Page 114 - IELTS Preparation band 5.0-6.5

However and on the other hand A and an
• Use however and on the other hand to contrast ideas or • Use a or an with a singular countable noun the first time
information in separate sentences. However and on the you mention it: ,.
other hand start the second sentence: A teacher who influenced me when I was at school was ...
Air travel is the fastest form of travel. However, you can • Don't use a or an with uncountable nouns or plural
waste a lot of time at airports.
nouns:
• On the other hand is often used to start a new paragraph freedom, arguments
which expresses the opposite point of view:
• Use an before words beginning with:
On the other hand, there are strong arguments against
- a, e, i, o and u:
reporting details of crimes on television.
an impression
• However and on the other hand are both followed by
- h when his not pronounced :
commas:
an hour
However, I believe stronger measures are necessary.
• Use a, not an, before words beginning with e- and u-
Use of articles when they are pronounced y:
a university, a European bank
The
Use the:
Unit 5
• when people know what you are talking about because
you've mentioned the thing before or it's clear from the The passive
context:
The passive is formed by to be + past participle (done/
He had an excellent idea. The idea was to post the list on
changed/ spoken).
the web.
With verbs like can, should, must, etc., the passive is formed
• when only one of a thing exists:
by can/should/must+ be+ past participle:
the world, the Internet
The equipment must be placed in the right environment.
• with a singular noun which refers to a group of people or
Look at these sentences in the active and the passive:
things:
the police, the government active passive
r---------------------r-
• with superlatives (see Making comparisons on page The wind moves the The turbine is moved by
100): turbine. the wind.
the highest figure, the best solution They raised the price of The price of cigarettes was
~- • with the first, the second, etc.: cigarettes last year. raised last year.
the first difficulty The government has The tax on petrol has been
reduced the tax on petrol. reduced.
• with adjectives which refer to groups:
People can argue that It can be argued that
the rich
travel is an essential part travel is an essential part
• with nationalities: of education. of education.
the Chinese ~--------------------~
Don't use the: The passive is used:
• when you are talking in general with an uncountable • when we don't know who or what does/did something:
noun or with plural nouns: The price of cigarettes was raised last year.
Life was more difficult for our grandparents.
• when it's not necessary to say who/what did something
People are often afraid of taking risks
(because it's obvious):
• in these common expressions: at home, in/to hospital, The tax on petrol has been reduced.
in/to prison, at/to school, at/to university, at/to work: (obviously by the government)
I'm hoping to go to university in Australia.
• when what happens/happened is more important than
He's at work at the moment.
who/what does it:
The turbine is moved by the wind.
• in formal styles of writing:
It can be argued that travel is an essential part of
education.

@ Complete IELTS Bands 5-6.5