Cách Sử Dụng Straightaway và Immediately Trong IELTS – Sự Khác Biệt Giữa British & American English

Giới Thiệu

Straightaway và immediately là hai trạng từ thời gian quan trọng thường xuất hiện trong kỳ thi IELTS, đặc biệt trong các bài thi Speaking và Writing. Cả hai từ đều mang nghĩa “ngay lập tức”, nhưng việc sử dụng chúng có sự khác biệt đáng chú ý giữa British English và American English. Hiểu rõ cách dùng chuẩn xác sẽ giúp bạn tạo ấn tượng tốt với giám khảo, đặc biệt khi cần thể hiện sự đa dạng về từ vựng.

Theo thống kê từ các đề thi IELTS thực tế, các trạng từ thời gian này xuất hiện với tần suất cao trong:

• Speaking: Part 2 (kể về sự việc xảy ra nhanh chóng) và Part 3 (thảo luận về phản ứng tức thời)
• Writing Task 2: Đoạn văn miêu tả hành động diễn ra ngay lập tức, nhấn mạnh tính khẩn cấp
• Listening: Trong các hội thoại về tình huống khẩn cấp hoặc chỉ dẫn

Ví Dụ Vận Dụng Trong IELTS

Speaking Part 2 (Describe a time when you had to make a quick decision):

“When I saw the child running towards the road, I reacted immediately and pulled him back to safety.”

→ Phân tích: immediately đứng sau động từ reacted, nhấn mạnh hành động xảy ra không chậm trễ.

Speaking Part 3 (British English context):

“Young people today expect straightaway responses to their messages, which can create unnecessary pressure.”

→ Phân tích: straightaway (phong cách British) đứng trước danh từ responses, thể hiện tính chất tức thời.

Writing Task 2 (Opinion essay):

“Governments must act immediately to address climate change, as delays could have catastrophic consequences.”

→ Phân tích: immediately đứng giữa modal verb (must) và main verb (act), tạo sự nhấn mạnh mạnh mẽ.

Writing Task 1 (Process diagram):

“Once the mixture reaches 100 degrees Celsius, it is immediately transferred to the cooling chamber.”

→ Phân tích: immediately + past participle trong câu bị động, thể hiện trình tự xảy ra liên tục.

Speaking Part 1 (Talking about habits):

“When I wake up, I check my phone straightaway to see if there are any urgent messages.”

→ Phân tích: straightaway đứng cuối câu, phong cách tự nhiên trong British English.

Trong bài viết này, bạn sẽ học:

✅ Sự khác biệt giữa straightaway (British) và immediately (cả hai phiên bản)

✅ Vị trí chính xác của các trạng từ này trong câu

✅ Cách vận dụng vào 4 kỹ năng IELTS để đạt Band 7-9

✅ 25+ câu ví dụ từ đề thi thực tế

✅ Collocations và cụm từ nâng cao cho Band 8+

✅ Lỗi phổ biến của học viên Việt Nam

✅ Bài tập thực hành có đáp án chi tiết

Straightaway và Immediately Là Gì?

Định Nghĩa

Straightaway là trạng từ chỉ thời gian (adverb of time) có nguồn gốc British English, mang nghĩa “ngay lập tức”, “ngay tức khắc”, không có sự chậm trễ. Từ này được hình thành từ cụm từ “straight away” (theo hướng thẳng, đi ngay).

Immediately là trạng từ chỉ thời gian được sử dụng phổ biến trong cả British và American English, nghĩa “ngay lập tức”, “tức thì”, không có khoảng thời gian trống ở giữa.

Chức năng chính:

• Miêu tả hành động xảy ra không trì hoãn, liền sau một sự kiện khác
• Nhấn mạnh tính cấp bách, khẩn cấp của tình huống
• Thể hiện phản ứng nhanh chóng hoặc quyết định tức thời
• Tạo sự liên kết chặt chẽ giữa nguyên nhân và kết quả

Khi nào dùng trong IELTS:

• Speaking: Kể về trải nghiệm cá nhân, phản ứng trong tình huống khẩn cấp, thói quen hành động nhanh
• Writing: Miêu tả quy trình (Task 1), nhấn mạnh sự cần thiết hành động ngay (Task 2), diễn đạt quan hệ nhân quả trực tiếp
• Listening/Reading: Nhận diện thông tin về thời gian, hiểu mối quan hệ giữa các sự kiện

Tần Suất Xuất Hiện Trong IELTS

Theo phân tích từ Cambridge IELTS 10-19:

Speaking:

• Part 1: Tần suất trung bình – Các câu hỏi về thói quen hàng ngày

  • “What do you do straightaway when you get home?”
  • “Do you check your phone immediately after waking up?”

• Part 2: Tần suất cao – Các topic kể chuyện, miêu tả sự kiện

  • Describe a time when you had to act quickly
  • Describe an emergency situation
  • Describe a decision you made

• Part 3: Tần suất cao – Thảo luận về xu hướng xã hội

  • Modern communication expectations
  • Emergency responses
  • Decision-making processes

Writing:

• Task 1: Tần suất trung bình – Process diagrams, describing sequences

  • “The liquid is immediately cooled…”
  • “The data shows an immediate increase…”

• Task 2: Tần suất cao – Opinion, Problem-Solution essays

  • “Governments should act immediately to…”
  • “This requires immediate attention…”
  • “We must respond straightaway to…”

Listening/Reading:

• Xuất hiện thường xuyên trong hội thoại về chỉ dẫn, hướng dẫn khẩn cấp
• Cần nhận diện để hiểu trình tự thời gian chính xác trong bài đọc học thuật

Band Score Impact:

• Band 6: Sử dụng “immediately” cơ bản nhưng thiếu đa dạng, có thể đặt sai vị trí
• Band 7: Sử dụng cả “immediately” và “straightaway” chính xác, vị trí phù hợp
• Band 8-9: Kết hợp linh hoạt với các cấu trúc phức tạp, collocations tự nhiên, phân biệt rõ British/American usage

Sơ đồ vị trí đúng của trạng từ immediately và straightaway trong câu tiếng Anh chuẩn British và American

Công Thức & Cấu Trúc

Công Thức Cơ Bản

📌 CÔNG THỨC VỚI IMMEDIATELY:

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Subject + immediately + Main Verb + Object          │
│ Subject + Auxiliary + immediately + Main Verb       │
│ Subject + Verb + Object + immediately               │
│                                                     │
│ Ví dụ: She immediately called the police.          │
│        I will immediately respond to your email.   │
│        Please reply immediately.                    │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

📌 CÔNG THỨC VỚI STRAIGHTAWAY (British English):

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Subject + Verb + Object + straightaway              │
│ Subject + straightaway + Main Verb                  │
│                                                     │
│ Ví dụ: He left straightaway.                       │
│        I straightaway realized my mistake.          │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Thành phần câu:

• Subject (Chủ ngữ): Người hoặc vật thực hiện hành động ngay lập tức
• Adverb (Trạng từ): immediately/straightaway – vị trí linh hoạt tùy theo ngữ cảnh
• Main Verb (Động từ chính): Hành động được thực hiện không trì hoãn
• Object/Complement: Bổ sung thông tin cho động từ

Ví dụ phân tích chi tiết:

Câu: “The doctor immediately examined the patient.”

