Mastering English Verb Types for High IELTS Bands in Writing and Speaking

Verbs are the power engines of English sentences. Without strong and accurate verb use, your IELTS Writing and Speaking responses can appear vague, confusing, or grammatically flawed. To succeed in the IELTS exam—especially if you’re targeting Band 7 and above—you need to understand and use different types of verbs effectively and naturally.

In this post, we’ll cover verb types, definitions, usage examples, common mistakes, dos and don’ts, FAQs, and strategies for IELTS success.

What Are Verbs?

Verbs are words that describe actions, states, or occurrences. In IELTS, verbs are critical in forming clear arguments, expressing opinions, reporting trends, and describing changes or experiences.

Major Types of Verbs You Must Know

1. Action Verbs (Dynamic Verbs)

Describe physical or mental actions.

Examples: write, discuss, analyze, decide, improve
IELTS Use: “Students submit their assignments online.”

2. Stative Verbs

Describe a state, condition, or mental process—not a physical action.

Examples: believe, seem, know, prefer, belong
Not usually used in continuous tenses
IELTS Use: “I believe online learning is beneficial.”

3. Transitive Verbs

Require a direct object to complete the meaning.

Examples: give, provide, explain, affect
IELTS Use: “This policy affects low-income families.”

4. Intransitive Verbs

Do not require a direct object.

Examples: arrive, sleep, grow
IELTS Use: “The population grew significantly in 2020.”

5. Linking Verbs

Connect the subject to a complement that describes it.

Examples: be, seem, become, appear
IELTS Use: “The results seem promising.”

6. Auxiliary Verbs (Helping Verbs)

Help main verbs form tenses, voices, or moods.

Examples: be, do, have, will, can, should
IELTS Use: “The issue has been discussed by many experts.”

7. Modal Verbs

Express possibility, necessity, ability, or advice.

Examples: can, could, may, might, must, should, would
IELTS Use: “Governments should invest more in education.”

8. Phrasal Verbs

Verbs combined with a preposition or adverb to create new meanings.

Examples: look into, bring up, cut down on, turn out
IELTS Use: “The research team looked into the causes of obesity.”

Use them more in Speaking, not formal writing.

Common Verb Tense Uses in IELTS

Tense	IELTS Function	Example
Present Simple	Describing facts and trends	“This chart shows the data clearly.”
Past Simple	Referring to past events	“The population increased in 2010.”
Present Perfect	Reporting current relevance of past actions	“Scientists have discovered new data.”
Future (will/going to)	Making predictions or suggestions	“This issue will continue to grow.”

Common Mistakes in Verb Use

Mistake	Why It’s a Problem	Example
Using stative verbs in continuous form	Grammatically incorrect	❌ “I am believing…”
Verb–subject disagreement	Affects grammar score	❌ “People thinks…”
Incorrect modal combinations	Shows poor lexical control	❌ “It must can help…”
Using informal phrasal verbs in writing	Too casual for academic tone	❌ “We should deal with it…” (✓ in Speaking, ✘ in Writing)

Do’s and Don’ts for IELTS Verbs

Do:

Use precise academic verbs (e.g., argue, suggest, demonstrate)
Vary verb tenses appropriately
Use modals to express nuanced opinions
Learn topic-specific verbs (e.g., “enforce,” “implement” for law topics)

Don’t:

Repeat common verbs like “do,” “make,” “get”
Use vague verbs without explanation
Ignore subject-verb agreement rules
Use contractions in writing (✓ for Speaking, ✘ for Writing)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: Should I use phrasal verbs in IELTS?

A: Use them in Speaking for a natural tone. In Writing, stick to formal equivalents.

Speak out → express an opinion
Cut down on → reduce

Q2: How many verb tenses should I use in an essay?

A: Stick mainly to Present Simple, Past Simple, and Present Perfect depending on the context. Avoid overcomplicating.

Q3: Can using a wide range of verbs improve my score?

A: Yes. A varied and accurate use of verbs shows strong lexical resource and grammatical range—key for Band 7+.

Top Strategies for IELTS Verb Mastery

Keep a Verb Notebook
- Include new verbs, meanings, sample sentences, and collocations.
Group Verbs by IELTS Topics
- Example: Education → teach, enroll, graduate, assess, motivate
Practice Tense Transformations
- Rewrite sentences in different tenses for fluency control.
Use IELTS Band 9 Essays for Modeling
- Highlight and analyze verbs used.
Record and Review Speaking Answers
- Listen for verb variety and tense control.

Sample Sentence Upgrades

Basic Sentence	Improved Version
People think education is good.	Many individuals believe education plays a crucial role in development.
The chart shows data.	The graph illustrates significant growth in population from 2000 to 2020.
I did my homework.	I completed my assignment before the deadline.

Final Thoughts

Verbs are not just grammar points—they’re the heartbeat of communication. If you want to impress IELTS examiners and achieve Band 7+, focus on using a wide range of accurate, appropriate, and topic-specific verbs in both your Writing and Speaking tasks.

With regular practice and conscious application, you’ll move from basic expression to academic fluency.

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