IELTS Energy: How Stacked Adjectives Boost IELTS Speaking Scores
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This is the IELTS Energy Podcast, how stacked adjectives boost IELTS speaking scores. Welcome to the IELTS Energy Podcast from All Ears English, downloaded more than 35 million times with examiner-trained IELTS whiz Aubrey Carter and Lindsay McMahon, the English adventurer.

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You should be so incredibly excited for this episode. Don't miss today's tips on stacking adjectives to raise both vocabulary and pronunciation scores for IELTS speaking. Studying for IELTS? Don't waste time with boring textbooks. All Ears English helps you build the real skills the exam actually tests, like fluency, confidence, and natural expressions.

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Hello, Aubrey. How's it going today? I'm great, Lindsay. How are you? I am good. I'm so excited to bring an episode of the All Ears English podcast onto the IELTS Energy podcast today. Yes, especially one that is so useful for IELTS speaking. As soon as I recorded this with Michelle, I thought of you guys. I'm like, oh, IELTS students need this information. So here's a question to start us out, Lindsay. Do you know anyone who speaks with a monotone?

Yes, I do. I have someone in my kind of extended family who can be a little monotone sometimes. And sometimes he'll start speaking and he kind of mansplains as well a little bit. So it's the combination of monotoning. Ooh, double whammy.

And doing that kind of over explaining is a little challenging. So when you know he's winding up to speak, it can be hard. Yes. And this is disastrous for IELTS speaking scores, but unfortunately extremely common because you guys have so much to think about the vocabulary, linking phrases, slang, idiomatic language. Often

You forget to also focus on your tone and you'll slip into a monotone. So we want to give you strategies to avoid this. And one of the best ways to do that is using stacked adjectives. Yes. So we're bringing to you all today an episode, a recent episode from the All Ears English podcast where we talked about this. We showed you examples of how to use stacked adjectives.

And again, what are the common mistakes that are made? Okay. Exactly right. There's a very common error that language learners use with these adjectives. So we're excited to share that with you and stay to the end because we're going to share a band nine part one sample answer to show you how to stack adjectives on the IELTS speaking exam. Yes. And if you didn't know that we have a whole

other amazing podcasts with more than 200,000 listeners. It is the All Ears English podcast and you should be listening, right Aubrey? Yes, absolutely. You guys must follow the All Ears English podcast. So much vocabulary, grammar, and strategies that are also useful for the IELTS exam. Yeah. So open your search bar now and search for All Ears English and hit that follow button. We're going to play the episode now and then we'll be back at the end to break it down and see what it means

four aisles with a speaking sample answer. All right.

Hey, Michelle, how are you? Good, good. Aubrey, I'm excited to be recording with you today. Guys, Lindsay is away for today, but she will be back. Don't worry. We miss you, Lindsay. Yes, she'll be back next week, but it's so fun to record with you, Michelle. And I have a question for you. Yes. Do you often go to a spa? No. Same. I did go recently. I did go to a spa once.

very recently, actually, it was for my future sister-in-law's bachelorette. So, but that was a very, very special occasion, but I do not go to spas. So you don't either? No, it's a rare occurrence for me as well. I went, I did a girl's trip in Sedona and we went to a spa, got a massage, but then they all did facials. And I was like, no, thanks. I'll just wait over here.

A lot of it, I'm like, I don't know. I'm okay. And it's expensive. It's expensive. Oh my gosh, is it expensive? I mean, but some people, that's what they like. And that's okay, right? They put their priorities in one place and it's kind of their self-care and that's important too. Exactly. Yeah. But it's interesting because I recently saw a student mistake and this is a

common error for language learners. And what they said was, it is a so nice spa. They're trying to describe a spa as really nice, super nice. But this mistake with so happens a lot because we think of it as interchangeable with really, very. And so then we try to use it in the same way. The grammar is a little different for this. So we're going to dive into this today so that you can avoid this very common error.

Yeah, oh my gosh, this is gonna be so useful. So really, Aubrey, this is about something called stacked adjectives. And stacked adjectives, they're also known as cumulative adjectives, and they refer to multiple adjectives before a noun. So, Aubrey, can you tell us more? Yeah, exactly. So, for example, this sentence, right, if you want to say, "It is such a nice spa," "It is a really nice spa,"

really and nice are both adjectives. We're stacking them to emphasize how nice the spa is, how fancy it is, right? And we can do this, of course, but the grammar's a little different on how we can stack so as an adjective and how we stack these other adjectives. Very, really, extremely, super. So these are called intensifiers and

And for most intensifiers, they can come after a verb or an article, but they come first. So this is interesting. And they are used to emphasize this other adjective, like nice, beautiful, common, whatever that adjective is. We use an intensifier to emphasize it.

