TASK ONE GRAMMAR: MAPS – TYPE ONE PART ONE
Some Task One map questions use two maps which show the same location at different times. On this website, we call these maps Type One maps. Test-takers must describe the main features of both maps.
Maps that show changes to a location across time require careful use of tenses. The tenses test-takers should use depends on the time period shown on the maps. The three common changes are shown below:
| MAP ONE | MAP TWO | |
| CHANGE ONE | Past | Past |
| CHANGE TWO | Past | Present |
| CHANGE THREE | Present | Future |
This lesson will look at the three changes above and consider which tenses are appropriate to use for each, and which sentence types are most suitable.
Remember, using a range of tenses will help test-takers to achieve a high score for Grammatical Range & Accuracy.
STEP ONE: CHOOSING APPROPRIATE TENSES AND SENTENCE TYPES
Change One
Change one consists of two maps in the past, with the first map further back in time than the second.
When describing the first map (the furthest back in time) it is usually appropriate to use a variety of sentence structures in the past simple. For example:
To write that something existed:
There was a car park.
There were three docks.
The town had a supermarket.
To write the position of something:
The houses were situated along the main road.
The farm was located behind woodland.
The school was opposite the beach.
The aquarium was inside the city walls.
These sentence structures are usually sufficient, but are often combined to say that something existed and the position.
There was a car park situated next to the main road.
There were three docks located in front of the café.
The town had a supermarket opposite the beach.
There was an aquarium inside the city wall.
These combined forms are really an independent clause (There was a car park) and a relative clause (that was situated next to the main road) but the that (relative pronoun) and was (to be) can be removed.
Read the example paragraphs below and notice the use of the sentence structures mentioned.
In 1999, there were three types of building in Hassleton-On-Sea: houses, a pier and docks. The houses were situated along Hassleton Road. Across the road, there was a car park, a large pier and a small undeveloped beach area. In the south-east, there were three docks at a fishing harbour, connected via a second road named Harbour Street, which ran through two areas of woodland. ✔︎
Many test-takers avoid the ‘there + to be’ structure. Instead (usually due to a translation from the test-takers native language) they choose to use a ‘subject + have’ structure, as shown below:
In 1999, Hassleton-On-Sea had three types of building: houses, a pier and docks. The houses were situated along Hassleton Road. Across the road, it had a car park, a large pier and a small undeveloped beach area. In the south-east, the town had three docks at a fishing harbour, connected via a second road named Harbour Street, which ran through two areas of woodland. ✘
In English, this paragraph reads unnaturally. As a general rule, it is better to use ‘have’ when describing a feature that belongs to something that has already been introduced. For example:
There was a large hotel which had a small car park.
Next to the supermarket there was a shopping centre which had a north and south entrance.
However, even in these cases the ‘have’ can be replaced by the word ‘with’.
There was a large hotel with a small car park.
Next to the supermarket there was a shopping centre with a north and south entrance.
When describing the second map (the map showing the changes) test-takers can use past simple and past perfect tenses. Usually the majority of there tense are in the passive form as it is not important who or what did the actions involved. Read the example paragraph below.
By 2016, the two roads had been replaced by New Hassleton Road, stretching from the north-west past the redeveloped harbour area. Three large stores were built where the houses used to be, and the largest area of woodland had been cut down to accommodate a large new hotel and a new sailing club. The docks in the south-east were redeveloped into a café. The original pier remained almost unchanged but the nearby beach and carpark were expanded. Ten beach huts were erected along the coastline.
The combination of past simple and past perfect passive tenses makes the paragraph less repetitive. The reader will understand that a past simple passive, such as ‘the docks were redeveloped’ really means ‘at some point between 1999 and 2016 the docks were redeveloped’ so the writer does not always need to include this (although it is a nice sentence).
Remember, the past perfect is used when the speaker is using a specific point in time and thinking backwards. This is why it works well with ‘by’:
By 2016, the two roads had been replaced.
Test-takers should also practice the form ‘where _________ used to be’. This is easy to use in these comparison maps and will add to the tense variety.
Three large stores were built where the houses used to be.
Change Two
Change two consists of one map in the past, with the second map showing the present situation.
As the first map is in the past, the guidelines for this map are the same as for the first map in change one.
However, for the second map, test-takers should try to use a combination of the past simple and the present perfect. This is to describe things that are true now on map, and things that have changed between the past and now.
