100 Essential Grammatical Idioms to Elevate Your IELTS Writing and Speaking

Success in the IELTS exam requires more than just strong vocabulary—it depends on how well you apply grammatical accuracy, fluency, and idiomatic expressions. One of the best ways to demonstrate this is by incorporating grammatical idioms—fixed language structures that show a strong command of English.

Below is a comprehensive list of 100 grammatical idioms, each with an example sentence. These are ideal for both IELTS Writing and IELTS Speaking, as they convey a mature and fluent style.

Time-Related Structures

It’s high time + past tense
It’s high time we addressed the issue of customer service.
Have no choice but to + verb
I had no choice but to accept the offer.
Would rather + base verb
I would rather send an email than make a phone call.
So + adjective + that…
The situation was so urgent that we had to take immediate action.
No sooner + had + subject + past participle + than…
No sooner had I arrived than the meeting began.
Hardly/Scarcely + had + subject + past participle + when/before…
Hardly had he finished speaking when the phone rang.

Modality and Advice

Had better + base verb
You had better provide the necessary documents as soon as possible.
The + comparative, the + comparative
The more details you provide, the clearer the message becomes.

Familiarity and Adaptation

Be used to + noun/gerund
I am used to dealing with difficult clients.
Get used to + noun/gerund
You will get used to using this system after some practice.

Knowledge and Feelings

As far as I know
As far as I know, the report is due tomorrow.
Be worth + noun/gerund
The investment is worth considering.
Can’t help + gerund
I can’t help thinking that we missed an important point.
There is no point in + gerund
There’s no point in arguing about this now.
Too + adjective + to + verb
It’s too late to cancel the reservation.
Can’t stand + gerund
I can’t stand waiting in long queues.
Have difficulty/trouble + gerund
She had trouble understanding the new guidelines.
Can’t afford + to + verb
We can’t afford to delay the decision any longer.

Ability and Responsibility

Be capable of + noun/gerund
She is capable of managing multiple tasks at once.
Be involved in + noun/gerund
He is involved in the project’s development.
Be familiar with + noun/gerund
I am familiar with the procedure for submitting a complaint.
Be responsible for + noun/gerund
He is responsible for overseeing the entire project.
Take advantage of + noun/gerund
We should take advantage of the discounts offered.
Be interested in + noun/gerund
She is interested in improving customer service.
Be grateful for + noun/gerund
I am grateful for the opportunity to work with you.
Be concerned about + noun/gerund
I am concerned about the delay in delivery.
Be proud of + noun/gerund
We are proud of the successful outcome.
Be aware of + noun/gerund
The manager is aware of the ongoing issue.
Be based on + noun/gerund
The policy is based on recent research findings.
Be dependent on + noun/gerund
The outcome is dependent on customer feedback.

Purpose and Obligation

Be designed to + verb
This form is designed to simplify the application process.
Be eager to + verb
We are eager to receive your feedback on the proposal.
Be required to + verb
Employees are required to submit their reports by Friday.
Be unable to + verb
I am unable to attend the meeting due to a prior commitment.
Be expected to + verb
You are expected to arrive on time for the interview.
Be fortunate to + verb
I am fortunate to have had the opportunity to work on this project.
Be obligated to + verb
I am obligated to inform you of the changes to the schedule.
Be committed to + noun/gerund
We are committed to improving our service quality.
Be delighted to + verb
We are delighted to invite you to our annual conference.
Be focused on + noun/gerund
The team is focused on completing the task within the deadline.

Additional Fixed Prepositions

Be opposed to + noun/gerund
I am opposed to the idea of extending the working hours.
Be subject to + noun/gerund
The proposal is subject to approval by the board.
Be in charge of + noun/gerund
He is in charge of managing client relations.
Be inclined to + verb
We are inclined to accept the terms of the agreement.
Be accustomed to + noun/gerund
She is accustomed to working under pressure.
Be fortunate in + noun/gerund
We were fortunate in receiving early feedback.
Be efficient at + noun/gerund
The new software is efficient at processing large data sets.
Be prepared for + noun/gerund
We are prepared for any changes that may arise.

