The phrase “be useful for + noun/gerund” is a versatile and valuable structure that frequently appears in IELTS exams. Understanding its usage can significantly enhance your performance across all sections of the test. Let’s delve into this construction and explore how to apply it effectively in your IELTS preparation and exam.
Examples:
- This guide is useful for preparing for the IELTS exam.
- Regular practice is useful for improving your English skills.
- A good dictionary is useful for expanding your vocabulary.
- Time management is useful for succeeding in the IELTS test.
- These strategies are useful for answering difficult questions.
In these examples, we can see how the structure “be useful for + noun/gerund” is used to express the purpose or benefit of something. This construction is particularly valuable in IELTS Writing and Speaking tasks where you need to explain advantages, purposes, or benefits.
Understanding “Be Useful For + Noun/Gerund”
The structure “be useful for + noun/gerund” is used to describe the purpose or benefit of something. It consists of:
- “Be” verb (is/are/was/were)
- “Useful” (adjective)
- “For” (preposition)
- Noun or Gerund (verb + -ing form)
This structure appears frequently in IELTS exams, particularly in Writing Task 2 and Speaking Part 3, where candidates are often required to discuss advantages, purposes, or benefits of various topics.
Grammar Rules and Usage
Formula:
[Subject] + [be verb] + useful + for + [noun/gerund]
The subject can be a noun, pronoun, or gerund. The “be” verb should agree with the subject. “Useful” is always in its base form. After “for,” you can use either a noun or a gerund (verb + -ing).
Application in IELTS Sections:
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Writing Task 1: While less common in Task 1, you might use this structure to explain the purpose of data or trends.
Example: “This graph is useful for understanding the population growth over the past decade.”
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Writing Task 2: This structure is particularly useful in advantage/disadvantage or problem/solution essays.
Example: “Online education is useful for providing access to learning resources for people in remote areas.”
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Speaking: You can use this phrase to express opinions or explain benefits in all parts of the speaking test.
Example: “I think learning a foreign language is useful for broadening one’s cultural perspective.”
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Reading: Recognizing this structure can help you quickly identify purpose statements in texts.
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Listening: Being familiar with this phrase will help you catch important information about purposes or benefits in audio materials.
Sample Usage in IELTS Tasks
Writing Task 2 Sample:
Topic: The advantages and disadvantages of online learning.
“Online learning is useful for providing flexible study options to students worldwide. It is particularly useful for working professionals who need to balance their career and education. Moreover, online courses are useful for accessing a wide range of subjects that might not be available locally. However, while online learning is useful for developing self-discipline, it may not be as useful for building interpersonal skills as traditional classroom settings.”
Speaking Part 3 Sample:
Question: How can technology be useful in education?
“Technology can be extremely useful for enhancing the learning experience in various ways. For instance, interactive software is useful for engaging students and making complex topics more understandable. Online platforms are useful for facilitating collaboration among students from different parts of the world. Additionally, digital libraries are useful for providing access to a vast array of resources that would be impossible to house in a physical library. However, it’s important to note that while technology is useful for supplementing traditional teaching methods, it shouldn’t completely replace human interaction in education.”
Advanced Usage for Higher Band Scores
To achieve higher band scores in IELTS, consider these advanced applications:
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Varied vocabulary: Instead of always using “useful,” incorporate synonyms like “beneficial,” “advantageous,” or “valuable.”
Example: “This approach is beneficial for developing critical thinking skills.”
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Complex sentences: Combine the structure with other clauses for more sophisticated expressions.
Example: “While social media is useful for connecting people globally, it can also be detrimental to productivity if not used in moderation.”
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Passive voice: Use the passive form for variety and to emphasize the benefit rather than the subject.
Example: “These techniques are considered useful for improving time management skills in the IELTS test.”
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Conditionals: Incorporate conditional sentences to show deeper analysis.
Example: “If implemented correctly, this policy would be useful for reducing urban pollution.”
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Comparisons: Use comparative structures to evaluate different methods or approaches.
Example: “Online courses are more useful for providing flexibility than traditional classroom settings, but they may be less useful for developing interpersonal skills.”
Common Mistakes to Avoid
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Incorrect verb agreement: Ensure the “be” verb agrees with the subject.
Incorrect: “These methods is useful for learning vocabulary.”
Correct: “These methods are useful for learning vocabulary.” -
Using “to” instead of “for”: Remember to use “for” after “useful.”
Incorrect: “This book is useful to improve your grammar.”
Correct: “This book is useful for improving your grammar.” -
Using a base verb instead of a gerund: After “for,” use a gerund or noun, not a base verb.
Incorrect: “This technique is useful for learn quickly.”
Correct: “This technique is useful for learning quickly.” -
Overuse: While this structure is valuable, overusing it can make your language repetitive. Vary your expressions for a more dynamic response.
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Neglecting context: Ensure that your use of this structure is relevant to the question or topic at hand.
Conclusion
Mastering the “be useful for + noun/gerund” structure can significantly enhance your IELTS performance. It allows you to express purposes and benefits clearly and effectively across all sections of the test. Remember to practice using this structure in various contexts, and don’t forget to combine it with other grammatical structures for more sophisticated expressions. As you prepare for your IELTS exam, look for opportunities to incorporate this useful phrase into your writing and speaking practice. With consistent application, you’ll find it becomes a natural and powerful tool in your English language arsenal.
For further practice, consider using this structure to discuss topics like environmental conservation, technological advancements, or personal development strategies. These themes often appear in IELTS exams and provide excellent opportunities to showcase your command of this versatile grammatical construction.
To further enhance your IELTS preparation, you might also find it helpful to explore related grammatical structures such as “be inspired by + noun/gerund” or “be focused on + noun/gerund”. These constructions can add variety and sophistication to your language use in the exam.