A2 Grammar for IELTS: Topics, Rules, Examples

The CEFR A2 level on IELTS is also called the ‘Elementary’ level of English. This means that applicants can use the basic level of English and grammar. The applicants can understand simple sentences and common expressions in communication. Also, they can understand information about themselves, their family, employment and basic information for moving around in an English-speaking country. Applicants assessed at the CEFR A2 level can communicate about routine tasks at large with basic grammar.

The CEFR A2 level IELTS applicants who understand basic English and grammar can catch the main point of communication or discussion usually scoring around 3.0 - 3.5 on an IELTS band score are elementary-level users. The key skills associated with all four sections on IELTS for applicants falling under the CEFR A2 level are as follows:

IELTS Listening Section

In the IELTS Listening section, applicants can catch simple and direct references played in slow-paced audio. Lesser descriptive audio will be easy for CEFR A2 level of IELTS applicants. 

IELTS Reading Section

Applicants attempting the IELTS Reading section can understand short and simple texts. Also, they can find predictable information if they fall under the CEFR A2 level of IELTS.  

IELTS Writing Section

In the IELTS Writing section applicants can write simple texts using basic English. The applicants thus, under CEFR A2 level on IELTS can simply write about themselves and describe their family or experiences in their daily routines.

IELTS Speaking Section

Applicants under the CEFR A2 level attempting the IELTS Speaking section will be able to describe themselves, common things, routines and their families. These applicants will be able to communicate in simple sentences if the invigilator interacts slowly and clearly.

Five grammar topics fall under the CEFR A2 level of the IELTS exam and they are as follows:

1. Past Simple Tense
2. Future Forms
3. Comparatives and Superlatives
4. Modal Verbs
5. Countable and Uncountable Nouns

Definition: The Past Simple Tense denotes actions that happened in the past.

Past Simple Tense Rule: S (subject) + V1 (verb)+d/ed + O (object) 

Examples of Simple Past Tense: 

• Reha played the violin in school yesterday.
• I walked to the market last night.
• We all loved the knitting patterns in the DIY kits. 

Other Verb Forms in Simple Past Tense

There are some verb forms which change their form when used in the past tense, check out some examples: 

• Vineet sang at the concert beautifully.
• I wrote a research paper on Clinical Psychology.
• We spoke about our concerns in the meeting. 
• She ate the entire lasagna.

Definition: Planning a trip soon? Or have submissions in the coming week? What do these actions denote - these actions will happen in future and thus they are described using the future form of the verb.

The future forms rule is: S + (will/shall+V) + O

Let us understand the future forms through examples:

• We will go to Brazil in the upcoming summer vacation.
• Will you submit your assignments by next week?
• They shall raise a complaint against the new teacher. 

Usually, the verb forms do not change in the future forms, only the base form of the verb is used.

When using adjectives for comparison there is also the use of Comparatives and Superlatives. The simple rules for understanding the two concepts are as follows:

Comparatives rule: the adjective will always end with an ‘er’ or ‘more + V form’

Example of Comparatives:

• Riya is taller than Rishabh.
• Keya is more beautiful than her younger sister Shreya.
• The bed on the right side is bigger than the left one.

While the Superlatives rule says: that the adjective will end with ‘est’ or ‘most + V form’ and will always be preceded by ‘the’ so the entire ruke is S + {(the+most+ V) or V+’est’} + O.

Examples of Superlatives are:

• Riya is the tallest among all her cousins.
• X Band is the most popular one in Northern Europe.
• She is the happiest child in the entire class.

Definition: Modal verbs are auxiliary verbs denoting one’s ability, requests and necessities for a given situation. Some commonly used modal verbs are - can, could, will, shall, may, might, must and ought to.

Let us look at some of the examples of modal verbs below:

• May I attend the meeting? (Formal)
• Can I attend the meeting? (Informal)
• You must obey the traffic rules. 
• We ought to submit our assignments to the professor tomorrow morning. 
• I may call you for more details on the project.
• We will/shall go for a team lunch next Saturday.