Fixed “It” Structures (Formal Style)

It is important to + verb
It is important to follow the guidelines for submitting reports.
It is necessary to + verb
It is necessary to review the document before signing.
It is advisable to + verb
It is advisable to arrive early for the interview.
It is recommended to + verb
It is recommended to submit the application online.
It is essential to + verb
It is essential to address the concerns raised by the client.
It is crucial to + verb
It is crucial to meet the deadline for the project submission.
It is vital to + verb
It is vital to maintain accurate records of all transactions.
It is beneficial to + verb
It is beneficial to implement the new marketing strategy.
It is common to + verb
It is common to require additional documents during the hiring process.
It is normal to + verb
It is normal to expect some challenges during implementation.
It is acceptable to + verb
It is acceptable to request a refund within 30 days of purchase.
It is unnecessary to + verb
It is unnecessary to submit the form again.

Possibility and Speculation

It is unlikely that + subject + will
It is unlikely that we will meet the deadline given the current progress.
It is possible that + subject + will
It is possible that the meeting will be rescheduled.
It is certain that + subject + will
It is certain that the decision will be announced next week.
It is doubtful that + subject + will
It is doubtful that the proposal will be accepted.
There is a need to + verb
There is a need to revise the current policy.
There is a possibility of + noun/gerund
There is a possibility of a delay in delivery.
There is a chance that + subject + will
There is a chance that the proposal will be approved.
It is clear that + subject + will
It is clear that changes will be implemented immediately.
It is evident that + subject + will
It is evident that the new system will improve efficiency.
It is likely that + subject + will
It is likely that the meeting will be postponed due to the storm.
There is little chance that + subject + will
There is little chance that the supplier will deliver on time.
There is a growing concern about + noun/gerund
There is a growing concern about the environmental impact of the project.
There is little doubt that + subject + will
There is little doubt that the new policy will be effective.
There is no reason to + verb
There is no reason to delay the decision any further.

Perceptions and Beliefs

It seems that + subject + will
It seems that the project will be completed ahead of schedule.
It appears that + subject + will
It appears that the solution proposed is feasible.
It is believed that + subject + will
It is believed that the market will recover soon.
It is expected that + subject + will
It is expected that the economy will stabilize next quarter.

Opinions and Judgments

Be in favor of + noun/gerund
The board is in favor of the proposed changes.
Be in agreement with + noun/gerund
The team is in agreement with the new strategy.
Be committed to + noun/gerund
We are committed to improving the quality of our products.
Be interested in + noun/gerund
They are interested in expanding their business into new markets.
Be capable of + noun/gerund
She is capable of handling complex tasks efficiently.
Be responsible for + noun/gerund
The manager is responsible for overseeing the department’s performance.
Be involved in + noun/gerund
The team is involved in the planning of the new campaign.
Be aware of + noun/gerund
We are aware of the challenges facing the company.
Be dependent on + noun/gerund
The success of the project is dependent on timely approvals.
Be concerned about + noun/gerund
He is concerned about the possible impact on sales.
Be proud of + noun/gerund
They are proud of the achievements made so far.
Be familiar with + noun/gerund
I am familiar with the process of submitting a proposal.
Be capable of + noun/gerund
She is capable of working in high-pressure environments.
Be grateful for + noun/gerund
We are grateful for your continued support.
Be pleased to + verb
We are pleased to inform you that your application has been accepted.
Be sorry for + noun/gerund
I am sorry for any inconvenience caused.
Be willing to + verb
He is willing to assist you with the upcoming task.
Be eager to + verb
We are eager to discuss the next steps.
Be ready to + verb
The team is ready to begin the project as soon as possible.
Be known for + noun/gerund
The company is known for providing excellent after-sales service.
Be suited to + noun/gerund
She is well suited to leading international negotiations.
Be reluctant to + verb
They were reluctant to approve the plan without further discussion.

Final Thoughts

Incorporating these grammatical idioms into your IELTS writing and speaking not only improves your coherence and accuracy but also signals to the examiner that you have a strong command of natural and academic English. These expressions are particularly valuable where tone and clarity matter most.

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