If you can use discourse markers well, your speaking will sound natural and fluent. In the IELTS test, appropriately using discourse markers will impress the examiner and improve your band score for fluency.
In this lesson we will look at the different functions of discourse markers.
Exercise 1 | Different Functions
Match the Functions
Exercise 2 | Different Discourse Markers
Find the Discourse Markers
What type of free time activities are likely to become popular going forward?
Candidate:
Sorry, do you mean what free time activities will be popular in the future?
Examiner:
Yes.
Candidate:
That’s a good question Well, I think people these days spend increasing amounts of time on their digital media and I think this is likely to increase in the future. I mean, activities such as browsing and updating social media and watching online videos are likely to become more popular.
Examiner:
Do you think this is positive or negative?
Candidate:
Well, personally, I think it will be bad in terms of health. Take childhood obesity for example. It is increasing because children prefer to play on gadgets rather than go outside and play with friends. On the other hand, increased use of digital technology could help to educate and inform people as well as today it is our main way of communicating news and ideas. So, I think there will be both benefits and drawbacks.
1. | Rephrasing: |
2. | Introducing a different perspective: |
3. | Giving an example: |
4. | Stalling for time: |
5. | Asking for clarification: |
Exercise 3 | More Discourse Markers
Choose the Function
People like to listen those who have the same opinions as them. Or to put it another way, we all have a bias inside us that tells us who we should respect and who we shouldn't.
People in power sometimes seem to stop caring about the little people. What I'm trying to say is that often power corrupts.
Examiner: Do you think people will travel more or less in the future?
Candidate: I don't know much about this issue but, in my opinion, we may have to reduce travelling - especially flying - if we want to protect our environment.
Exercise 4 | Over to you
Practice using the discourse markers you have learnt in this class to make your speaking sound more natural.
- Why it is important for people to have time free time?
- Why are some free time activities more popular than others?
- Are the types of free time activities that are popular today the same as those that were popular in the past?
- What types of leisure activities are likely to be popular in the future?