Phân tích:

• Subject: The doctor (chủ ngữ – người thực hiện hành động)
• Adverb: immediately (trạng từ thời gian – vị trí giữa subject và verb)
• Main verb: examined (động từ chính – past simple)
• Object: the patient (tân ngữ trực tiếp)

Câu: “When the fire alarm rang, everyone left the building straightaway.”

Phân tích:

• Time clause: When the fire alarm rang (mệnh đề thời gian)
• Subject: everyone (chủ ngữ)
• Verb: left (động từ chính – past simple)
• Object: the building (tân ngữ)
• Adverb: straightaway (trạng từ thời gian – vị trí cuối câu, British style)

Vị Trí Của Immediately Trong Câu

Vị trí 1: Trước động từ chính (Most common)

• She immediately recognized the problem.
• They immediately agreed to the proposal.
• We immediately understood the importance.

Vị trí 2: Sau động từ to be

• The response was immediately positive.
• He was immediately aware of the danger.
• The results were immediately apparent.

Vị trí 3: Sau trợ động từ, trước động từ chính

• I will immediately contact you.
• She has immediately responded to the complaint.
• You should immediately seek medical attention.

Vị trí 4: Cuối câu (less common but acceptable)

• Please call me back immediately.
• The situation needs to be addressed immediately.
• Action must be taken immediately.

Vị trí 5: Đầu câu (formal, emphatic)

• Immediately after graduation, she found a job.
• Immediately upon arrival, guests were welcomed.

Vị Trí Của Straightaway Trong Câu

Vị trí 1: Cuối câu (Most natural in British English)

• I’ll do it straightaway.
• He answered straightaway.
• She left straightaway.

Vị trí 2: Sau chủ ngữ, trước động từ

• I straightaway knew something was wrong.
• They straightaway accepted the offer.

Vị trí 3: Sau trợ động từ

• I will straightaway begin the project.
• You should straightaway inform your manager.

Các Biến Thể

Dạng khẳng định:

• Immediately: “The company immediately implemented the new policy.”
• Straightaway: “I recognized him straightaway.”

Dạng phủ định:

• “The problem was not immediately apparent.”
• “She did not respond immediately to the invitation.”
• “He didn’t leave straightaway.” (British)

Dạng nghi vấn:

• “Did you immediately notice the difference?”
• “Should we immediately contact the authorities?”
• “Will you start straightaway?” (British)

Dạng nhấn mạnh với inversion (formal writing):

• “Immediately after the announcement, shares began to fall.”
• “No sooner had he arrived than he was immediately called into the meeting.”

Signal Words & Collocations

Các từ/cụm từ thường đi kèm với immediately:

Signal Words/Context	Ý nghĩa	Ví dụ IELTS
immediately after	ngay sau khi	“Immediately after graduating, I started working at a multinational company.”
immediately upon	ngay khi	“Immediately upon receiving the news, the government issued a statement.”
immediately before	ngay trước khi	“Immediately before the exam, I revised all my notes.”
should immediately	nên ngay lập tức	“Governments should immediately invest in renewable energy.”
must immediately	phải ngay lập tức	“Society must immediately address this pressing issue.”
immediately available	có sẵn ngay	“Information is immediately available on the internet nowadays.”
immediately apparent	rõ ràng ngay	“The benefits were immediately apparent to everyone.”
immediately following	ngay tiếp theo	“Immediately following the announcement, stock prices rose.”

Các cụm từ thường đi với straightaway (British):

Signal Words/Context	Ý nghĩa	Ví dụ IELTS
right straightaway	ngay lập tức luôn	“I knew right straightaway that this was a great opportunity.”
do something straightaway	làm gì đó ngay	“I’ll contact you straightaway after the meeting.”
leave straightaway	rời đi ngay	“We decided to leave straightaway to avoid traffic.”
start straightaway	bắt đầu ngay	“Can you start straightaway or do you need training?”

Cách Vận Dụng Vào IELTS

Speaking

Part 1 – Introduction & Interview

Topic thường gặp: Daily routines, habits, technology use, communication

Ví dụ câu hỏi & trả lời:

Q: “Do you usually reply to messages quickly?”

A (British style): “Yes, I do. When I receive a message from a close friend or family member, I tend to reply straightaway because I don’t want them to worry. However, for work emails, I sometimes wait until I have all the necessary information before responding.”

→ Phân tích: Sử dụng straightaway (British English) ở vị trí cuối mệnh đề, tự nhiên và phù hợp với văn phong đàm thoại. Thể hiện thói quen cá nhân rõ ràng.

Q: “What do you do when you get home from work?”

A: “Well, I immediately change out of my work clothes and into something more comfortable. Then I usually prepare dinner straightaway if I’m hungry, or sometimes I just relax on the sofa for a while.”

→ Phân tích: Kết hợp cả hai từ trong cùng một câu trả lời, thể hiện sự đa dạng từ vựng. Immediately đứng trước động từ chính change, còn straightaway ở cuối mệnh đề.

Part 2 – Long Turn

Cue card example:

Describe a time when you had to make a quick decision.

Sample answer (Band 7-8):

“I’d like to talk about a time when I had to make a split-second decision during a hiking trip last summer. My friends and I were trekking in the mountains when we immediately noticed dark clouds gathering overhead. Within minutes, it started to rain heavily.

I straightaway suggested that we should seek shelter because I could see lightning in the distance. Some members of the group wanted to continue, but I immediately pointed out the danger of being exposed on the mountain during a thunderstorm. Fortunately, everyone agreed, and we immediately headed towards a cave we had passed earlier.

The decision proved to be correct because the storm became quite severe. We waited in the cave for about an hour until the weather cleared. If we hadn’t acted immediately, we could have been in serious danger. This experience taught me the importance of making quick decisions in emergency situations and not hesitating when safety is at stake.”

→ Phân tích Band 8 features:

• Sử dụng cả immediately và straightaway một cách tự nhiên
• Vị trí đa dạng: trước động từ (immediately noticed), cuối mệnh đề (straightaway suggested)
• Kết hợp với past simple để kể chuyện mạch lạc
• Collocations tốt: “immediately pointed out”, “acted immediately”
• Cấu trúc điều kiện: “If we hadn’t acted immediately…”

Part 3 – Discussion

Topic: Communication and technology

Q: “Do you think people expect responses too quickly nowadays?”

A (Band 8-9): “I believe this is definitely the case, particularly among younger generations. With the prevalence of instant messaging apps, people have become accustomed to receiving immediate responses. In fact, if someone doesn’t reply straightaway, it’s often interpreted as being rude or uninterested, which I think creates unnecessary social pressure.

From my perspective, this expectation of immediate communication can be quite problematic. It doesn’t allow people time to think carefully about their responses, and it can lead to misunderstandings. Moreover, the constant need to respond immediately can be mentally exhausting and prevents us from focusing on other important tasks.

However, I do acknowledge that in certain situations, such as emergencies or urgent work matters, immediate responses are genuinely necessary. The key is finding a balance between being responsive and maintaining our own mental wellbeing.”