To illustrate this, the second paragraph from change one has been rewritten to fit change two:
At present, the two roads have been replaced by New Hassleton Road, stretching from the north-west past the redeveloped harbour area. Three large stores were built where the houses used to be, and the largest area of woodland has been cut down to accommodate a large new hotel and a new sailing club. The docks in the south-east were redeveloped into a café. The original pier has remained almost unchanged but the nearby beach and carpark were expanded. Ten beach huts were erected along the coastline. ✔︎
This description is adequate, but can be improved by adding the structure ‘there + is/are + now’:
At present, the two roads have been replaced by New Hassleton Road, stretching from the north-west past the redeveloped harbour area. There are now three stores where the houses used to be, and the largest area of woodland has been cut down to accommodate a large new hotel and a new sailing club. The docks in the south-east were redeveloped into a café. The original pier has remained almost unchanged but the nearby beach and carpark were expanded. Ten beach huts were erected along the coastline. ✔︎
Change Three
In change three the first map also describes a current situation. However, unlike change two there is no connection to the past. The second map describes a plan for the area in the future.
For the first map it is not necessary to use the present perfect (although it is possible). It is easier (and perfectly acceptable) to use present simple verbs.
Remember, in the second paragraph test-takers can demonstrate other tenses. In the first paragraph attempts to show a range of tenses usually lead to unnatural and difficult to read paragraphs.
The following example is very good, even with only simple present tense verbs:
At present, there are four themed rooms to the east of the building. In the centre of the building, directly in front of the entrance, there is a main lobby containing two ticket offices, as well as a cloakroom on the opposite side of the room. The lobby leads to a large Planetarium. On the right-hand side of the building there is a café connected to public bathrooms. Visitors can purchase food from two vending machines in the café. ✔︎
But this example over uses the passive and uses the ‘subject + have’ structure. The result is an unnatural and difficult to read paragraph.
At present, four themed rooms can be found to the east of the building. The main lobby directly in front of the entrance in the centre of the building has two ticket offices, as well as a cloakroom which can be seen on the opposite side of the room. The lobby leads to a large Planetarium. A café can be found on the right side of the building and it has two public bathrooms. Food can be bought by visitors from the two vending machines in the café. ✘
If you want to use a passive tense, the easiest is the ‘can be found + location’ structure. One use is enough:
At present, four types of building can be found in Hassleton-On-Sea: houses, a pier and docks. The houses are situated along Hassleton Road. Across the road, there is a car park, a large pier and a small undeveloped beach area. In the south-east, there are three docks at a fishing harbour, connected via a second road named Harbour Street, which runs through two areas of woodland. ✔︎
For the second map there can be more variety. The map shows potential changes, but ones that have been planned on a map (and so are quite certain). For this reason it is acceptable to use:
- prediction verbs (usually in the present simple passive)
A new kitchen is planned for the restaurant.
- future passives (will + be + past participle)
A new kitchen will be added to the restaurant.
- There are plans + infinitive
There are plans to add a new kitchen to the restaurant.
In the two example second paragraphs below, there are numerous examples of these sentence structures.
According to the second map, the Bug Room will be partitioned to make space for an Africa exhibit. The main building will be extended on the western side to include a butterfly room. In the main lobby, a third ticket office will be added, and there are plans to move the coat room to the south-east corner. A kitchen will be built in the café towards the front of the building. To improve access for disabled people, a ramp and a disabled bathroom are planned. The planetarium will remain unchanged.
According to the second map, Hassleton Road and Harbour Street will be replaced by New Hassleton Road, stretching from the north-west past a redeveloped harbour area. Three large stores will be constructed where the houses are currently located, and the largest area of woodland will be cut down to accommodate a large new hotel and a new sailing club. In keeping with the commercialisation of the area, there are plans to redevelop the docks in the south-east into a cafe. With the exception of a small dock, the original pier is likely to remain unchanged but the nearby beach and carpark will both be expanded. Ten beach huts will be erected along the coastline.
As previously mentioned, many verbs are used in the passive tense when describing changes because this removes the ‘doer’ which is considered irrelevant. However, an effective essay may also comment on the aspects that have not changed. In these cases, verbs such as ‘remain’ and ‘stay’ should not be passive.
The gardens have remained untouched.
The main street will stay the same.
However, the same information presented as a negative sentence does use the passive.
The main street will not be redeveloped.
The gardens have not been touched.
