Master ‘Put Aside’ to Boost Your IELTS Speaking Score

Mastering phrasal verbs is crucial for IELTS success, and ‘put aside’ is a versatile expression that can significantly enhance your language skills. This article will guide you through the nuances of ‘put aside’ and show you how to effectively use it in your IELTS exam.

1. Definition and Explanation

‘Put aside’ is a phrasal verb with multiple meanings:

1. To save money for future use
2. To stop thinking about something temporarily
3. To put something in a place for later use
4. To ignore or disregard something

Synonyms include ‘set aside’, ‘reserve’, or ‘shelve’ depending on the context.

2. Usage in Context

Here are some examples of ‘put aside’ in different contexts:

• Formal: “The company has put aside funds for future investments.”
• Informal: “Let’s put aside our differences and work together.”
• Written: “The author put aside her manuscript for a month before editing.”
• Spoken: “I try to put aside an hour each day for exercise.”

3. Grammar Analysis

‘Put aside’ is a separable phrasal verb. This means you can say:

• “Put aside your worries.” OR “Put your worries aside.”

However, when using pronouns, they must come between ‘put’ and ‘aside’:

• “Put it aside.” NOT “Put aside it.”

4. Application in IELTS

In Speaking:

Use ‘put aside’ to demonstrate vocabulary range and fluency:

Question: “How do you manage stress during exam periods?”
Answer: “I find it helpful to put aside my worries and focus on one task at a time. By putting aside distractions, I can concentrate better on my studies.”

In Writing:

Incorporate ‘put aside’ to add sophistication to your essays:

“While it’s important to consider all viewpoints, we must put aside personal biases when analyzing data objectively.”

IELTS candidate using 'put aside' in speaking test

5. Related Phrasal Verbs

1. Set aside /set əˈsaɪd/ – to reserve for a specific purpose
   Example: “We’ve set aside some money for our vacation.”

2. Put off /pʊt ɒf/ – to postpone or delay
   Example: “Don’t put off studying until the last minute.”

3. Put away /pʊt əˈweɪ/ – to store or save
   Example: “Please put away your toys after playing.”

4. Put by /pʊt baɪ/ – to save (usually money)
   Example: “She puts by a little money each month for emergencies.”

5. Put down /pʊt daʊn/ – to write something
   Example: “Put down your thoughts in a journal.”

6. Put forward /pʊt ˈfɔːwəd/ – to suggest or propose
   Example: “He put forward an interesting idea during the meeting.”

7. Put up with /pʊt ʌp wɪð/ – to tolerate
   Example: “I can’t put up with this noise anymore.”

8. Put out /pʊt aʊt/ – to extinguish
   Example: “The firefighters quickly put out the flames.”

6. Practice Exercises

Fill in the blanks:

1. We need to __ __ our differences and work as a team.
2. The government has __ __ funds for education.
3. Can you __ your phone __ during the meeting?
4. She __ __ some money each month for her retirement.
5. Let’s __ __ this discussion until next week.
6. I’m trying to __ __ an hour each day for reading.
7. The company decided to __ __ the project for now.
8. He __ his work __ to help his friend move house.
9. We should __ __ our personal opinions when conducting research.
10. The students were asked to __ __ their textbooks for the exam.

Rewrite the sentences:

1. They’re saving money for a new car.
   They’re __.

2. Let’s forget about our argument and enjoy the party.
   Let’s __.

3. I’m ignoring the noise and focusing on my work.
   I’m __.

4. The committee postponed the decision until next month.
   The committee __.

5. We need to reserve some time for planning.
   We need to __.

6. She’s storing her winter clothes for the summer.
   She’s __.

7. Can you stop thinking about work during your vacation?
   Can you __ during your vacation?

8. The manager is disregarding the complaints for now.
   The manager is __ for now.

9. They’re saving a portion of their income for emergencies.
   They’re __ for emergencies.

10. We should ignore our biases when making decisions.
    We should __ when making decisions.

Answers and Explanations:

Fill in the blanks:

1. put aside
2. put aside
3. put – aside
4. puts aside
5. put aside
6. put aside
7. put aside
8. put – aside
9. put aside
10. put aside

Rewrite the sentences:

1. They’re putting aside money for a new car.
2. Let’s put aside our argument and enjoy the party.
3. I’m putting aside the noise and focusing on my work.
4. The committee put aside the decision until next month.
5. We need to put aside some time for planning.
6. She’s putting aside her winter clothes for the summer.
7. Can you put aside thoughts about work during your vacation?
8. The manager is putting aside the complaints for now.
9. They’re putting aside a portion of their income for emergencies.
10. We should put aside our biases when making decisions.

Each answer demonstrates the correct use of ‘put aside’ in various contexts, showing its versatility in replacing other phrases or verbs to create more sophisticated expressions.

7. Memory Tips

To remember ‘put aside’, visualize physically moving an object to the side. This action represents:

• Saving money (moving it to a safe place)
• Ignoring distractions (moving them out of your way)
• Postponing tasks (moving them to the side for later)

Create a mental image of yourself organizing a cluttered desk, putting aside items you don’t need right now. This visual can help reinforce the various meanings of the phrasal verb.

8. Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

1. Mistake: Using ‘put aside’ with non-objects
   Correct: “Put aside your worries” (NOT “Put aside anxious”)

2. Mistake: Incorrect word order with pronouns
   Correct: “Put it aside” (NOT “Put aside it”)

3. Mistake: Confusing ‘put aside’ with ‘put away’
   Remember: ‘Put aside’ is temporary, ‘put away’ is for storage

To avoid these errors, practice using ‘put aside’ in various contexts and pay attention to the object of the verb. Always place pronouns between ‘put’ and ‘aside’.

Visual guide to common mistakes with 'put aside'

9. Conclusion

Mastering ‘put aside’ can significantly enhance your IELTS performance. This versatile phrasal verb allows you to express ideas about saving, postponing, and focusing with precision and sophistication. Remember to practice using it in various contexts, and don’t hesitate to incorporate it into your IELTS responses. By putting aside your doubts and embracing this useful expression, you’ll be one step closer to achieving your desired IELTS score.

For more tips on improving your IELTS vocabulary, check out our guide on describing traditional festivals or special family occasions. These topics often provide excellent opportunities to use phrasal verbs like ‘put aside’ in context.