→ Phân tích Band 9 features:

• Từ vựng học thuật: “prevalence”, “interpreted”, “problematic”
• Cấu trúc phức: câu điều kiện, mệnh đề quan hệ
• Đa dạng vị trí: “immediate responses”, “reply straightaway”, “respond immediately”
• Quan điểm cân bằng với “However, I do acknowledge…”
• Collocations tự nhiên: “immediate communication”, “immediate responses”

Ví dụ cách sử dụng immediately và straightaway trong bài thi IELTS Speaking với điểm Band 8

Writing Task 1

Khi nào dùng:

• Miêu tả quy trình (process diagram) với các bước diễn ra liên tiếp
• Biểu đồ thể hiện sự thay đổi đột ngột
• Line graph với xu hướng tăng/giảm nhanh

Ví dụ 1: Process Diagram

Topic: The diagram shows how coffee is produced.

Sample sentence:

“Once the coffee cherries are picked, they are immediately transported to the processing facility where they are sorted according to quality. The beans are then immediately washed to remove any remaining pulp before being dried in the sun for approximately two weeks.”

→ Vận dụng: Sử dụng immediately để thể hiện các bước xảy ra liên tiếp không có khoảng thời gian chờ đợi. Vị trí trước động từ bị động transported và washed.

Ví dụ 2: Line Graph

Topic: The graph shows changes in house prices from 2010 to 2020.

Sample sentence:

“Following the government’s announcement of new property taxes in 2015, house prices immediately declined by 15% within the next quarter. However, the market recovered relatively quickly, and prices began rising again almost immediately after the policy was revised in 2016.”

→ Vận dụng: Immediately nhấn mạnh sự thay đổi nhanh chóng và đột ngột trong dữ liệu. Sử dụng với động từ “declined” và cụm từ “almost immediately” để miêu tả xu hướng.

Ví dụ 3: Bar Chart

“The data reveals that immediately after the introduction of subsidies in 2018, solar energy consumption increased dramatically from 200 to 450 gigawatt-hours.”

→ Vận dụng: Sử dụng “immediately after” để chỉ mối quan hệ nhân quả trực tiếp giữa chính sách và kết quả.

Writing Task 2

Essay types sử dụng immediately/straightaway:

Opinion Essay

Topic: Environmental protection should be the government’s top priority. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Body paragraph (Band 8):

“I firmly believe that governments should immediately prioritize environmental protection over short-term economic gains. The scientific evidence is overwhelming – climate change is accelerating at an alarming rate, and if we do not act immediately, the consequences will be irreversible. For instance, the recent IPCC report clearly states that global emissions must be reduced immediately to prevent catastrophic temperature rises. Countries that have immediately implemented green policies, such as Denmark and Costa Rica, have demonstrated that environmental protection and economic prosperity can coexist. Therefore, there is no justification for delay; action must be taken immediately to safeguard our planet for future generations.”

→ Phân tích Band 8 features:

• Sử dụng immediately 5 lần với vị trí đa dạng
• Kết hợp với modal verbs: “should immediately prioritize”, “must be reduced immediately”
• Cấu trúc điều kiện: “if we do not act immediately”
• Dẫn chứng cụ thể: IPCC report, Denmark, Costa Rica
• Từ vựng học thuật: “irreversible”, “catastrophic”, “coexist”

Problem-Solution Essay

Topic: Many people suffer from stress in modern life. What are the causes and what solutions can you suggest?

Solution paragraph (Band 7-8):

“To address this growing problem, both individuals and organizations need to take immediate action. Firstly, employers should immediately implement policies that promote work-life balance, such as flexible working hours and mandatory vacation time. When employees show signs of burnout, managers must immediately provide support rather than ignoring the warning signs. On a personal level, individuals should immediately seek professional help if they experience persistent stress symptoms, rather than waiting until the situation becomes severe. Additionally, governments should immediately invest in mental health services to ensure that support is immediately available to those who need it.”

→ Phân tích:

• Sử dụng “immediate” và “immediately” để nhấn mạnh tính cấp thiết
• Kết hợp với modal verbs khác nhau: should, must, need to
• Cấu trúc parallel: “immediately implement”, “immediately provide”, “immediately seek”
• Collocations: “immediate action”, “immediately available”

Discussion Essay

Topic: Some people believe that technology has made our lives more complicated. Others think it has made life easier. Discuss both views.

Body paragraph:

“Proponents of technology argue that it has simplified many aspects of daily life. Information that once took days to obtain is now immediately accessible through smartphones and computers. Moreover, communication has been revolutionized – we can immediately contact anyone around the world, whereas in the past, messages could take weeks to arrive. Banking transactions that previously required visiting a branch can now be completed immediately online. These advocates point out that problems can be identified and resolved immediately, leading to greater efficiency in both personal and professional contexts.”

→ Phân tích:

• Sử dụng immediately với các động từ khác nhau: accessible, contact, completed, resolved
• Cấu trúc so sánh: “whereas in the past…” để tương phản
• Passive voice: “can be completed immediately”
• Academic style với “Proponents argue that…”, “advocates point out…”

Advantage-Disadvantage Essay

Topic: Online shopping has become increasingly popular. What are the advantages and disadvantages?

Disadvantage paragraph:

“However, online shopping also presents several drawbacks. When purchasing products online, customers cannot immediately inspect the quality of items before buying. If there is a problem with an order, it cannot be resolved immediately – customers must wait for responses from customer service and potentially return items through lengthy processes. Furthermore, unlike traditional shopping where assistance is immediately available from sales staff, online shoppers must troubleshoot issues independently or wait for email responses. This lack of immediate support can be particularly frustrating when dealing with technical products or complex purchases.”

→ Phân tích:

• Sử dụng negative forms: “cannot immediately inspect”, “cannot be resolved immediately”
• Collocations: “immediate support”, “immediately available”
• Cấu trúc tương phản: “unlike traditional shopping where…”

Sample Paragraphs Band 7-9

Band 7 Sample: Opinion Essay về Education

“I strongly agree that practical skills should be taught in schools alongside academic subjects. When students learn hands-on skills like cooking, budgeting, or basic repairs, they can immediately apply this knowledge in their daily lives. For example, a teenager who learns financial literacy at school can immediately begin managing their pocket money more effectively. Unlike theoretical knowledge that might not be used for years, practical skills provide immediate benefits. Schools should immediately update their curricula to include these essential life skills because graduates often struggle when they enter the real world without basic practical knowledge. If educational institutions act immediately, future generations will be better prepared for independent living.”

Phân tích Band 7:

• Sử dụng immediately 4 lần với vị trí chính xác
• Cấu trúc câu đa dạng: simple, complex, compound
• Ví dụ cụ thể hỗ trợ quan điểm
• Collocations: “immediate benefits”, “immediately apply”
• Câu điều kiện: “If educational institutions act immediately…”
• Điểm hạn chế: Có thể đa dạng hơn với các synonyms

Band 8-9 Sample: Problem-Solution Essay về Health

“The sedentary lifestyle epidemic represents one of the most pressing public health challenges of our time, necessitating immediate intervention at multiple levels. Research unequivocally demonstrates that prolonged sitting increases mortality risk, yet this evidence has not translated into immediate policy changes. Healthcare systems must immediately implement preventive strategies rather than solely treating diseases after they develop. Employers should immediately redesign workplaces to encourage movement – standing desks, walking meetings, and scheduled activity breaks should become standard practice.

Furthermore, urban planners need to immediately prioritize infrastructure that promotes active transportation, such as protected bicycle lanes and pedestrian-friendly streetscapes. The evidence suggests that when such facilities are immediately available, usage rates increase dramatically. Scandinavian countries that have immediately embraced these approaches demonstrate significantly lower rates of lifestyle-related diseases. The correlation is clear: immediate action produces immediate and long-term health dividends. Consequently, policymakers who delay implementing these evidence-based interventions are failing in their fundamental responsibility to protect public wellbeing.”

