When speaking or writing, you can use various linguistic elements to convey your feelings, attitudes, judgments, and beliefs about a topic. In the context of the IELTS test, especially Task 2 of the Writing section, you need to position yourself on a topic and demonstrate your stance through language. Here are some ways to achieve that:
1. Pronouns
- In formal writing, use of first-person pronouns (I, you, we) is less common.
- Use them to give your opinion or to show identification with the reader.
- “I would argue that all children should attend school.”
- “Is it better for us to educate our children at home rather than send them to school?”
2. Adverbs
- Use adverbs to indicate your attitude, feelings, or assessment of something.
- Single adverbs: actually, frankly, fortunately, unfortunately, personally, luckily, interestingly, naturally, surprisingly.
- Adverbial phrases: broadly speaking, by and large, in general, overall, on the whole, to a great extent.
- Adverbial phrases of opinion: in my view, in my opinion.
- Use adverbs of possibility to soften your argument: certainly, definitely, maybe, perhaps, possibly, presumably, probably.
3. Verbs
- Use verbs like think, suppose, believe, feel, guess, see to express your opinions and feelings.
- “I think that’s a good point.”
- Use modal verbs (may, might, could, must, can) and verbs like seem or appear to express ideas rather than facts or to sound more cautious.
- “Schools seem to be more overcrowded and less well-funded these days.”
4. Adjectives
- Use adjectives to show your feelings.
- “I’m glad that my parents didn’t educate me at home.”
- Use the structure “it + be + adjective + that” to show possibility and opinion.
- “It is likely that those people will be very similar.”
In the IELTS test, effectively expressing your feelings, attitudes, judgments, and beliefs helps you clearly convey your stance on the topic and contribute to a well-structured and persuasive essay.