Using Collocation to Boost Your IELTS Score – Key Word: Argument

The word “argument” is essential in IELTS for discussing opinions, reasoning, and disagreements. Using it with the right collocations makes your English sound natural and fluent, which is crucial for achieving a high Lexical Resource score. This blog explains verb + argument, adjective + argument, and idiomatic expressions, followed by practical exercises and answers.

Verb + Argument (Reasons Behind Ideas)

These collocations describe how you present, follow, or support arguments in discussions or essays.

Verbs: accept, follow, hear, put forward, support

Complete the sentences with the correct verb:

1. His lecture just didn’t seem to make any sense. I couldn’t ___________ his argument at all.
2. I’ve spent the last week doing my research. Now I’ve got lots of facts and figures to ___________ my argument.
3. In his speech, the Chancellor ___________ a very persuasive argument for raising taxes.
4. I don’t ___________ the argument that adults should always be obeyed just because they are adults!
5. Now that we have___________ all the arguments for and against the proposal, I think we should vote on it.

These collocations are especially useful for IELTS Writing Task 2, where you need to explain or evaluate reasons for or against a topic.

Good and Poor Arguments

Adjective + argument collocations help describe the quality of reasoning. Some arguments are convincing, while others are weak or unclear.

Underline the adjectives in the following sentences and categorize them as good or poor:

1. The animal rights people have a compelling argument for banning fox hunting.
2. The unemployment issue is a pretty feeble argument against asylum seekers.
3. The most telling argument for wearing seat belts is the number of lives they save each year.
4. There are strong arguments for and against euthanasia.
5. I find your argument a bit woolly. I’m not really convinced by it.

Using these adjectives in IELTS Speaking Part 3 or Writing Task 2 adds clarity and precision to your evaluation of ideas.

Verb + Argument (Meaning Disagreement)

Some verb + argument collocations show disagreement, debate, or conflict. These are useful in speaking when discussing conflicts or contrasting opinions.

Verbs: get into, listen to, lose, settle, start

Complete the sentences:

1. Jane’s very argumentative, so if she tries to ___________ an argument with you, it’s best to just ignore her.

2. We ___________ a terrible argument over who was responsible for the accident.

3. I’m fed up arguing about money day after day. Let’s ___________ this argument once and for all.

4. Nobody likes to___________ an argument. We all want to win.

5. I think it’s important to___________ both sides of an argument before deciding what you think yourself.

These collocations are ideal for  IELTS Speaking Part 2 or IELTS Speaking Part 3 when describing personal experiences or debates.

Common Adjective + Argument Collocations

Adjectives describe the nature or intensity of an argument.

Adjectives: endless, friendly, heated, massive, pointless

Complete the sentences:

1. We had a relaxed and ___________ argument about whether people should be allowed to smoke at meetings.
2. A decision was finally made after quite a bit of ___________ argument had taken place.
3. At work I had a ___________ argument with my boss, but it cleared the air.
4. I had an absolutely ___________ argument with my parents over money.
5. They have ___________ arguments. They’re always at each other’s throats.

Using these adjectives helps you describe the type of disagreement naturally in speaking or IELTS Writing .

Notes on Using “Argument” Collocations

• You can say “get into an argument” or “get involved in an argument”.
  Example: Sorry, I’m late. I got involved in an argument with the taxi driver over politics!
• Idiom: People who try to see both sides of an argument often end up sitting on the fence.
• If your reasoning is weak, you can say “there’s a flaw in your argument.”
• To appear reasonable in discussion:
• • I can see your argument.
  • I can see where you’re coming from.

Exercises Answer Key

Exercise 1: Verb + Argument (Reasons Behind Ideas)

1. follow
2. support
3. put forward
4. accept
5. heard

Exercise 2: Good and Poor Arguments

1. compelling (good)
2. feeble (poor)
3. telling (good)
4. strong (good)
5. woolly (poor)

Exercise 3: Verb + Argument (Disagreement)

1. start
2. got into
3. settle
4. lose
5. listen to

Exercise 4: Adjective + Argument

1. friendly
2. heated
3. massive
4. pointless
5. endless

Mastering collocations with “argument” helps you express reasons and opinions clearly, evaluate ideas effectively, and describe disagreements naturally. Using phrases like “put forward an argument,” “get into an argument,” or “a compelling argument” makes your English sound fluent and precise, improving your chances of achieving Band 7 or higher in IELTS Speaking and Writing.

Also Check: 

• Improve Your Vocabulary for IELTS – Key Word: Space
• Improve Your Vocabulary for IELTS – Key Word: Size
• Using Collocation to Boost Your IELTS Score - Key Word: decision 
• Using Collocation to Boost Your IELTS Score - Key Word: a series of
• Grammar For IELTS : The Common Grammars And Sentence Structures In English (Part 1
• Grammar For IELTS : The Common Grammars And Sentence Structures In English (Part 2)
• Using Contrast in IELTS Speaking & Writing: Advanced Grammar