Word of the Week-Rise

This week’s word can be used as a noun or a verb and is very useful for describing statistical information in Task 1 Academic IELTS writing questions.

The word is RISE and it generally means ‘to move upwards’ or ‘to increase’ but it can also mean ‘to achieve success’ or ‘to start a protest’.

Let’s look at how it can be used as a noun or a verb to mean ‘increase’. Remember it is anirregular verb (rise - rose - risen).

VERB examples

PAST - The price of petrol rose sharply again last month to reach an all-time high.
PAST up to the PRESENT - Temperatures have been rising gradually over the last few decades.
PRESENT - Rising unemployment continues to be the main challenge facing the present government.
FUTURE - Inflation is set to rise by another 2% in the next quarter.

NOUN examples

Economists warn that the sudden rise in interest rates will have a damaging effect on consumer spending.
The dramatic rise in smartphone sales is bound to have a huge impact on e-commerce.
Although general crime figures have decreased in the last year, drug-related violence is on the rise.
Speculating on the rise and fall of the stock market is a very risky business.

Note the difference between American and British English:

In British English you can use ‘a rise’ to describe an increase in pay, but in American English you would say ‘a raise’.

I’m going to ask my boss for a rise next month.
Staff in the New York office were awarded a raise of 3% this year

Resource: ipassielts.com