Speaking · Unit 4: Band 7 to 8.5
S37: Using complex grammar naturally in speech
Target band 7 to 8
To reach band 7 in Grammatical Range and Accuracy, you need to use a range of complex structures, and use them with some flexibility. But many students try to force complex grammar into every sentence. The result sounds unnatural and full of errors. The trick is to know which complex structures fit naturally into each part of the test.
Why this matters
Grammar is a quarter of your Speaking score. At band 6, the descriptors talk about a mix of simple and complex structures with limited flexibility. At band 7, it's a range of complex structures with some flexibility, and frequent error-free sentences. So you need both: range and accuracy.
Eight complex structures that sound natural in speech
| Structure | Example | Best part of the test |
|---|---|---|
| Relative clauses | "My uncle, who lives in Sylhet, runs a tea garden." | Part 2 |
| Second conditional | "If I had more time, I'd learn to play the guitar." | Parts 1 and 3 |
| Third conditional | "If I hadn't missed that bus, I wouldn't have met my best friend." | Part 2 stories |
| Past perfect | "I'd never seen snow before I went to Nepal." | Part 2 stories |
| Present perfect continuous | "I've been learning English since I was six." | Part 1 |
| Passive | "The bridge was built about ten years ago." | Parts 2 and 3 |
| "What I like most is..." | "What I like most about my job is the people." | All parts |
| Speculation with modals | "It might be because people are busier now." | Part 3 |
Natural, not forced
Forced: "Had I been informed about the cooking competition which was held in my university, I would have been participating in it."
Natural: "If I'd known about the cooking competition at my university, I would've entered it."
The natural version is still complex grammar. But it's correct, clear and sounds like real speech.
A good mix
You don't need complex grammar in every sentence. A natural mix sounds best. Look at this Part 2 extract:
"I'd like to talk about my grandfather, who passed away a few years ago. He was a primary school teacher in our village. He'd taught there for almost thirty years before he retired. What I remember most is how patient he was. If he were alive today, I think he'd be really proud that I'm planning to study abroad."
That's five sentences with a relative clause, past perfect, a "What I..." structure, and a second conditional. Simple sentences sit between them.
Accuracy matters too
A few common mistakes with complex structures:
- "If I will go abroad, I will study hard." → "If I go abroad, I'll study hard."
- "If I would have known..." → "If I'd known..."
- "The person which helped me..." → "The person who helped me..."
- "I am learning English since 2015." → "I've been learning English since 2015."
Try it yourself
Answer each question using the structure in brackets.
- What would you do if you won a lot of money? (second conditional)
- Tell me about someone who helped you. (relative clause)
- How long have you been studying English? (present perfect continuous)
- Why do you think young people use social media so much? (modals of speculation)
Honest note
Correct simple grammar is better than broken complex grammar. Master two or three structures first. Use them until they're automatic. Then add more.
Your task today
Record one Part 2 answer. Listen back and count your complex structures. Were they correct?