Understanding and effectively using complex grammatical structures like “be detrimental to + noun/gerund” can significantly enhance your performance in the IELTS exam. This phrase is particularly useful in expressing negative impacts or harmful effects, which is a common theme in many IELTS tasks. Let’s delve into the intricacies of this structure and explore how to use it to boost your IELTS scores.
Understanding the Structure and Its Significance in IELTS
The phrase “be detrimental to + noun/gerund” is a formal way to express that something has a harmful or damaging effect on something else. It’s a valuable structure for IELTS candidates as it allows them to articulate complex ideas about negative consequences in a sophisticated manner.
Examples:
- Excessive screen time can be detrimental to children’s eyesight.
- Pollution is detrimental to the environment.
- Lack of exercise is often detrimental to one’s health.
- Overreliance on technology can be detrimental to developing social skills.
- Stress is detrimental to both physical and mental well-being.
In these examples, the structure clearly shows the negative impact of one factor on another, demonstrating a cause-and-effect relationship that is often required in IELTS Writing and Speaking tasks.
Grammar and Usage: Mastering the Structure
Formula and Grammatical Analysis
The basic formula for this structure is:
[Subject] + [be verb] + detrimental + to + [noun/gerund]
- Subject: Can be a noun, pronoun, or gerund
- Be verb: Conjugated to match the subject and tense (is, are, was, were, has been, etc.)
- Detrimental: The key adjective in this structure
- To: Preposition connecting “detrimental” with the affected noun or gerund
- Noun/Gerund: The entity being negatively affected
Application in IELTS Writing
In IELTS Writing Task 2, this structure can be effectively used in various essay types:
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Opinion Essays:
“In my view, excessive social media use is detrimental to maintaining genuine relationships.” -
Advantage/Disadvantage Essays:
“While technology has many benefits, its overuse can be detrimental to developing critical thinking skills.” -
Problem/Solution Essays:
“The rising cost of housing is detrimental to young families trying to settle down. To address this, governments should implement affordable housing schemes.” -
Discussion Essays:
“Some argue that globalization is detrimental to preserving local cultures, while others see it as an opportunity for cultural exchange.”
Enhancing IELTS Speaking Responses
In IELTS Speaking, using this structure can demonstrate your ability to discuss complex topics:
Part 2 (Cue Card) Example:
“I’d like to talk about a habit that I think is detrimental to productivity. Many people, including myself, often check their smartphones frequently throughout the day. This habit can be detrimental to maintaining focus on important tasks.”
Part 3 Example:
Examiner: “How does pollution affect people’s health in cities?”
Candidate: “Pollution in urban areas is highly detrimental to residents’ health. The poor air quality can be particularly detrimental to those with respiratory conditions, leading to increased rates of asthma and other breathing problems.”
Achieving Higher Band Scores with Advanced Usage
To aim for higher band scores (7+), consider these advanced applications:
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Combine with other complex structures:
“Not only is the overuse of pesticides detrimental to soil quality, but it also poses significant risks to human health.” -
Use in conditional sentences:
“If we don’t address climate change soon, it will be increasingly detrimental to global food security.” -
Incorporate into complex sentences with multiple clauses:
“While short-term economic gains might be appealing, policies that prioritize immediate profits over long-term sustainability are ultimately detrimental to both the environment and future economic stability.” -
Use with less common collocations:
“The proliferation of fake news is detrimental to fostering an informed electorate, undermining the very foundations of democratic societies.” -
Employ in passive constructions:
“Local ecosystems have been detrimentally affected by the unchecked expansion of urban areas.”
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
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Incorrect preposition:
Incorrect: “Smoking is detrimental for health.”
Correct: “Smoking is detrimental to health.” -
Using with positive concepts:
Incorrect: “Education is detrimental to society.”
Correct: “Lack of education is detrimental to society.” -
Overuse: While it’s a useful structure, overusing it can make your writing seem repetitive. Vary your language with synonyms like “harmful,” “damaging,” or “adversely affect.”
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Incorrect form of the affected noun:
Incorrect: “Stress is detrimental to work.”
Correct: “Stress is detrimental to productivity or working efficiently.” -
Mismatching subject-verb agreement:
Incorrect: “Social media are detrimental to face-to-face communication.”
Correct: “Social media is detrimental to face-to-face communication.”
Conclusion
Mastering the “be detrimental to + noun/gerund” structure can significantly enhance your IELTS performance. It allows you to express complex ideas about negative impacts in a sophisticated manner, which is crucial for achieving higher band scores. Remember to practice using this structure in various contexts and combine it with other advanced grammatical forms to showcase your language proficiency. As you prepare for your IELTS exam, consider how you can incorporate this phrase into discussions about environmental issues, social problems, health concerns, and other common IELTS topics. With consistent practice and attention to detail, you’ll be able to use this structure effectively and confidently in both your Writing and Speaking tasks.