Grammar and vocabulary for writing - Articles, prepositions,...

Learning Outcomes

After reading this article, you will be able to accurately use articles and prepositions in IELTS Writing tasks and ensure correct subject-verb and noun-pronoun agreement. You will recognize typical IELTS errors with 'a', 'an', 'the', select prepositions that fit collocations and locations, and match verb forms to the subject, even with complex or academic sentences. You will be able to apply these skills in all writing and proofreading stages during the IELTS exam.

IELTS Academic, General & UKVI Syllabus

For IELTS, you are required to understand and correctly apply grammar rules and vocabulary, especially in the following areas for writing:

• Use 'a', 'an', and 'the' (articles) appropriately for countable/uncountable and definite/indefinite reference.
• Select correct prepositions for place, time, collocations, and verbs/adjectives commonly tested in IELTS Writing.
• Achieve subject-verb agreement in all sentence structures, including sentences with complex or reversed word order.
• Ensure agreement with collective nouns, indefinite pronouns, and uncountable nouns.
• Identify and correct typical IELTS agreement and article errors during editing.

Test Your Knowledge

Attempt these questions before reading this article. If you find some difficult or cannot remember the answers, remember to look more closely at that area during your revision.

1. What is the difference between "a university" and "an umbrella" in terms of using articles?
2. In the phrase "responsible ___ protecting the environment," which preposition best completes the blank?
3. Which is correct: "Neither of the reports are complete" or "Neither of the reports is complete"?
4. When must you use "the" before a noun in IELTS Writing Task 1 data descriptions?

Introduction

Many IELTS candidates lose marks in Writing because of mistakes with articles, prepositions, and agreement. These are common but essential grammar and vocabulary features for both Task 1 and Task 2. Accurately using 'a', 'an', 'the', correctly selecting prepositions (such as 'at', 'in', 'on', 'to'), and matching verbs with subjects will make your writing clearer and more academic.

Key Term: Article
An article is a word ('a', 'an', 'the') used before nouns to indicate whether the noun is specific or general.

Key Term: Preposition
A preposition is a word that shows the relationship between nouns, pronouns, or phrases and other words in a sentence—often indicating time, place, or method.

Key Term: Agreement
Agreement means matching the correct form of verbs, pronouns, or adjectives with their subjects or nouns, in terms of number or person.

Choosing and Using Articles

Articles can be definite ('the'), indefinite ('a', 'an'), or omitted (no article). Each has a specific IELTS use:

• Use 'a' before singular countable nouns when introducing something for the first time ("a solution").
• Use 'an' instead of 'a' if the next word starts with a vowel sound ("an answer").
• Use 'the' for nouns already known to the reader or when there is only one possible thing ("the chart shows...", "the sun").
• Do not use any article for general plural or uncountable nouns ("Governments require funding", "Education is important").

Key Term: Definite Reference
Use 'the' when you are referring to a specific instance or the only one (e.g. "the internet", "the main reason").

Key Term: Indefinite Reference
Use 'a' or 'an' when introducing something new or not previously mentioned.

Common IELTS Article Errors

• Using 'the' unnecessarily with uncountable nouns: Incorrect: "The information is important." Correct: "Information is important."
• Omitting 'a/an' before singular countable nouns: Incorrect: "City has park." Correct: "The city has a park."
• Using 'the' before general concepts: Incorrect: "The pollution is harmful." Correct: "Pollution is harmful."

Selecting Prepositions

Prepositions link ideas clearly, especially when describing data, locations, times, and processes.

Key Patterns for IELTS Writing

• Prepositions of place: "in" a city; "at" the corner; "between" two stations; "on" the coast.
• Prepositions of time: "in" 2020; "on" Monday; "at" 3 p.m.; "during" the period.
• Prepositions for process/task steps: "by" train; "with" a machine; "to" the factory; "from" the farm.

Some verbs, nouns, and adjectives are always used with certain prepositions:

• "responsible for" (not 'responsible of')
• "difference between"
• "interested in"
• "access to"
• "focus on"

Key Term: Collocation
A frequent combination of words, such as a verb with its most natural preposition (e.g. "depend on", "aim at", "suffer from").

Typical IELTS Preposition Mistakes

• Using incorrect prepositions with verbs/adjectives: Incorrect: "married with..." Correct: "married to..."
• Mixing up time and place prepositions: Incorrect: "at 2021", Correct: "in 2021".
• Leaving out necessary prepositions: Incorrect: "similar the previous year", Correct: "similar to the previous year".

Achieving Agreement

Agreement is essential for clarity in academic writing.

Subject-Verb Agreement

• Singular subjects take singular verbs ("The chart shows...").
• Plural subjects take plural verbs ("The charts show...").
• With indefinite pronouns (anyone, everyone, nobody), use singular verbs ("Everyone needs time").
• Uncountable nouns are singular ("Information is valuable", not "Information are valuable").

Key Term: Collective Noun
A noun that describes a group but is treated as singular or plural depending on context ("The staff is supportive" or "The staff are supportive").

Pronoun Agreement

Pronouns must also agree in number and gender:

• "Each participant gave his or her view."
• "All these solutions have their advantages."

Special Agreement Cases

• "Neither" and "either" are generally followed by singular verbs ("Neither answer is correct.").
• "A number of students are present." / "The number of students is high."

Worked Example 1.1

The following pie chart shows: "Reasons for Choosing Online Courses: Flexibility (40%), Cost (30%), Quality (30%)".

Question: Which article should be used before 'flexibility' in the summary—'a flexibility', 'the flexibility', or no article?

Answer:
No article. Flexibility is an uncountable, general concept here, so "Flexibility is the most common reason for choosing online courses."

Worked Example 1.2

The results indicate that, in 2023, "42% of respondents preferred to travel by train, while 38% used cars." The description continues: "Over half of participants commuted __ train."

Question: Which preposition best fills the blank: 'on', 'by', or 'with'?

Answer:
'by' ("commuted by train") is the correct preposition for transport mode.

Worked Example 1.3

Out of 10 reviewed reports, 6 were completed and 4 were not. Complete the following: "Neither of the missing reports ___ found."

Question: Which verb is correct: 'is' or 'are'?

Answer:
'is'. "Neither" is used with singular verbs: "Neither of the missing reports is found."

Exam Warning

Failing to check for agreement in noun phrases or after "neither"/"each" can lead to errors, especially under exam time pressure. Always check that verbs and pronouns match the true subject.

Revision Tip

When proofreading your IELTS Writing, highlight articles and prepositions, and underline verbs. Then check for errors in their use, particularly in data descriptions and summaries.

Summary

• Use 'a', 'an', and 'the' according to whether a noun is specific, general, or introduced for the first time.
• Select the correct preposition by checking collocations and context (place, time, process).
• Match verbs and pronouns in number—watch out for uncountable nouns and collective nouns.
• Always review sentences for omitted or extra articles, incorrect prepositions, and agreement issues.

Key Point Checklist

This article has covered the following key knowledge points:

• Explain when and how to use 'a', 'an', and 'the' in IELTS Writing.
• Select correct prepositions for place, time, collocation, and process description.
• Identify and correct agreement errors—subject-verb, pronoun, and with collective/uncountable nouns.
• Avoid common mistakes by reviewing examples and editing carefully.
• Practise using articles, prepositions, and agreement accurately in exam-style writing tasks.

Key Terms and Concepts

• Article
• Preposition
• Agreement
• Definite Reference
• Indefinite Reference
• Collocation
• Collective Noun