Mastering ‘Bring about’ to Ace Your IELTS Speaking Test

1. Definition and Explanation

The phrasal verb ‘bring about’ means to cause something to happen or to produce a particular result. It is often used to describe significant changes or developments that occur due to someone’s actions or certain circumstances. This versatile phrasal verb is synonymous with ’cause’, ‘lead to’, or ‘result in’.

Different meanings and contexts

While ‘bring about’ primarily means to cause something to happen, it can be used in various contexts:

1. In formal situations: Often used in academic or professional settings to discuss changes or developments.
2. In everyday conversations: Can be used to describe personal achievements or life changes.
3. In written English: Commonly found in news articles, reports, or essays discussing societal changes or historical events.

Synonyms and equivalent expressions

• Cause
• Lead to
• Result in
• Give rise to
• Trigger
• Spark
• Usher in
• Precipitate

2. Usage in Context

To better understand how to use ‘bring about’ effectively, let’s look at some example sentences:

1. “The new policy is expected to bring about significant improvements in public health.”
2. “Her hard work and dedication brought about a positive change in her career.”
3. “Technological advancements have brought about a revolution in communication.”
4. “The peace talks aim to bring about an end to the long-standing conflict.”
5. “Economic reforms brought about a rapid increase in foreign investment.”

Using 'bring about' in different contexts

3. Grammar Analysis

‘Bring about’ is an inseparable phrasal verb, which means that the object always comes after the entire phrase. For example:

• Correct: “The new law brought about significant changes.”
• Incorrect: “The new law brought significant changes about.”

When using ‘bring about’ in different tenses, only the ‘bring’ part changes:

• Present: brings about
• Past: brought about
• Present perfect: has/have brought about
• Future: will bring about

4. Application in IELTS

In IELTS Speaking

Using ‘bring about’ in your IELTS Speaking test can demonstrate your ability to use advanced vocabulary and discuss complex ideas. Here are some examples of how you might use it:

1. When discussing changes in society:
   “In recent years, social media has brought about significant changes in how people communicate and share information.”

2. When talking about personal achievements:
   “My decision to study abroad brought about a major transformation in my perspective on life and culture.”

3. When answering questions about the environment:
   “Increased awareness of climate change has brought about a shift towards more sustainable practices in many industries.”

In IELTS Writing

In IELTS Writing tasks, ‘bring about’ can be used to discuss causes and effects, particularly in Task 2 essays. For example:

1. In an advantages/disadvantages essay:
   “While technological advancements have brought about numerous benefits, they have also led to some concerning issues such as privacy concerns.”

2. In a problem/solution essay:
   “To bring about positive change in our education system, we need to focus on implementing more practical, skills-based learning approaches.”

Remember to use ‘bring about’ judiciously and vary your vocabulary to maintain a high band score.

5. Related Phrasal Verbs

1. Bring up (/brɪŋ ʌp/) – to mention or introduce a subject in conversation
   Example: “I didn’t want to bring up the issue of money during the family dinner.”

2. Bring forward (/brɪŋ ˈfɔːrwərd/) – to move something to an earlier time or date
   Example: “Due to unforeseen circumstances, we’ve had to bring forward the meeting to next week.”

3. Bring down (/brɪŋ daʊn/) – to cause something to fall or collapse
   Example: “The economic crisis brought down several major corporations.”

4. Bring in (/brɪŋ ɪn/) – to introduce or implement something new
   Example: “The company is bringing in new policies to improve employee satisfaction.”

5. Bring out (/brɪŋ aʊt/) – to emphasize or highlight a quality
   Example: “The challenging situation brought out the best in her leadership skills.”

For more information on related phrasal verbs, you can check out our articles on bring up and bring forward.

6. Practice Exercises

Fill in the blanks

1. The new government policies are expected to __ __ significant economic growth.
2. Her innovative ideas __ __ a revolution in the tech industry.
3. We hope these negotiations will __ __ peace in the region.
4. The pandemic has __ __ major changes in how we work and communicate.
5. The company’s new strategy aims to __ __ a 20% increase in sales.
6. Education can __ __ positive changes in society.
7. The discovery of penicillin __ __ a new era in medicine.
8. Social media has __ __ a shift in how businesses market their products.
9. The team’s hard work finally __ __ the desired results.
10. Climate change is __ __ significant environmental challenges.