Yeah, so a good thing to say would have been a really nice spa. It is a really nice spa instead of a so nice spa. Or what's another example? Or any of these, right? It's an extremely nice spa, super nice spa. There are a lot of options here and you want to have variety so you can switch it up, but

but we can't say so. And we also, you could say this is an extremely nice hotel or extremely fancy hotel. And both of those, those are stacked adjectives. Extremely is the intensifier emphasizing how nice or how fancy it is. Yeah, yeah, exactly. So, and a pro tip that we are going to give you right now is that after an indefinite article, so cannot be used as an intensifier.

So you cannot say this is a so fancy hotel or it's a so delicious restaurant, right? Because that is after an indefinite article. Exactly. So this will help you know when you can and can't use so, right? If you have that indefinite article, a or an, then it's going to be

very, really extremely. So those two, this is a super fancy hotel. It's an extremely delicious restaurant. There are a lot of intensifiers you can use after an article, but not so. This is the exception. That's right. So, so,

And we use so many different ways. This is just one of the many ways we use so is as an intensifier. That's tricky too. That's right. So how do we use so as an intensifier, Aubrey? Yes. So when you're using so, it must come directly after a verb. So here are some examples. You certainly could say, this spa is so nice. There can't be a stacked adjective here because it has to come after the verb.

Right. Or you could say, we stayed in a hotel that was so extremely fancy. So, it comes after was, so you can use it. Yes. And this is where it's interesting. We can have this stacked adjectives, so extremely, so has to come first because it's the intensifier, but it has to come right after the verb. Right.

Yeah, or you might say, "The food is so very delicious." And this is a great way to emphasize, to have this intensified emotion. I really want to emphasize how delicious it is. And as a quick pronunciation note, can we use a monotone here, Michelle? Could I just say, "The food is so very delicious"?

So that would, it would be like, wait, really? It is? Because you don't sound excited about it at all. Right? Are you lying? You sound like you don't think it's delicious. Yes, exactly. You would have to say it's so very delicious. So saying it like that, I'm not sure I would say so very delicious, but it is correct. Right? So that sounds very...

what I'm trying to say here is that you can play with it with these stacked diabetics. And that's, what's fun about it. One, somebody might say, Oh, this is so very delicious. And somebody might not say that, but it's correct. And so you can kind of have fun with it. That's what I like about these, that they're stacked.

So you're choosing a couple and you're going for it based on your personality. So this one I would definitely say is traffic is so incredibly bad today. Right. I love that. So incredibly bad. Wow. That's I agree. And I would say that. And it's interesting to think about. This is not just for positive things. We use intense fires. We stack adjectives to talk about how terrible things are.

And again, don't use monotone. Note Michelle's interesting intonation. You have to emphasize these adjectives. You have to hit them harder to vary your tone, right? It's so incredibly bad today. And of course, you could just say it's so bad today or traffic is incredibly bad today. Whenever you have a stacked adjective, you could use one or the other. You use both to intensify the feeling.

Yes, yes, exactly. And as I mentioned, there are a lot of ways that we use so in English. We also use it as a conjunction to introduce results and decisions, or we use it to express agreement or confirmation. So be sure to hit follow on the Business English podcast for a follow-up diving into those. We use those all the time at work. Ooh, that's going to be good. Yeah, so hit follow here on Allers English and also the Business English podcast to get part two of this series.

Love it. All right, Michelle, let's dive into a role play here. You and I are on vacation in Fiji here. Ooh.

Fiji's on my bucket list. Do you want to go to Fiji, Michelle? I haven't, but yeah, I would like to. I would certainly like to go to Fiji. It's funny, ever since I saw the movie The Truman Show as a young person. Do you remember that? Yes, of course. They say she's from Fiji and I looked up Fiji. I'm like, I want to go there. That's hilarious. And I feel that's such a great connection moment because I was just thinking of that, but I'm thinking...

I'm not going to mention the Truman Show. And then you said it. And I was like, ah, yeah, that's one of my favorite movies. I agree. I watched it with my children. They loved it. Guys out there listening, if you haven't seen the Truman Show, it's excellent. You should watch it. And you'll know the part when they say, we're moving to Fiji. You'll be like, oh, this is when Aubrey decided she must go to Fiji. Well, here, luckily, in this role play, we're in Fiji. Yes, I love it. I'll start us out.

I'm so impressed by this resort. The rooms are fantastic. Oh my gosh, I know. Did you have little chocolates on your pillow? That was a very nice touch. Yes, and I already ate them all. I'm so bad with chocolate. It never lasts long around me. That's so funny. I saved mine to have tonight with a glass of wine. Ooh, I'm in for that. Let's go check out the cafe by the pool. I heard it's really good.

Okay. Oh, this sounds delightful. I know, right? I'm in. Let's go. Why are we here? Let's go to Fiji. Hi!

Let's go through this role play. A lot of interesting stacked adjectives here. I first said, I'm so impressed by this resort. And I could add more. I could say, I'm so very impressed by this resort. But notice it's right after a verb. I am so impressed. That's when we can use so as an intensifier. That's a really just great way to think of it. And then I said, that was a very nice touch.

