IELTS (International English Language Testing System) Grammar and Vocabulary Foundations Syllabus

Grammar and Vocabulary Foundations syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for Grammar and Vocabulary Foundations in IELTS (International English Language Testing System), not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Sentence Structure and Complexity

   4 topics

   • Simple, compound and complex sentences
   • Relative, conditional and noun clauses
   • Subject-verb agreement and parallel structure
   • Sentence variety for higher band scores
2. 2

   Tense and Verb Systems

   4 topics

   • Present, past and future tense usage
   • Perfect and continuous aspects
   • Active versus passive voice
   • Modals for possibility, obligation and speculation
3. 3

   Accuracy and Common Errors

   4 topics

   • Articles and countable/uncountable nouns
   • Prepositions and dependent prepositions
   • Punctuation and run-on sentences
   • Word form and part-of-speech errors
4. 4

   Vocabulary Building for IELTS

   4 topics

   • Topic-based vocabulary (environment, technology, education, health)
   • Collocations and natural word combinations
   • Synonyms, paraphrasing and avoiding repetition
   • Formal versus informal register and idiomatic language

Grammar and Vocabulary Foundations flashcards for IELTS (International English Language Testing System)

20 of 50 cards from the Grammar and Vocabulary Foundations deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. What are the three main sentence types by structure in English, defined by clause composition?

   Simple (one independent clause), compound (two or more independent clauses joined by a coordinator/semicolon), and complex (one independent clause plus at least one dependent clause).

2. How do you form a compound sentence, and what are the FANBOYS coordinating conjunctions?

   Join two independent clauses with a comma + coordinating conjunction, or a semicolon. FANBOYS = For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So.

3. What defines a complex sentence, and what links the clauses?

   An independent clause joined to one or more dependent (subordinate) clauses by a subordinating conjunction (e.g., because, although, when, if) or a relative pronoun.

4. What is a compound-complex sentence?

   A sentence with at least two independent clauses and at least one dependent clause, e.g., 'Although it rained, we went out, and we enjoyed it.'

5. What is the difference between a defining (restrictive) and a non-defining (non-restrictive) relative clause?

   A defining clause gives essential identifying information and takes no commas; a non-defining clause adds extra, non-essential information and is set off with commas (and cannot use 'that').

6. Which relative pronouns are used for people, things, possession, places, and times?

   Who/whom (people), which/that (things), whose (possession), where (places), when (times).

7. What are the three main types of conditional sentences (first, second, third) and their uses?

   First: real future possibility (If + present, will + base). Second: unreal/hypothetical present (If + past, would + base). Third: unreal past (If + past perfect, would have + past participle).

8. What is the zero conditional and when is it used?

   If/When + present simple, present simple. Used for general truths and facts that are always true, e.g., 'If you heat water, it boils.'

9. What is a noun clause and what roles can it play in a sentence?

   A dependent clause that functions as a noun—acting as subject, object, or complement—often introduced by that, what, whether, if, who, or how, e.g., 'I know that he left.'

10. What is the rule of subject-verb agreement?

    A singular subject takes a singular verb and a plural subject takes a plural verb; the verb must agree with the subject in number and person regardless of intervening words.

11. In subject-verb agreement, do subjects joined by 'or'/'nor' take a singular or plural verb?

    The verb agrees with the nearer subject (proximity rule): 'Neither the manager nor the staff were informed' vs 'Neither the staff nor the manager was informed.'

12. What is parallel structure (parallelism) and why does it matter?

    Using the same grammatical form for items in a list, comparison, or series, e.g., 'reading, writing, and speaking' (not 'reading, writing, and to speak'). It improves clarity and is rewarded in IELTS grammatical range/accuracy.

13. How can a candidate increase sentence variety to raise their IELTS band score?

    Mix simple, compound, and complex sentences; vary sentence openings; use a range of subordinate clauses, relative clauses, and conditionals accurately—Band 7+ requires a 'variety of complex structures.'

14. What is the form and main use of the present simple tense?

    Base verb (+s for third person singular). Used for habits, routines, general truths, and permanent situations, e.g., 'She works in London.'

15. What is the form and main use of the present continuous tense?

    am/is/are + verb-ing. Used for actions happening now, temporary situations, and definite future arrangements, e.g., 'They are studying.'

16. What is the form and use of the past simple versus the past continuous?

    Past simple (verb+ed/irregular) = completed past actions. Past continuous (was/were + verb-ing) = an action in progress in the past, often interrupted, e.g., 'I was reading when he called.'

17. What are the main ways to express the future in English?

    will + base verb (predictions/decisions), be going to + base (plans/intentions/evidence), present continuous (arrangements), and present simple (timetables).

18. What does the perfect aspect express, and how is the present perfect formed?

    The perfect aspect links an earlier event to a later time. Present perfect = have/has + past participle, used for past actions with present relevance or unfinished time periods, e.g., 'I have lived here for five years.'

19. What is the difference between present perfect simple and present perfect continuous?

    Present perfect simple (have + past participle) emphasizes completion/result; present perfect continuous (have been + verb-ing) emphasizes duration or an ongoing activity, e.g., 'I have been working all day.'

20. How is the past perfect formed and when is it used?

    had + past participle. Used for an action completed before another past action, e.g., 'The train had left before we arrived.'

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