Phân tích Band 8-9:

• Sử dụng immediate/immediately 8 lần với variety cao
• Từ vựng sophisticated: “necessitating”, “unequivocally”, “correlation”, “dividends”
• Cấu trúc phức tạp: relative clauses, participle clauses
• Academic register: “Research demonstrates”, “evidence suggests”
• Dẫn chứng thực tế: Scandinavian countries
• Collocations nâng cao: “immediate intervention”, “immediate policy changes”, “immediately available”, “immediate and long-term health dividends”
• Cohesion devices: “Furthermore”, “Consequently”
• Rhetorical techniques: “The correlation is clear”

Mẫu đoạn văn IELTS Writing Task 2 điểm cao sử dụng immediately với highlight và phân tích ngữ pháp

Nâng Cao – Cách Dùng Để Đạt Band 8+

Kết Hợp Với Các Cấu Trúc Khác

Immediately + Passive Voice (Academic Writing)

Example: “Measures should be immediately implemented to address this critical issue.”

→ Band 8+ features: Kết hợp modal verb (should) + passive voice (be implemented) + immediately tạo văn phong formal, phù hợp writing task 2. Thể hiện khuyến nghị mạnh mẽ.

Example: “The problem was immediately recognized by experts in the field.”

→ Advanced usage: Passive voice với past simple, immediately đứng giữa auxiliary và past participle, nhấn mạnh hành động hơn người thực hiện.

Immediately + Perfect Tenses

Example: “By the time the authorities arrived, the protesters had immediately dispersed to avoid confrontation.”

→ Band 9 features: Past perfect + immediately diễn tả hành động hoàn tất nhanh chóng trước một thời điểm trong quá khứ.

Example: “The company has immediately responded to customer complaints, which has improved its reputation significantly.”

→ Sophistication: Present perfect + immediately + relative clause, thể hiện hành động gần đây có ảnh hưởng đến hiện tại.

Immediately + Conditional Sentences

Example: “If governments had acted immediately when scientists first warned about climate change, we would not be facing such dire consequences today.”

→ Advanced grammar: Third conditional với immediately nhấn mạnh sự tiếc nuối về việc không hành động kịp thời trong quá khứ.

Example: “Should any complications arise, medical staff will immediately intervene to ensure patient safety.”

→ Band 8+ inversion: Đảo ngữ với “Should” thay vì “If”, tạo văn phong formal, immediately với future simple.

Immediately + Participle Clauses

Example: “Recognizing the urgency of the situation, the team immediately mobilized all available resources.”

→ Band 9 complexity: Present participle clause + immediately + past simple, thể hiện hai hành động liên tiếp một cách súc tích.

Example: “Having received the news, she immediately contacted her family to inform them of the development.”

→ Advanced structure: Perfect participle + immediately diễn tả hành động hoàn tất trước khi hành động khác xảy ra ngay.

Straightaway + Complex Structures (British Style)

Example: “The implications were, to anyone with expertise in the field, straightaway apparent.”

→ Band 9 features: Insertion (parenthetical phrase) giữa subject và complement, straightaway ở vị trí cuối tạo nhấn mạnh.

Immediately + Relative Clauses

Example: “The policy, which was immediately controversial upon announcement, has since gained widespread support.”

→ Sophistication: Non-defining relative clause với immediately, thể hiện phản ứng tức thời đối với chính sách.

Cụm Từ Nâng Cao

Academic collocations with immediately/straightaway:

Collocation	Ví dụ IELTS Band 8+	Band Level
immediately apparent	“The benefits of this approach are immediately apparent in countries that have adopted similar policies.”	8+
immediately preceding	“The research examined data from the decade immediately preceding the economic crisis.”	8+
immediately following	“Immediately following the referendum, uncertainty gripped financial markets.”	8+
immediately recognizable	“The symptoms of this condition are immediately recognizable to trained medical professionals.”	8+
immediately accessible	“Information that was once restricted to academics is now immediately accessible to the general public.”	8+
take immediate action	“Governments must take immediate action to prevent further environmental degradation.”	7+
immediate vicinity	“The explosion caused damage to buildings in the immediate vicinity.”	8+
immediate aftermath	“In the immediate aftermath of the disaster, rescue efforts were hampered by poor weather.”	8+
immediate surroundings	“Urban design should encourage people to engage with their immediate surroundings.”	7+
immediate consequences	“Politicians often focus on short-term gains without considering the immediate consequences of their decisions.”	8+
immediate priority	“Addressing youth unemployment should be the government’s immediate priority.”	7+
immediate response	“The pandemic required an immediate response from healthcare systems worldwide.”	7+

British English sophisticated phrases with straightaway:

Phrase	Ví dụ IELTS	Context
know straightaway	“Experienced teachers can know straightaway when a student is struggling with a concept.”	Speaking Part 3
recognize straightaway	“In retrospect, I should have recognized straightaway that the offer was too good to be true.”	Speaking Part 2
understand straightaway	“The instructions were so clear that participants understood straightaway what was required.”	Writing Task 1
realize straightaway	“Upon entering the building, visitors realize straightaway the architectural significance of the structure.”	Writing/Speaking

Câu Phức & Ghép

Tích hợp vào câu phức với multiple clauses:

Example 1: “Although many people recognize that climate change is a serious threat, few are willing to immediately alter their lifestyles to reduce their carbon footprint, which suggests that awareness alone is insufficient to drive behavioral change.”

→ Phân tích: Concessive clause (Although…) + main clause với immediately + relative clause (which…). Cấu trúc 3 mệnh đề phức tạp thể hiện Band 8-9.

Example 2: “The research indicates that students who receive immediate feedback on their assignments not only perform better academically but also develop greater confidence in their abilities, thereby creating a positive cycle of learning and achievement.”

→ Sophistication: Relative clause + immediately + not only…but also + result clause (thereby). Nhiều cấu trúc nâng cao kết hợp mượt mà.

Example 3: “What surprises many observers is not that the policy failed, but that its flaws were immediately apparent to experts who had been warning against this approach for years, yet their advice went unheeded.”

→ Band 9 features: Cleft sentence (What…) + contrastive structure (not…but) + relative clause + concessive element (yet). Immediately tích hợp tự nhiên.

Example 4: “Having analyzed decades of economic data, researchers concluded that markets which respond immediately to policy changes tend to exhibit greater stability than those characterized by delayed reactions, a finding with significant implications for regulatory frameworks.”

→ Complexity: Perfect participle opening + relative clause + comparative structure + appositive phrase. Immediately trong relative clause thể hiện sophisticated usage.

Example 5: “No sooner had the announcement been made than investors began immediately selling their holdings, triggering a cascade effect that spread throughout global markets within hours.”

→ Advanced inversion: “No sooner…than” + immediately + present participle (triggering) + relative clause. Multiple Band 9 structures.

