How to Use ‘Mainly’ in IELTS: Meaning, Examples, and Common Errors
Learn about the adverb ‘mainly’ for your IELTS exam. This video covers its meaning, usage in sentences, synonyms, antonyms, and common mistakes to avoid. Improve your vocabulary and boost your IELTS band score with this helpful guide.
Imagine you’re describing your typical day to a friend. You might say, I mainly spend my time studying for the IELTS exam.
That’s what we’re going to explore today – the word mainly and how to use it correctly in your IELTS test.
Word type: Mainly is an adverb. Adverbs are words that modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, giving more information about how, when, where, or to what extent something happens.
Meaning: Mainly means mostly or for the most part. It’s used to indicate that something is true to a large extent, but not completely or entirely.
Word history: The word mainly comes from the Old English word mægen, meaning strength or power. Over time, it evolved to mean the most important or significant part of something.
Antonyms: Some opposites of mainly include rarely, seldom, or occasionally. These words suggest that something happens infrequently or to a small extent, unlike mainly which indicates a large extent.
Synonyms: Words with similar meanings to mainly include mostly, primarily, chiefly, and predominantly.
These can often be used interchangeably with mainly in many contexts.
Examples use in sentences: Let’s look at some examples of how to use mainly in sentences.
The restaurant mainly serves Italian dishes, but they also have a few Greek options. I’m mainly interested in science fiction books, though I occasionally read other genres.
The city’s economy is mainly based on tourism, with millions of visitors each year. Common errors in use:
One common mistake is confusing mainly with primary or main. Remember, mainly is an adverb, while primary and main are adjectives.
For example, you would say The main reason I’m studying is to improve my English, not The mainly reason.
Another error is using mainly when you mean entirely or completely. If something is true without exception, use words like completely or entirely instead.
To wrap up, mainly is a useful word for expressing that something is true to a large extent but not entirely.
Practice using it in your speaking and writing tasks for the IELTS exam. Remember, it’s mainly about consistent practice that will help you improve your vocabulary and boost your band score.