Sentence Transformation

1. The new policy caused significant changes.
   The new policy __ __ significant changes.

2. Her research resulted in a major breakthrough.
   Her research __ __ a major breakthrough.

3. The economic crisis led to widespread unemployment.
   The economic crisis __ __ widespread unemployment.

4. The invention of the internet sparked a communication revolution.
   The invention of the internet __ __ a communication revolution.

5. Their efforts produced positive results.
   Their efforts __ __ positive results.

6. The new law will cause substantial improvements in working conditions.
   The new law will __ __ substantial improvements in working conditions.

7. The protests resulted in significant political reforms.
   The protests __ __ significant political reforms.

8. Her leadership led to increased productivity in the team.
   Her leadership __ __ increased productivity in the team.

9. The discovery triggered a series of scientific breakthroughs.
   The discovery __ __ a series of scientific breakthroughs.

10. The company’s innovation has produced a shift in consumer behavior.
    The company’s innovation has __ __ a shift in consumer behavior.

Answers and Explanations

Fill in the blanks:

1. bring about
2. brought about
3. bring about
4. brought about
5. bring about
6. bring about
7. brought about
8. brought about
9. brought about
10. bringing about

Sentence Transformation:

1. brought about
2. brought about
3. brought about
4. brought about
5. brought about
6. bring about
7. brought about
8. brought about
9. brought about
10. brought about

Explanation: In all these sentences, ‘bring about’ is used to express the idea of causing something to happen or producing a result. The tense changes according to the context of the sentence, but the phrasal verb remains inseparable.

IELTS practice exercises for 'bring about'

7. Memory Tips

To help remember the meaning and usage of ‘bring about’, consider the following tips:

1. Visualize: Imagine yourself physically bringing or carrying a change or result to a situation. This mental image can help reinforce the meaning of causing something to happen.

2. Use a mnemonic: “B.A.C.” – Bring About Change. This can remind you that ‘bring about’ is often used in contexts of change or transformation.

3. Context association: Try to associate ‘bring about’ with news headlines or historical events. For example, “The Industrial Revolution brought about significant societal changes.”

4. Practice with collocations: Learn common words that often go with ‘bring about’, such as ‘change’, ‘improvement’, ‘revolution’, or ‘transformation’.

5. Create a story: Invent a short story using ‘bring about’ multiple times in different contexts to help cement its usage in your mind.

8. Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

1. Separating the phrasal verb: Remember, ‘bring about’ is inseparable. Never place the object between ‘bring’ and ‘about’.
   Incorrect: “The new policy brought the change about.”
   Correct: “The new policy brought about the change.”

2. Confusing with ‘bring up’: ‘Bring up’ means to mention or raise a topic, while ‘bring about’ means to cause something to happen.
   Incorrect: “The economic crisis brought up high unemployment rates.”
   Correct: “The economic crisis brought about high unemployment rates.”

3. Using in overly casual contexts: While ‘bring about’ can be used in everyday speech, it has a somewhat formal tone. In very casual situations, simpler alternatives like ’cause’ or ‘lead to’ might be more appropriate.

4. Overuse: While it’s a useful phrasal verb, avoid overusing ‘bring about’ in your IELTS responses. Variety in vocabulary is key to achieving a high band score.

5. Incorrect preposition: Some learners mistakenly use ‘bring on’ instead of ‘bring about’. While ‘bring on’ is a valid phrasal verb, it has a different meaning (to cause something, often negative, to occur or appear).
   Incorrect: “The new law is expected to bring on positive changes.”
   Correct: “The new law is expected to bring about positive changes.”

To avoid these mistakes, practice using ‘bring about’ in various contexts and review your usage regularly. Pay attention to how it’s used in news articles, academic texts, and other formal writing to get a better sense of its appropriate usage.

9. Conclusion

Mastering the phrasal verb ‘bring about’ can significantly enhance your English language skills, particularly for the IELTS test. Its versatility in discussing changes, developments, and cause-and-effect relationships makes it a valuable addition to your vocabulary.

Remember to use ‘bring about’ in both your speaking and writing tasks, but always in appropriate contexts. Practice with the exercises provided and try to incorporate it naturally in your everyday English usage. By doing so, you’ll not only improve your chances of success in the IELTS test but also enhance your overall English proficiency.

For more tips on preparing for your IELTS test, including what to bring to the IELTS test center, be sure to explore our other resources. Good luck with your IELTS preparation!