Mat Clark – IELTS Speaking
30
Linking phrases
Uncommon
vocabulary
Idiomatic vocabulary
Different tenses (how many are used?)
Description Structures
When responding to description questions, you need to begin with a lead-in phrase.
(This is an example of a linking device/ redundant language). Possible lead-in phrases
include
the
following:
OK then...
Alright...
Well, you know...
Actually...
Right, OK...
Well...
Well
first
of
all...
We can add a ―pointing phrase‖ next, to signal to the listener
that the first point is
coming. (This is another example of a linking device/ redundant language).
...the first thing I should mention is that...
...the point I'd like to begin with is that...
...I could start off by saying that...
...my initial point would be that...
...I need to start off by pointing out that...
...the main thing you need to know is that...
...I suppose I should begin by highlighting the fact that...
...you may (or may not) be aware that in fact...
...I really need to kick off with the point that...
Most of the above contain interchangeable words. Now you are ready to describe you
first point.
Activity
Example question: ―Tell me about the street that you live in.‖
Think about one important point you can describe about your street (it could be
location, size,
appearance, the buildings, etc). Do not give the name as this is not really
describing (and the name would probably in Chinese so you would not be using examples of
Mat Clark – IELTS Speaking
31
topic-related vocabulary). Select a lead-in phrase and a pointing phrase.
Now describe your first point.
Choose different lead-in and pointing phrases
and practice describing
the first point about your street.
The first point needs to be developed with a complex sentence. Notice in the example
how the candidate uses a structure with ―that‖.
―...the first thing I would say is
that
it's absolutely enormous, maybe even one
of the biggest city in Asia I guess.‖
This is a simple but effective way to join your linking phrase with the detail sentence.
The result is a complex structure. Notice how the candidate then uses another linking word
―maybe even‖ to add more details.
