IELTS Writing Task 1 Introductions- Band 9 Lesson

In this video, I will show you easy tips for writing great introductions for IELTS Academic Task 1.

You will learn about common question types and how to paraphrase them in simple words.

This will help you write clear introductions quickly and get a higher IELTS score.

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Clarification on Usage: “Amount of” vs. “Number of”

Hello everyone,

I’d like to address a point from one of my recent videos where I used “amount of” with a countable noun. Some of you may have noticed this and wondered if it’s correct. Let’s take a moment to clarify.

The Rule vs. Real-Life Usage

The traditional grammar rule is to use “number of” with countable nouns (like people, books, or cars) and “amount of” with uncountable nouns (like water, sugar, or money). For example, you should say, “the number of people” rather than “the amount of people.”

However, this rule has an interesting history. As pointed out by usage experts, the distinction between “amount” and “number” was first solidified by usage guides, such as one from 1906. These guides set a standard that has been repeated in style guides ever since, becoming a so-called “rule.” But if we look at language historically and in everyday use, there is no inherent grammatical, syntactical, or morphological reason why “amount of people” would be wrong. It’s a prescriptive rule that was created and reinforced through repetition in grammar books and style guides.

As a speaker of Hiberno-English, I often hear and use phrases that might differ slightly from what is considered “standard” English. Here in Ireland, “amount of people” is a common expression, reflecting the natural way many of us speak. This shows how regional variations can influence language use, even if they don’t always align with traditional grammar rules.

My Approach as a Teacher

I usually steer clear of debates over moot points, as they often distract from the key lessons that help students succeed. The truth is, many of these debates arise because people want to demonstrate how intelligent or well-read they are, rather than to genuinely help others learn. Spending excessive time arguing over minor language points, like whether “amount of” can be used with countable nouns, is not productive for those trying to master the essentials of English.

As an IELTS teacher, my goal is to focus on what will actually improve your scores and help you communicate effectively. Knowing when to follow traditional rules is important, but it’s also important to recognize when a rule is more about convention than necessity.

Advice for IELTS Candidates

While “amount of people” is commonly used in everyday conversation here and elsewhere, and there’s no technical reason why it would be incorrect, adhering to “number of people” in formal contexts like Task 2 essays is advisable. Even if the rule might not have a strong linguistic basis, it’s a feature of standard written English that editors and examiners expect. So, to stay on the safe side, always use “number of” for countable nouns in your writing.

In casual contexts, feel free to use whichever feels natural to you, but when it comes to formal writing, it’s best to play by the rules that are most likely to influence your score.

I hope this helps clarify the usage, and thank you for engaging with my content. Keep practicing, focus on what truly matters, and best of luck with your studies!

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[__livingforerotism__]

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[ЕлизаветаАгаркова-щи]

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[qf]

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[vinay]

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I’m commenting just to thank you from the bottom of my heart. I got my results on 29th October 2024, and got an overall band of 8.5, I’ve used your channel and challenges for my prep. I prepped for just about 5-6 days, this channel was instrumental in drilling through the sentence structures and fundamentals!

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[FELICITYMUSIMBI]

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