So Sánh Với Cấu Trúc Tương Tự

Immediately vs Instantly vs At Once

Tiêu chí	Immediately	Instantly	At Once
Công thức	S + immediately + V / S + V + immediately	S + instantly + V / S + V + instantly	S + V + at once (cuối câu)
Ý nghĩa	Ngay lập tức, không trì hoãn	Tức thì, trong chớp mắt (nhanh hơn)	Ngay lập tức (formal hơn)
Register	Neutral – formal	Slightly informal – neutral	Formal
Dùng khi	Mọi context, đặc biệt academic	Nhấn mạnh tốc độ cực nhanh	Formal writing, instructions
Ví dụ IELTS	“Students should immediately begin preparing for exams.”	“The news spread instantly through social media.”	“The government must act at once to address this crisis.”
Band level	6-9 (versatile)	7-8 (adds variety)	8-9 (formal register)

Khi nào dùng từng từ:

Immediately: Lựa chọn an toàn cho mọi tình huống IELTS, đặc biệt Writing Task 2 và Speaking Part 3. Phù hợp khi muốn nhấn mạnh không có delay.

Instantly: Dùng khi muốn thể hiện variety trong Speaking hoặc khi miêu tả thứ xảy ra cực nhanh (như technology, reactions, spreading information).

At once: Dùng trong formal writing, đặc biệt khi đưa ra khuyến nghị mạnh mẽ hoặc instructions. Thường ở cuối câu.

Example comparison:

• “Please respond immediately.” (standard, professional)
• “The system crashes instantly when overloaded.” (emphasizes speed)
• “Action must be taken at once.” (formal, emphatic)

Immediately vs Straightaway vs Right Away

Tiêu chí	Immediately	Straightaway (British)	Right Away (American)
Dialect	British & American	Chủ yếu British	Chủ yếu American
Register	Formal – neutral	Neutral – informal	Neutral – informal
Vị trí phổ biến	Trước verb hoặc cuối câu	Cuối câu (most common)	Cuối câu
IELTS context	Writing & Speaking	Speaking (British examiners)	Speaking (American influence)
Ví dụ	“I immediately realized…”	“I realized straightaway…”	“I’ll do it right away.”
Formality	⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐

Lời khuyên cho IELTS:

• Writing: Ưu tiên immediately (formal, accepted worldwide)
• Speaking với British examiner: Có thể dùng straightaway để tạo natural British style
• Speaking với American examiner: Right away hoặc immediately đều ok
• Muốn đa dạng: Xen kẽ cả ba trong bài thi nhưng duy trì consistency trong một câu trả lời

Immediately vs Soon vs Shortly

Tiêu chí	Immediately	Soon	Shortly
Thời gian	Không có delay (0 seconds)	Trong tương lai gần (minutes-hours)	Sắp sửa (formal, minutes)
Urgency	Cực kỳ khẩn cấp	Không gấp lắm	Trung bình
Ví dụ	“Call me immediately!”	“I’ll call you soon.”	“The meeting will begin shortly.”
IELTS usage	Emphasizing urgency, cause-effect	Talking about plans	Formal announcements

Key difference:

• Immediately = NOW (this second)
• Soon = LATER (trong tương lai gần)
• Shortly = VERY SOON (formal)

Bảng so sánh chi tiết sự khác biệt giữa immediately instantly straightaway và right away trong tiếng Anh

Lỗi Thường Gặp & Cách Sửa

Lỗi 1: Đặt Sai Vị Trí Immediately Trong Câu

❌ SAI:
“I immediately am going to call you back.”

✅ ĐÚNG:
“I am immediately going to call you back.”
HOẶC “I will call you back immediately.”

Giải thích:
Học viên Việt Nam thường đặt immediately trước toàn bộ verb phrase, nhưng quy tắc đúng là:

• Với be going to: S + be + immediately + going to + V
• Với will: S + will + immediately + V HOẶC S + will + V + immediately

Lưu ý:

• Immediately đứng SAU auxiliary verbs (am, is, are, will, have, etc.)
• Immediately đứng TRƯỚC main verb (except “to be”)
• Immediately có thể đứng cuối câu để nhấn mạnh

Thêm ví dụ:

• ❌ “She immediately will contact you.”
• ✅ “She will immediately contact you.”
• ❌ “They immediately have finished.”
• ✅ “They have immediately finished.” / “They have finished immediately.”

Lỗi 2: Nhầm Lẫn Immediately Với Present Perfect

❌ SAI:
“I have immediately done my homework when I came home.”

✅ ĐÚNG:
“I immediately did my homework when I came home.”

Giải thích:
Đây là lỗi phổ biến của người Việt vì:

• Present Perfect KHÔNG dùng với thời gian cụ thể trong quá khứ (“when I came home”)
• Cần dùng Past Simple với immediately khi có mốc thời gian rõ ràng
• Present Perfect + immediately chỉ dùng khi nói về kinh nghiệm hoặc hành động vừa xong không nói rõ when

So sánh đúng:

• ✅ “I have immediately responded to all urgent emails.” (Present Perfect – không nói when)
• ✅ “When the alarm rang, I immediately woke up.” (Past Simple – có when)
• ✅ “I immediately responded when she called.” (Past Simple – có when)

Thêm ví dụ:

• ❌ “He has immediately left after the meeting finished yesterday.”
• ✅ “He immediately left after the meeting finished yesterday.”
• ✅ “He has immediately taken action.” (không có time marker)

Lỗi 3: Dùng Immediately Với Stative Verbs Không Phù Hợp

❌ SAI:
“I immediately was happy when I heard the news.”

✅ ĐÚNG:
“I immediately felt happy when I heard the news.”
HOẶC “I was immediately happy when I heard the news.”

Giải thích:

• Với stative verb “be” (was/were), immediately thường đứng SAU: “was immediately happy”
• HOẶC đổi sang action verb: “immediately felt” (động từ hành động)
• Lỗi phát sinh do người Việt dịch trực tiếp “tôi ngay lập tức vui” → sai cấu trúc

Quy tắc với stative verbs:

Stative Verb	❌ Wrong	✅ Correct
be	I immediately was tired	I was immediately tired / I immediately became tired
know	I immediately knew	✅ (action-like stative, OK)
understand	I immediately understood	✅ (OK)
love	I immediately loved it	✅ (OK with perception change)
have (possession)	I immediately have a car	I immediately bought a car

Lưu ý:
Một số stative verbs có thể dùng với immediately khi diễn tả sự thay đổi trạng thái đột ngột (realized, understood, recognized).

Lỗi 4: Dùng Immediately Trong Câu Phủ Định Sai Ngữ Cảnh

❌ SAI (sai ngữ nghĩa):
“The problem was not immediately.”

✅ ĐÚNG:
“The problem was not immediately apparent.”
HOẶC “The solution did not come immediately.”

Giải thích:

• Immediately là ADVERB, không thể đứng một mình sau “be” như adjective
• Cần bổ sung adjective/verb để câu có nghĩa hoàn chỉnh
• Người Việt hay viết thiếu từ vì dịch trực tiếp “vấn đề không phải ngay lập tức”

Các cấu trúc phủ định đúng với immediately:

❌ Wrong	✅ Correct
It was not immediately	It was not immediately clear/obvious
He did not immediately	He did not immediately respond/react
They were not immediately	They were not immediately available
The change is not immediately	The change is not immediately noticeable

Ví dụ trong IELTS:

• ❌ “The benefits of exercise are not immediately.”
• ✅ “The benefits of exercise are not immediately visible.”
• ✅ “People do not immediately see the benefits of exercise.”

Lỗi 5: Lạm Dụng Immediately (Overuse)

❌ SAI (lặp từ quá nhiều):
“When I woke up, I immediately brushed my teeth. Then I immediately had breakfast. After that, I immediately went to work. I immediately started working immediately.”

