Mastering ‘Drag on’ for IELTS Success: A Comprehensive Guide

1. Definition and Explanation

The phrasal verb “drag on” is a crucial linguistic tool for IELTS candidates, particularly in the Speaking and Writing sections. It means to continue for longer than expected or desired, often with a negative connotation.

Key meanings:

• To continue slowly and tediously
• To last longer than anticipated or necessary
• To progress at a slow, tiresome pace

Synonyms: persist, linger, protract, prolong

2. Contextual Usage

“Drag on” is versatile and can be applied in various contexts:

• Formal: “The negotiations between the two countries continued to drag on, hampering economic progress.”
• Informal: “This meeting is really dragging on. I hope it ends soon.”
• Written: “The author’s tendency to drag on with unnecessary details made the novel less engaging.”
• Spoken: “I can’t believe how this winter is dragging on. I’m ready for spring!”

Contextual usage of 'drag on' in IELTS

3. Grammar Analysis

“Drag on” is an intransitive phrasal verb, meaning it doesn’t take a direct object. The particle “on” is not separable from “drag” in this context.

Structure: Subject + drag on + (adverb/time expression)

Example: The meeting dragged on for hours.

4. Application in IELTS

In Speaking:

Utilize “drag on” to express frustration with lengthy processes or to describe prolonged situations.

Sample answer for “Describe a time when you felt bored”:
“I remember attending a conference last year where one of the presentations seemed to drag on endlessly. The speaker kept repeating the same points, and I found my attention wandering as the talk continued to drag on well past its scheduled time.”

In Writing:

Incorporate “drag on” to add sophistication to your essays, particularly when discussing time-related issues or inefficiencies.

Example for Task 2 essay on education:
“When educational reforms drag on without clear implementation, students often suffer the consequences of an outdated curriculum.”

5. Related Phrasal Verbs

1. Go on (gəʊ ɒn): To continue
   “The party went on until midnight.”

2. Carry on (ˈkæri ɒn): To continue doing something
   “Despite the difficulties, they carried on with their research.”

3. Wear on (weər ɒn): To pass slowly and tediously
   “As the day wore on, the employees became increasingly tired.”

4. Linger on (ˈlɪŋɡər ɒn): To continue to exist for longer than expected
   “The effects of the economic crisis lingered on for years.”

5. Press on (pres ɒn): To continue in a determined way
   “Despite the setbacks, the team pressed on with their project.”

6. Drone on (drəʊn ɒn): To talk for a long time in a boring way
   “The professor droned on about ancient history, losing the students’ attention.”

7. Trudge on (trʌdʒ ɒn): To continue with difficulty but determination
   “The hikers trudged on through the harsh weather conditions.”

Related phrasal verbs to 'drag on'

6. Practice Exercises

Fill in the blanks:

1. The negotiations between the two companies __ __ for months.
2. I hope this cold weather doesn’t __ __ much longer.
3. The meeting __ __ well past its scheduled end time.
4. The effects of the recession continued to __ __ for years.
5. The lecture seemed to __ __ endlessly.
6. As the debate __ __, the audience became restless.
7. The construction project has __ __ for over a year now.
8. The war __ __ for six long years.
9. His speech __ __, boring most of the listeners.
10. The trial is expected to __ __ for several months.

Sentence Transformation:

1. The meeting continued longer than expected.
   The meeting __.

2. The negotiations are taking much longer than anticipated.
   The negotiations __.

3. The winter seems to be lasting forever this year.
   The winter __.

4. The effects of the economic crisis persisted for a long time.
   The effects of the economic crisis __.

5. The speaker continued talking for an unnecessarily long time.
   The speaker __.

6. The project is progressing very slowly and tediously.
   The project __.

7. The court case is lasting much longer than anyone expected.
   The court case __.

8. The peace talks are continuing without any sign of conclusion.
   The peace talks __.

9. The rainy season seems to be continuing indefinitely this year.
   The rainy season __.

10. The debate continued far beyond its scheduled time.
    The debate __.

Answers and Explanations:

Fill in the blanks:

1. dragged on
2. drag on
3. dragged on
4. drag on
5. drag on
6. dragged on
7. dragged on
8. dragged on
9. dragged on
10. drag on

Sentence Transformation:

1. The meeting dragged on.
2. The negotiations are dragging on.
3. The winter seems to be dragging on this year.
4. The effects of the economic crisis dragged on for a long time.
5. The speaker droned on.
6. The project is dragging on.
7. The court case is dragging on.
8. The peace talks are dragging on without any sign of conclusion.
9. The rainy season seems to be dragging on indefinitely this year.
10. The debate dragged on far beyond its scheduled time.

Explanation: In each case, “drag on” is used to emphasize the prolonged and often tedious nature of the action or situation. The tense (past or present) is adjusted according to the context of the sentence.

7. Memorization Tips

To remember “drag on,” visualize a person reluctantly dragging a heavy object along a seemingly endless road. This image captures the essence of something continuing longer than desired.

Another method is to create a mnemonic: “Discussions that drag on are generally boring,” where each word starts with a letter from “drag on.”

8. Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

1. Mistake: Using “drag on” with a direct object.
   Correct: The meeting dragged on. (Not: The meeting dragged on the participants.)

2. Mistake: Separating “drag” and “on.”
   Correct: The winter dragged on. (Not: The winter dragged the season on.)

3. Mistake: Using in positive contexts.
   Better usage: “Drag on” typically has a negative connotation, so use it for situations that are undesirably long.

4. Mistake: Overusing in formal writing.
   Tip: While acceptable in IELTS essays, use sparingly and balance with more formal alternatives in academic contexts.

9. Conclusion

Mastering phrasal verbs like “drag on” can significantly enhance your IELTS performance. It adds depth to your vocabulary and allows for more nuanced expression, particularly when discussing time-related issues or prolonged situations. Remember to practice using “drag on” in various contexts to internalize its usage and improve your overall English proficiency.

For more tips on improving your IELTS performance, check out our guide on how to support low-income workers during inflation, which provides excellent practice for using complex vocabulary in context. Additionally, to expand your range of expressions, explore our article on taking up new hobbies, which offers more phrasal verbs and idiomatic expressions useful for the IELTS exam.