What Does ‘Act on’ Mean?
The phrasal verb ‘act on’ is a versatile expression that can significantly enhance your IELTS Speaking performance. It generally means to take action based on information, advice, or a decision. Understanding its nuances is crucial for effective communication in English.
Definition and Explanation
‘Act on’ primarily means:
- To behave according to or follow (advice, information, etc.)
- To start doing something about (a plan, idea, etc.)
- To have an effect on someone or something
Synonyms include ‘follow through’, ‘implement’, or ‘put into practice’.
Usage in Context
Here are some examples showcasing the use of ‘act on’ in different contexts:
- Formal: “The committee will act on the recommendations in the report.”
- Informal: “I heard there’s a sale at the mall. Let’s act on that information and go shopping!”
- Written: “The company failed to act on the warnings about potential security breaches.”
- Spoken: “If you don’t act on your dreams, they’ll always remain just that – dreams.”
Examples of 'Act on' in different contexts
Grammar Analysis
‘Act on’ is an inseparable phrasal verb, meaning you cannot place an object between ‘act’ and ‘on’. For example:
Correct: “We should act on this opportunity.”
Incorrect: “We should act this opportunity on.”
When using ‘act on’ in a sentence, the structure typically follows this pattern:
Subject + act on + object (noun/pronoun)
Application in IELTS
In IELTS Speaking
‘Act on’ can be effectively used to answer various IELTS Speaking questions, especially those related to decision-making, problem-solving, or responding to situations.
Sample answer for “Describe a time when you had to make an important decision”:
“Last year, I had to decide whether to accept a job offer in another city. After carefully weighing the pros and cons, I decided to act on the opportunity. It was a challenging decision, but I knew I had to act on my career aspirations to progress professionally.”
In IELTS Writing
In Writing tasks, ‘act on’ can add sophistication to your essays, particularly when discussing societal issues, government policies, or personal development.
Example sentence: “It is crucial for governments to not only gather data on environmental issues but to act on this information promptly to mitigate climate change.”
Note: While ‘act on’ is suitable for both Task 1 and Task 2, ensure it fits the formality level required by the task.
Related Phrasal Verbs
-
Follow through (on) /ˈfɒləʊ θruː/ – to complete something or do what you said you would do
Example: “It’s important to follow through on your commitments.” -
Carry out /ˈkæri aʊt/ – to do or complete something, especially a task or duty
Example: “The team carried out the project successfully.” -
Put into practice /pʊt ˈɪntə ˈpræktɪs/ – to use an idea or method in a real situation
Example: “It’s time to put our plans into practice.” -
Go ahead with /ɡəʊ əˈhed wɪð/ – to proceed with a plan or action
Example: “Despite the risks, they decided to go ahead with the expansion.” -
Take action /teɪk ˈækʃən/ – to do something to solve a problem or improve a situation
Example: “We need to take action to reduce pollution in our city.” -
Follow up on /ˈfɒləʊ ʌp ɒn/ – to continue or pursue an action or plan
Example: “I’ll follow up on your suggestion next week.” -
Proceed with /prəˈsiːd wɪð/ – to continue doing something that has already been started
Example: “After the interruption, we proceeded with the meeting.” -
Respond to /rɪˈspɒnd tuː/ – to react to something or someone
Example: “The company responded to customer complaints by improving their service.” -
Move forward with /muːv ˈfɔːwəd wɪð/ – to continue with a plan or project
Example: “We’ve decided to move forward with the new marketing strategy.” -
Work on /wɜːk ɒn/ – to try to improve or develop something
Example: “I’m working on improving my English pronunciation.”
Related phrasal verbs to 'Act on'
Practice Exercises
Fill in the Blanks
- The government needs to __ __ the issue of climate change immediately.
- After receiving feedback, we decided to __ __ our initial plan.
- It’s crucial to __ __ safety warnings to prevent accidents.
- The manager promised to __ __ our suggestions for improving workplace conditions.
- We should __ __ this information before it’s too late.
- The company failed to __ __ the new regulations, resulting in a fine.
- If you want to succeed, you must __ __ your goals consistently.
- The committee will __ __ the proposal at next week’s meeting.
- It’s important to __ __ your instincts in challenging situations.
- The police quickly __ __ the tip-off they received.
Sentence Transformation
-
The team implemented the new strategy immediately.
The team __ __ the new strategy immediately. -
She always follows through on her promises.
She always __ __ her promises. -
We need to respond to these customer complaints promptly.
We need to __ __ these customer complaints promptly. -
The company is proceeding with its expansion plans.
The company is __ __ its expansion plans. -
They carried out the experiment as planned.
They __ __ the experiment as planned. -
It’s time to put our ideas into practice.
It’s time to __ __ our ideas. -
The government should take action on poverty reduction.
The government should __ __ poverty reduction. -
We must follow up on the results of the survey.
We must __ __ the results of the survey. -
The board decided to move forward with the proposed changes.
The board decided to __ __ the proposed changes. -
They’re working on improving customer satisfaction.
They’re __ __ customer satisfaction.
Answers and Explanations
Fill in the Blanks:
- act on
- act on
- act on
- act on
- act on
- act on
- act on
- act on
- act on
- acted on
Explanation: In all these sentences, ‘act on’ is used to indicate taking action based on information, advice, or a decision.
Sentence Transformation:
- acted on
- acts on
- act on
- acting on
- acted on
- act on
- act on
- act on
- act on
- acting on
Explanation: These transformations replace various phrases with ‘act on’ while maintaining the original meaning of taking action or responding to something.
Memory Tips
To remember ‘act on’, visualize yourself as an actor on a stage. When you ‘act on’ something, you’re performing or taking action based on your script (the information or advice you’ve received).
Another mnemonic device: A.C.T. – Action Comes from Thoughts. When you ‘act on’ something, you’re turning thoughts or information into action.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
-
Mistake: Using ‘act in’ instead of ‘act on’
Correct: “We need to act on this information.”
Incorrect: “We need to act in this information.” -
Mistake: Separating the phrasal verb
Correct: “Let’s act on it immediately.”
Incorrect: “Let’s act it on immediately.” -
Mistake: Using the wrong preposition after ‘act’
Correct: “The committee will act on the proposal.”
Incorrect: “The committee will act for the proposal.”
To avoid these mistakes, practice using ‘act on’ in various contexts and remember that it’s an inseparable phrasal verb always followed by the preposition ‘on’.
Conclusion
Mastering the phrasal verb ‘act on’ can significantly enhance your IELTS performance, particularly in Speaking and Writing tasks. It demonstrates a sophisticated command of English and can be applied to various topics, from personal decisions to global issues. Remember to practice using ‘act on’ in different contexts and tenses to internalize its usage. By incorporating this versatile phrasal verb into your language repertoire, you’ll be better equipped to express ideas about taking action, responding to situations, and implementing plans – all crucial skills for achieving a high score in IELTS.
For more tips on improving your IELTS score, check out our articles on how AI is transforming customer service industries and the impact of automation on global unemployment rates. These topics can provide excellent context for using ‘act on’ in your IELTS responses.