✅ ĐÚNG:
“When I woke up, I immediately brushed my teeth. Then I had breakfast and went straight to work, where I started my tasks right away.”

Giải thích:

• Lạm dụng immediately làm bài thiếu tự nhiên, giống như đọc từ điển
• IELTS Band 7+ yêu cầu variety – dùng synonyms và paraphrasing
• Nên xen kẽ: immediately, right away, straightaway, at once, without delay, instantly

Alternatives cho variety:

Thay vì lặp “immediately”	Dùng từ đồng nghĩa
“I immediately did…”	“I did…straightaway” (British)
“They immediately responded”	“They responded without delay”
“We must immediately act”	“We must take immediate action” (noun form)
“…happened immediately”	“…happened instantly”
“…do it immediately”	“…do it right away” / “…do it at once”

Example improvement:
❌ “The government immediately implemented the policy. The results immediately showed improvement. Citizens immediately noticed changes.”

✅ “The government immediately implemented the policy. The results showed improvement within weeks. Citizens quickly noticed positive changes in their daily lives.”

Lời khuyên cho IELTS:

• Dùng immediately tối đa 2-3 lần trong một đoạn Writing Task 2
• Trong Speaking Part 2 (2 minutes), không nên dùng quá 2 lần
• Xen kẽ với các cách diễn đạt khác để thể hiện variety

Tổng Hợp Top 5 Lỗi Của Học Viên Việt Nam

1. Đặt sai vị trí (50% học viên): “I immediately will do” thay vì “I will immediately do”
2. Nhầm thì (30%): Dùng Present Perfect với immediately và time marker cụ thể
3. Thiếu từ trong câu phủ định (15%): “It was not immediately” (incomplete)
4. Lạm dụng immediately (80% bài Band 5-6): Lặp lại quá nhiều, thiếu synonyms
5. Dịch trực tiếp từ tiếng Việt (60%): Áp cấu trúc tiếng Việt vào tiếng Anh

Cách khắc phục:

• Học thuộc vị trí: after auxiliary, before main verb, end of sentence
• Ôn lại thì: Past Simple cho sự việc có time marker
• Luôn hoàn thiện câu: immediately + adjective/verb
• Tạo danh sách synonyms và practice paraphrasing
• Nghĩ bằng tiếng Anh, không dịch từ tiếng Việt

Infographic các lỗi sai phổ biến khi sử dụng immediately trong tiếng Anh và cách sửa chữa

Bài Tập Thực Hành

Bài Tập 1: Điền Từ Đúng

Hoàn thành câu với immediately, straightaway, instantly, hoặc at once:

1. When the fire alarm rang, everyone __ evacuated the building.
2. She recognized her mistake __ and apologized.
3. The news spread __ through social media platforms.
4. Medical assistance must be provided __ in emergency situations.
5. I’ll start working on the project __ after this meeting.
6. (British style) “I knew __ that something was wrong.”
7. The government should act __ to prevent further economic damage.
8. He __ realized the importance of the decision.
9. The message was __ delivered to all team members.
10. Please contact the manager __ if you notice any problems.
11. (Formal writing) “Measures must be implemented __ to address this crisis.”
12. The symptoms appeared __ after taking the medication.
13. I’ll call you back __ when I finish this task.
14. (British informal) “We left __ because the weather was getting worse.”
15. The application was __ rejected due to incomplete documentation.

Bài Tập 2: Tìm Và Sửa Lỗi Sai

Mỗi câu có 1-2 lỗi. Tìm và sửa lại:

1. I have immediately done my homework when I came home yesterday. ❌
2. The problem was not immediately after the changes. ❌
3. She immediately will contact you about the meeting. ❌
4. They immediately are working on the solution. ❌
5. When he heard the news, he has immediately called his family. ❌
6. The team must acts immediately to solve this problem. ❌
7. I immediately was surprised by the announcement. ❌
8. The results were immediately obviously to everyone. ❌
9. Students should immediately to complete their assignments. ❌
10. The company has immediately responded since last week. ❌
11. Immediately after arrive, guests were welcomed. ❌
12. The information is immediately available for free. ✅ (trick question – correct!)
13. We immediately have left when the storm started yesterday. ❌
14. The solution was not immediately because it needed time. ❌
15. He immediately does his work every morning. ❌ (sai ngữ nghĩa)

Bài Tập 3: Viết Lại Câu

Viết lại câu sử dụng immediately/straightaway mà không thay đổi nghĩa:

1. She responded to the email without any delay.
   → __

2. As soon as I heard the news, I called my parents.
   → __

3. The company took quick action to address customer complaints.
   → __

4. He recognized the problem at first glance.
   → __

5. The benefits became clear right away.
   → __

6. We need to start working on this project now.
   → __

7. The government should introduce new policies without delay.
   → __

8. When the meeting ended, everyone left quickly.
   → __

Bài Tập 4: Hoàn Thành Đoạn Văn IELTS

Điền immediately/straightaway vào chỗ trống trong đoạn Writing Task 2:

“Climate change represents one of the most serious threats facing humanity, and governments must act (1)__ to prevent catastrophic consequences. When scientists first warned about global warming decades ago, policymakers should have (2)__ implemented measures to reduce carbon emissions. However, many countries did not respond (3)__, and we are now witnessing the effects of this delay.

The evidence is (4)__ apparent – rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and biodiversity loss are accelerating at alarming rates. If we do not take (5)__ action, these problems will become irreversible. Countries that have (6)__ embraced renewable energy demonstrate that economic growth and environmental protection can coexist.

Therefore, international cooperation is (7)__ necessary. Developed nations should (8)__ provide financial and technological support to developing countries, enabling them to transition to sustainable practices. The window of opportunity is closing rapidly, and the time to act is (9)__ – not tomorrow, but today.”

Bài Tập 5: Speaking Practice

Trả lời các câu hỏi sau sử dụng immediately/straightaway:

Part 1:

1. Do you usually respond to messages quickly?
2. What do you do immediately after waking up?
3. How do you react when you hear bad news?

Part 2:
Describe a time when you had to make a quick decision. Sử dụng immediately ít nhất 3 lần.

Part 3:

1. Do you think people expect too immediate responses nowadays?
2. Should companies respond immediately to customer complaints?
3. How has technology changed our expectations of immediate service?

Bài Tập 6: Error Correction – Advanced

Các câu sau đây là từ bài viết của học viên Band 5-6. Sửa lại để đạt Band 7+:

1. “When I saw the accident, I immediately was calling the police.”

2. “The government should immediately doing something about pollution.”

3. “Technology makes everything immediately and convenient.”

4. “Young people want immediately response to their messages.”

5. “I have immediately started learning English when I was child.”

6. “The teacher immediately explains when students don’t understand.”

7. “We must take actions immediately for solve this problem.”

8. “Immediately students finish exam, they feel relax.”

