
Other suggestions
- more healthy vs healthier: Healthier follows the grammar rule and is therefore safer for IELTS candidates
- more happy vs happier: same #1
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