And I wouldn't have said, I couldn't have said that was a so nice touch, right? Because again, we have that indefinite article. Exactly. After an indefinite article, don't you? So this is a very common error. If you've been doing it, you're in good company. You're not alone. This in a lot of your first languages out there, you do do that, right? You can, you're seeing so as interchangeable with these other intensifiers works a little differently in English. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

And then I said, I'm so bad with chocolate. And I could have said, I'm so extremely bad about chocolate, right? We can stack more adjectives here. But again, we have so right after the verb. I am so bad with chocolate.

And I think the more adjectives you stack, the more dramatic it gets, right? Exactly. So think about that, right? So I'm so bad with chocolate. Okay. But if you said, I'm so extremely, incredibly bad with chocolate, right? You can be adding a big personality. You can add as many as you want, right? Exactly. It's going to be more dramatic. And we do that. We do that to exaggerate, right? It's fun. But again, don't use a monotone. If you're stacking adjectives like this, you have to hit them harder. You have to emphasize them. Bam, bam, bam. Exactly. Oh,

So, and then I said, that's so funny. And I feel like I say this one a lot. Oh, that's so funny. That's so funny. I say that a lot too. Yeah. And this is interesting. So of course, so comes after the verb only. All of these others are more flexible. They can come after a verb or the article, right? So you could say, I'm so bad with chocolate or also I'm really bad with chocolate. So that's what's interesting. Those are more flexible. So is the one that has to come after a verb.

Yeah, yeah, definitely. And then finally, you said I heard it's really good. So really good. And so Aubrey and I are going to have chocolate and wine by the pool. Oh, my gosh. Couldn't be better.

I love this. I love intensifiers, not only for interesting vocabulary, but to give you more natural, varied pronunciation. You want to avoid a monotone, and that's tricky. There's so much you're thinking about when you are speaking. The vocabulary, the grammar, sometimes we forget we can't speak in a monotone, especially if we're stacking adjectives. If we're sharing how incredibly bad something is or how wonderfully good it is, we need to emphasize those words.

Yeah, love it. Yeah, this is huge, guys. This is going to help you sound more native and natural and just adding color to everything that you're saying. So very common stuff. Again, you know, just this is a good way that you can avoid that repetition and mix things up. So you are going to now avoid this common mistake with so. Aubrey?

This was a lot of fun. Guys, again, remember that you hit follow wherever you're listening to All Ears English and the Business English podcast. And Aubrey, anything else before we head out to Fiji? No, that's it. Yeah. Be sure to hit follow. So you hit part two and Michelle and I will be in Fiji. So see you next time. All right. Bye, guys. Bye.

Okay, Aubrey, so that was a great episode. Let's share a sample answer though. Let's dive deeper into what this means for IELTS. Let's share a sample answer with some stacked adjectives. So I'm going to ask you a speaking part one question. Are you ready? Yes, let's hear it. Do you play a musical instrument? Oh, I played the piano when I was younger, but I have been so very lazy about practicing as an adult.

In all honesty, I have to admit that it's also due to a lack of prioritizing it. There are definitely tons of things I could spend less time on to squeeze in some practice. I feel like with that answer, I could really notice the intonation there that's boosting your pronunciation scores because you are stacking the adjectives. You have extra opportunities.

Exactly, right? And often when students are using monotone, it's a lack of adjectives to emphasize in the first place. So when you add them, when you stack them, when I said so very lazy, this is going to give you great opportunities to emphasize certain words and vary your intonation. Yeah, it's really interesting how what gets you a high score on out speaking, especially in part one, is being human.

It's not being a robot and answering the question like you would in an essay. It's being human, adding these extra adjectives with more pronunciation opportunities. Love it. Exactly right. It's not enough to have that great vocab. You also have to, for your pronunciation score, it's vital that you have varied intonation. So we are so excited. We also talk about pronunciation on the Allers English podcast because like Lindsay said, we don't want you to sound like robots and you can't to get the IELTS score you need.

Yes, exactly. So if you're not following the All Ears English podcast yet, we're going to give you one more chance. Go ahead and open that search bar wherever you're listening now, whether it's Spotify, Apple Podcasts, CastBox, open it up, type in All Ears English. You will see the yellow come up and the All Ears English podcast, you can hit follow right there. It's you, it's Aubrey, it's you and I and Michelle over there on the show. How many days a week do we publish on All Ears English? Right. We have four

Five. Five episodes every week and you don't want to miss any of them. And they're quick wins, right? Just like IELTS Energy here. 10, 15 minute episodes where you learn so much in a very short amount of time. We know you guys don't have a ton of time. So check out All Ears English. All right. Excellent. Well, we'll see you back here very soon, Aubrey. You have a good rest of your day. Awesome. Thanks, Lindsay. You too. Bye-bye.

Thanks for listening to IELTS Energy. Hit subscribe now and don't forget to find your estimated band score at allearsenglish.com slash myscore.