Đáp Án Chi Tiết

Đáp Án Bài Tập 1:

1. immediately / at once (formal context, emergency)
2. straightaway / immediately (British style, nhận ra nhanh)
3. instantly (nhấn mạnh tốc độ lan truyền cực nhanh)
4. immediately / at once (medical emergency, formal)
5. straightaway / immediately / right away (sau meeting)
6. straightaway (British style, “knew straightaway” natural)
7. immediately / at once (formal recommendation)
8. immediately (realized – action-like stative verb)
9. immediately (passive voice, formal)
10. immediately / straightaway (instruction)
11. at once (formal writing, emphatic)
12. immediately (medical context, cause-effect)
13. straightaway / immediately (promise to callback)
14. straightaway (British informal, “left straightaway” natural)
15. immediately (passive, formal process)

Giải thích chi tiết:

• Câu 3: “instantly” tốt hơn vì social media lan truyền CỰC nhanh
• Câu 6, 13, 14: “straightaway” tự nhiên hơn trong British conversational English
• Câu 11: “at once” formal nhất, phù hợp academic writing

Đáp Án Bài Tập 2:

1. ❌ “have immediately done…when I came”
   ✅ “immediately did my homework when I came home yesterday.”
   Lỗi: Present Perfect không dùng với “yesterday”

2. ❌ “was not immediately after the changes”
   ✅ “The problem did not appear immediately after the changes.” / “was not immediately apparent”
   Lỗi: Immediately thiếu verb/adjective

3. ❌ “immediately will contact”
   ✅ “She will immediately contact you”
   Lỗi: Immediately đứng sau auxiliary “will”

4. ❌ “immediately are working”
   ✅ “They are immediately working” / “They immediately started working”
   Lỗi: Immediately đứng sau “are”

5. ❌ “has immediately called”
   ✅ “he immediately called his family”
   Lỗi: Past Perfect không dùng với “When” + specific event

6. ❌ “must acts”
   ✅ “must act immediately” / “must immediately act”
   Lỗi: Modal + V-infinitive (không s)

7. ❌ “immediately was surprised”
   ✅ “I was immediately surprised” / “I immediately felt surprised”
   Lỗi: Immediately + was → was + immediately

8. ❌ “immediately obviously”
   ✅ “immediately obvious”
   Lỗi: “obviously” là adverb, cần adjective “obvious”

9. ❌ “immediately to complete”
   ✅ “immediately complete” (không “to”)
   Lỗi: Should + V-infinitive

10. ❌ “has immediately responded since last week”
    ✅ “immediately responded last week” / “has been responding since”
    Lỗi: “immediately” không logic với “since last week” (kéo dài)

11. ❌ “after arrive”
    ✅ “after arriving” / “after arrival”
    Lỗi: After + V-ing / noun

12. ✅ CORRECT – Trick question!

13. ❌ “immediately have left when”
    ✅ “immediately left when”
    Lỗi: Present Perfect không với “when” + past event

14. ❌ “was not immediately because”
    ✅ “was not immediately clear because” / “did not come immediately”
    Lỗi: Câu thiếu adjective/verb

15. ❌ “immediately does” (sai ngữ nghĩa – không hợp lý)
    ✅ “does his work immediately every morning” / “starts his work immediately”
    Lỗi: “immediately does” nghe không tự nhiên với routine

Đáp Án Bài Tập 3:

1. “She responded to the email immediately.” / “She immediately responded to the email.”

2. “Immediately after hearing the news, I called my parents.” / “I immediately called my parents when I heard the news.”

3. “The company immediately took action to address customer complaints.” / “The company took immediate action to address customer complaints.”

4. “He immediately recognized the problem.” / “He recognized the problem straightaway.”

5. “The benefits were immediately apparent.” / “The benefits became immediately clear.”

6. “We need to immediately start working on this project.” / “We need to start working on this project straightaway.”

7. “The government should immediately introduce new policies.” / “The government should introduce new policies at once.”

8. “When the meeting ended, everyone immediately left.” / “Everyone left straightaway when the meeting ended.”

Lưu ý: Có nhiều cách paraphrase, quan trọng là giữ đúng nghĩa “ngay lập tức”.

Đáp Án Bài Tập 4:

“Climate change represents one of the most serious threats facing humanity, and governments must act (1) immediately to prevent catastrophic consequences. When scientists first warned about global warming decades ago, policymakers should have (2) immediately implemented measures to reduce carbon emissions. However, many countries did not respond (3) immediately, and we are now witnessing the effects of this delay.

The evidence is (4) immediately apparent – rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and biodiversity loss are accelerating at alarming rates. If we do not take (5) immediate action, these problems will become irreversible. Countries that have (6) immediately embraced renewable energy demonstrate that economic growth and environmental protection can coexist.

Therefore, international cooperation is (7) immediately necessary. Developed nations should (8) immediately provide financial and technological support to developing countries, enabling them to transition to sustainable practices. The window of opportunity is closing rapidly, and the time to act is (9) now – not tomorrow, but today.”

Giải thích:

• (1) immediately – sau modal “must”
• (2) immediately – với should have + past participle
• (3) immediately – cuối câu
• (4) immediately – trước adjective “apparent”
• (5) immediate – NOUN form (immediate action)
• (6) immediately – sau have trong Present Perfect
• (7) immediately – trước adjective “necessary”
• (8) immediately – sau should
• (9) now – không dùng immediately vì có contrast “not tomorrow, but today”, cần variety

Đáp Án Bài Tập 5 (Sample Answers):

Part 1 Sample Answers:

Q1: Do you usually respond to messages quickly?
“Yes, I do. When I receive a message from close friends or family, I tend to reply straightaway because I don’t want them to worry. However, for work-related emails, I sometimes take more time to think before responding, although I try to immediately acknowledge that I’ve received the message.”

Q2: What do you do immediately after waking up?
“Well, the first thing I do is check my phone immediately – I know it’s not a healthy habit! Then I straightaway head to the bathroom to wash my face and brush my teeth. After that, I usually make coffee before starting my day.”

Q3: How do you react when you hear bad news?
“It depends on the situation, but typically I try to stay calm and immediately assess whether there’s anything I can do to help. If it’s something serious, I straightaway contact the people involved to offer support. I’ve learned not to panic but to act rationally and immediately when needed.”

Part 2 Sample Answer:

Describe a time when you had to make a quick decision.

“I’d like to talk about a situation that occurred last year when I was traveling with friends in Thailand. We were exploring a remote beach area when we immediately noticed that the tide was coming in much faster than expected. Within minutes, the path we had used to reach the beach was being covered by water.

I immediately realized we needed to find an alternative route back to our hotel. While my friends were debating what to do, I straightaway suggested we climb up the rocky cliff beside us, as it seemed to be the only option. Some of them were hesitant, but I immediately explained that waiting would be more dangerous.

Fortunately, everyone agreed, and we immediately started climbing. It was challenging, but we made it to safety within twenty minutes. Looking back, I’m glad I made that decision immediately rather than wasting time discussing options. This experience taught me that in emergency situations, acting immediately and decisively can be crucial.”

Part 3 Sample Answers:

Q1: Do you think people expect too immediate responses nowadays?
“Absolutely. With instant messaging and social media, there’s definitely an expectation of immediate replies. If someone doesn’t respond straightaway, it’s often misinterpreted as being rude or uninterested. I think this creates unnecessary pressure and doesn’t allow people time to formulate thoughtful responses. We need to understand that not everything requires immediate attention.”

Q2: Should companies respond immediately to customer complaints?
“Yes, I believe immediate acknowledgment is important, even if the actual solution takes time. When customers complain, they want to feel heard immediately. Companies should immediately acknowledge the complaint and provide a timeline for resolution. This immediate response shows respect and helps maintain customer trust, even if the problem itself cannot be solved straightaway.”

