Ngy 7 thng 8 nm 2014 IELTS Writing Task 1: past simple, past perfect - ielts-simon.com

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Daily Lessons with Simon, ex-IELTS examiner

Thursday , October 31 , 2013

IELTS Writing Task 1: past simple, past perfect

Look at the following description:

In 2002, the cost of an average house in the UK was around 130,000. By 2007 , the average house price had risen to almost 190,000, but it fell back to just

under 150,000 in 2008.

Notice the verbs used with "in" and "by":

I used "in" with the past simple (was, fell).

I used "by " with the past perfect (had risen) to give the idea that the increase had happened in the y ears leading up to 2007 .

To avoid worry ing about "by + past perfect" y ou could write: "Between 2002 and 2007 , the average house price rose to..."

Posted by Simon in IELTS Writing Task 1 | Permalink

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Many thanks, Simon!!!

Posted by : NARXOZ | Thursday , October 31 , 201 3 at 21 :02

hi, Simon, is "climbed back to ..." an acceptable phrase?

Posted by : Jenny | Friday , Nov ember 01 , 201 3 at 01 :23

I think it sounds unnatural when y ou use "climmed back to"

Posted by : Rose | Friday , Nov ember 01 , 201 3 at 01 :51

can somebody correct my task 1 topic on global water usage by sector

The line graph compares global water usage among three different sectors including agriculture,industrial and domestic ov er a period of hundred y ears . The table

illustrates

the information about two countries population ,area of land irrigated and consumption of water by each person in 2000.

It is clear that consumption of water in all three sectors increased between 1 900 and 2000 and agricultural need for water was the highest among other sectors . It is also

noticeable that Brazil accounted for higher statistics than Demographic Republic

of Congo in all areas.

Ngy 7 thng 8 nm 2014 IELTS Writing Task 1: past simple, past perfect - ielts-simon.com

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In 1 900, around 500 km3 of water was used for agriculture , compared to 50 km3 of domestic and 1 00 km3 of industrial usage. In 1 950, agricultural need of water rose

to just ov er 1 000 km3 , whereas, industrial and domestic need was almost same as in 1 900. Howev er, next 50 y ears had been experienced a significant hike in water

consumption in ev ery sector. While it was recorded three times more water usage in agricultural sector in 2000 with 3000 km3, industrial and domestic consumption

had reached 900km3 and 300 km3 respectiv ely .

In 2000,1 7 6 million of Brazilian people consumed 359 m3 of water by each person and irrigated land of 26,500 km3. Meanwhile , water consumption of Congo was only

8 m3 per person and 1 00 km3 of land ws irrigated.

Posted by : lijomon joseph | Friday , Nov ember 01 , 201 3 at 1 7 :29

Hi simon! I already asked this in one of my comments on y our prev ious post. But what if the task description does not hav e a specific time indicated?? For example, the

table shows the common sports injuries that lead to emergency hospital treatment in uk (no y ear or month mentioned) should i write my tense in present tense? Or is it

ok if i write it in past tense? Is there rules like this? Thanks!

Posted by : Mary | Saturday , Nov ember 02, 201 3 at 07 :08

Hi Mary ,

Just use the present simple if no times are shown, and past simple for past times.

Posted by : Simon | Saturday , Nov ember 02, 201 3 at 1 2:42

Hi simon,

I hav e told by my IELTS tutor that the difference of using "in" and "by " to describe y ears is that "in" is for past or present y ears while "by " is for future y ears. Is it correct?

Posted by : Cindy | Tuesday , December 24, 201 3 at 1 3:48

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