How to Use “Hardly a Day Goes By” in IELTS: Mastering This Powerful Phrase

The phrase “hardly a day goes by” is a powerful expression that can significantly enhance your IELTS writing and speaking responses. This idiomatic expression is frequently used to emphasize the regularity or frequency of an event or occurrence. In the context of IELTS, mastering this phrase can help you achieve a higher band score by demonstrating sophisticated language use and the ability to express ideas with precision.

Let’s explore how to effectively use this phrase in your IELTS exam:

1. “Hardly a day goes by without news of environmental disasters.”
2. “In the digital age, hardly a day goes by when we don’t use our smartphones.”
3. “For many students preparing for IELTS, hardly a day goes by without practicing English.”
4. “In bustling cities, hardly a day goes by without traffic congestion.”
5. “As a dedicated athlete, hardly a day goes by when I don’t train.”

These examples showcase how the phrase can be applied to various topics, from global issues to personal habits, making it versatile for different IELTS tasks.

Hardly a day goes by concept

Understanding “Hardly a Day Goes By”

The phrase “hardly a day goes by” is used to express that something happens very frequently, almost every day. It’s a more sophisticated way of saying “almost every day” or “very often.” This expression can be particularly useful in IELTS Writing Task 2 and Speaking Parts 2 and 3, where you need to discuss trends, habits, or recurring events.

Grammar and Structure

The basic structure of this phrase is:

Hardly a day goes by + without + noun/gerund

or

Hardly a day goes by + when + subject + don’t/doesn’t + verb

It’s important to note that “goes” is always in the present simple tense, regardless of the overall tense of the sentence.

Using “Hardly a Day Goes By” in IELTS Writing

In IELTS Writing, particularly in Task 2, using this phrase can help you express ideas about frequency and regularity more eloquently. Here are some examples:

1. Topic: Technology
   “Hardly a day goes by without a new technological advancement being announced. This rapid pace of innovation has both positive and negative implications for society.”

2. Topic: Environment
   “In the modern world, hardly a day goes by when we don’t hear about environmental issues. From climate change to plastic pollution, these problems require urgent global attention.”

3. Topic: Social Media
   “For many young people today, hardly a day goes by without checking their social media accounts. This constant connectivity has changed the way we communicate and interact.”

IELTS Writing Task example

Incorporating “Hardly a Day Goes By” in IELTS Speaking

In the Speaking test, using this phrase can demonstrate your ability to use idiomatic expressions naturally. Here are some examples for different parts of the test:

Part 1 (Personal Questions)

Examiner: “Do you use social media often?”
You: “Absolutely. In fact, hardly a day goes by when I don’t check my social media accounts. It’s become such an integral part of my daily routine.”

Part 2 (Cue Card)

Topic: Describe a habit you have
“I’d like to talk about my reading habit. Hardly a day goes by without me reading at least a few pages of a book. This habit has been with me since childhood…”

Part 3 (Discussion)

Examiner: “How has technology changed the way people work?”
You: “Technology has revolutionized the workplace. Nowadays, hardly a day goes by when employees don’t use computers or the internet in some capacity. This has greatly increased productivity but also brought new challenges…”

Achieving Higher Band Scores with “Hardly a Day Goes By”

Using this phrase correctly can contribute to achieving a higher band score in IELTS, particularly in the Lexical Resource and Grammatical Range and Accuracy criteria. Here’s how it can be used to demonstrate different levels of proficiency:

• Band 6: “Hardly a day goes by without me using my smartphone.”
• Band 7: “In the modern workplace, hardly a day goes by when employees don’t rely on technology for various tasks.”
• Band 8-9: “In this era of rapid technological advancement, hardly a day goes by without the emergence of innovative solutions to long-standing problems, fundamentally altering the way we approach both work and leisure.”

The progression shows increasing complexity in sentence structure and vocabulary use, which are key factors in achieving higher band scores.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

When using “hardly a day goes by,” be careful to avoid these common errors:

1. Incorrect tense: “Hardly a day went by without…” (Incorrect)
   Correct: “Hardly a day goes by without…”

2. Misusing prepositions: “Hardly a day goes by with…” (Incorrect)
   Correct: “Hardly a day goes by without…”

3. Double negatives: “Hardly a day goes by when I don’t never use my phone.” (Incorrect)
   Correct: “Hardly a day goes by when I don’t use my phone.”

4. Forgetting the article: “Hardly day goes by…” (Incorrect)
   Correct: “Hardly a day goes by…”

5. Using with positive statements: “Hardly a day goes by when I use my phone.” (Incorrect)
   Correct: “Hardly a day goes by when I don’t use my phone.”

Conclusion

Mastering the phrase “hardly a day goes by” can significantly enhance your IELTS performance. It allows you to express frequency and regularity in a sophisticated manner, suitable for both Writing and Speaking tasks. Remember to practice using this phrase in various contexts to ensure you can apply it naturally and correctly during your exam. As you prepare, consider integrating this expression into your responses on topics like technology, environment, daily habits, and social trends – all common themes in IELTS tests.