Q3: How has technology changed our expectations of immediate service?
“Technology has dramatically shifted expectations. In the past, waiting days for a response was normal, but now people expect immediate service. Online shopping with immediate tracking updates, customer service chatbots that respond immediately, and same-day delivery have all contributed to this. While these immediate services are convenient, they’ve also made us less patient and perhaps less understanding when things don’t happen straightaway.”

Đáp Án Bài Tập 6:

1. ❌ “immediately was calling”
   ✅ “I immediately called the police.” / “I was immediately on the phone calling the police.”
   Band 7+ improvement: “Upon witnessing the accident, I immediately contacted the emergency services.”

2. ❌ “immediately doing”
   ✅ “should immediately do something” / “should take immediate action”
   Band 7+: “The government should immediately implement measures to address pollution.”

3. ❌ “makes everything immediately”
   ✅ “makes everything immediate and convenient” (adjective) / “makes everything happen immediately”
   Band 7+: “Technology provides immediate access to information and services.”

4. ❌ “want immediately response”
   ✅ “want immediate responses” (adjective + plural noun)
   Band 7+: “Young people expect immediate responses to their messages, which creates social pressure.”

5. ❌ “have immediately started…when I was”
   ✅ “immediately started learning English when I was a child” / “started learning English when I was a child”
   Band 7+: “I began studying English at an early age and immediately developed a passion for languages.”

6. ❌ “immediately explains” (sai thì – không dùng Present Simple cho immediate action)
   ✅ “The teacher explains immediately when students don’t understand.” / “will immediately explain”
   Band 7+: “The teacher immediately provides clarification whenever students struggle with a concept.”

7. ❌ “take actions immediately for solve”
   ✅ “take immediate action to solve” / “act immediately to solve”
   Band 7+: “We must take immediate action to address this issue.” / “Immediate measures must be implemented to solve this problem.”

8. ❌ “Immediately students finish exam, they feel relax”
   ✅ “Immediately after students finish the exam, they feel relaxed.”
   Band 7+: “Upon completing their exams, students immediately experience a sense of relief.” / “Students feel immediate relief after finishing their exams.”

Đáp án chi tiết bài tập thực hành sử dụng immediately và straightaway với giải thích và ví dụ Band 7-9

Kết Bài

Tóm Tắt Các Điểm Chính

Immediately và straightaway là hai trạng từ quan trọng giúp bạn đạt điểm cao trong IELTS khi sử dụng đúng cách. Những điểm cần nhớ:

Về ý nghĩa: Cả hai đều có nghĩa “ngay lập tức”, nhưng straightaway mang tính British English rõ rệt, trong khi immediately được dùng phổ biến trong cả British và American English.

Về vị trí:

• Immediately: linh hoạt (trước verb, sau auxiliary, cuối câu, đầu câu formal)
• Straightaway: thường ở cuối câu (British style), đôi khi sau subject

Về formality:

• Immediately: formal – neutral, phù hợp Writing Task 1, 2
• Straightaway: neutral – informal, tự nhiên trong Speaking
• At once: formal nhất, dùng cho instructions và formal recommendations

Trong IELTS:

• Writing: Ưu tiên immediately, kết hợp với academic collocations
• Speaking: Xen kẽ immediately và straightaway để thể hiện variety
• Band 8+: Kết hợp với passive voice, perfect tenses, complex structures

Lỗi cần tránh:

• Đặt sai vị trí (immediately will → will immediately)
• Dùng sai thì với time markers
• Lạm dụng – cần variety
• Thiếu adjective/verb trong câu phủ định
• Dịch trực tiếp từ tiếng Việt

Đề Luyện Tập

Speaking Topics (sử dụng immediately/straightaway 3-5 lần):

Topic 1: Describe a time when you had to react quickly to an unexpected situation.
Gợi ý: Kể về emergency, accident, surprising news. Sử dụng immediately để miêu tả phản ứng nhanh.

Topic 2: Talk about how technology has changed the way people communicate.
Gợi ý: Thảo luận về instant messaging, expectation of immediate responses, social pressure. Dùng immediate/immediately với technology vocabulary.

Topic 3: Describe a decision you made without much thinking.
Gợi ý: Impulse buying, quick career decision, travel plans. Thể hiện sự spontaneous với immediately/straightaway.

Topic 4: Discuss whether people expect too much instant gratification nowadays.
Gợi ý: Online shopping, streaming services, immediate results. Academic discussion về immediate expectations.

Writing Topics (sử dụng immediately trong complex structures):

Topic 1 – Problem-Solution Essay:
“Many cities are facing serious traffic congestion. What problems does this cause and what solutions can you suggest?”

Yêu cầu:

• Sử dụng immediately ít nhất 4 lần
• Kết hợp với modal verbs (should/must immediately)
• Collocations: immediate action, immediately implement, immediate solution
• Paraphrase với: at once, without delay, promptly

Topic 2 – Opinion Essay:
“Some people believe that governments should immediately ban all plastic products. To what extent do you agree or disagree?”

Yêu cầu:

• Immediately với conditional sentences (If governments acted immediately…)
• Academic phrases: immediate consequences, immediately apparent
• Complex structures: Immediately following the ban, Despite immediate costs
• Balance với counterarguments

Topic 3 – Discussion Essay:
“Technology allows people to access information immediately. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this development.”

Yêu cầu:

• Immediately với passive voice (is immediately available)
• Comparison structures (immediately accessible vs. previously)
• Cause-effect: Because information is immediately available, people…
• Academic vocabulary collocations

Topic 4 – Advantage-Disadvantage Essay:
“More people are using telemedicine where patients can immediately consult doctors online. What are the advantages and disadvantages?”

Yêu cầu:

• Immediately trong medical context
• Formal academic style
• Complex sentences với relative clauses
• Technical vocabulary với immediately

Process Diagram Practice:
Tìm các process diagrams trong Cambridge IELTS 14-18 và viết mô tả sử dụng immediately để diễn tả các bước liên tiếp.

Checklist Tự Đánh Giá

Trước khi thi IELTS, hãy kiểm tra bạn đã:

✅ Hiểu rõ sự khác biệt giữa immediately (universal) và straightaway (British)

✅ Nắm vững các vị trí đúng của immediately trong câu

✅ Có thể dùng immediately với các thì khác nhau (Present, Past, Future, Perfect)

✅ Biết kết hợp immediately với passive voice và conditional sentences

✅ Học thuộc 10+ academic collocations với immediate/immediately

✅ Tránh được 5 lỗi phổ biến của người Việt

✅ Có khả năng paraphrase với synonyms (instantly, at once, without delay, right away)

✅ Sử dụng tự nhiên trong cả 4 kỹ năng IELTS

✅ Không lạm dụng – biết khi nào nên dùng từ khác

✅ Đã làm ít nhất 20 câu exercises và tự sửa lỗi

Mục tiêu cuối cùng: Sử dụng immediately/straightaway một cách tự nhiên, chính xác và đa dạng như native speaker, giúp bạn tự tin đạt Band 7.5-9.0 trong kỳ thi IELTS.

Practice makes perfect! Hãy áp dụng ngay những gì đã học vào việc viết essay và speaking practice hàng ngày. Ghi âm bản thân và check xem bạn đã dùng đúng vị trí và ngữ cảnh chưa. Chúc bạn thành công!