http://www.englishforums.com/search/pro.htm?q=tag%3aIELTS+tag%3aContractions&tag=IELTS,Contractions&orTags=0Search results for 'tag:IELTS tag:Contractions' matching tags 'IELTS' and 'Contractions'en-USCSMOD (Build: 3170.31378)http://www.englishforums.com/English/WasVsWere/3/nqqv/Post.htm#68769Thu, 20 Jan 2005 05:12:35 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:68769just the truthIt is also important to remember that this form is not acceptable for the TOEIC, TOEFL, IELTS, Eiken STEP, ACT or Cambridge Level Tests, for commercial correspondence, academic papers, essays, job interviews or many other formal situations. <br /> <br />>>>>>>>>>>> <br /> <br />Allowing, for the moment, that what you say is true, Mr M, why isn't there more outrage at the highly inaccurate 'rules' that have, for much too long, been passed off as how English actually works? <br /> <br />Regarding these tests you mention, active steps are being taken by all [most? many?] of these organizations to make their tests more reflective of what is real English. Expect to see fewer of these trick questions on exams such as those mentioned. <br /> <br />Expect to see informal conversations on TOEICs employ what is perfectly natural English. In actuality, they already do. Contractions are not for formal writing but no one would expect conversations to occur without contracted speech. Why should this abomination occur on tests. Shouldn't we strive to keep the informal out of tests? :s :s :s <br /> <br />Again, if teachers fail to set up a rich enough contextual situation in their test questions, that preclude all but the answer they seek, and they then mark a natural English response wrong, DEMAND that they defend their position. <br /> <br />It's truly a sad commentary on teaching that students are misinformed simply to satisfy erroneous test situations. As the CGEL states, students must learn all aspects of language if they are to function as natural users rather than like an inexpert person reading out of a book. <br /> <br />The amount of time that any one person spends in formal or test situations is miniscule compared to the time we all spend in life situations. <br /> <br />Regarding Eiken and the entrance exams that Japanese students are subjected to. These are not, in any meaningful way, tests of English. The president of one Japanese university, Gregory Clark [was it Tama?] abandoned them precisely because they were all but meaningless. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />http://www.englishforums.com/English/SuggestedReviewerIeltsExam/hcvd/post.htm#35040Tue, 29 Jun 2004 14:46:05 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:35040amekazeThe It's vs. Its page <br />If you're confused by these two little words, you've come to the right place. <br />It's is a contraction for it is or it has. <br /> <br />Its is a possessive pronoun meaning, more or less, of it or belonging to it. <br /> <br />And there is absolutely, positively, no such word as its'. <br /> <br />A simple test <br />If you can replace it[']s in your sentence with it is or it has, then your word is it's; otherwise, your word is its. <br /> <br />Another test <br />Its is the neuter version of his and her. Try plugging her into your sentence where you think its belongs. (It's better to use her for reasons I may explain someday.) If the sentence still works grammatically (if not logically) then your word is indeed its. <br /> <br />Examples <br />It's been good to know you. Contraction: it has <br />It's a bird! It's a plane! Contraction: it is <br /> <br />The dodo bird is known for its inability to fly. Possessive pronoun: its inability = the dodo bird's inability <br /> <br />From: <br />http://www.stormloader.com/garyes/its/#top <br />