CELPIP Grammar Pitfalls: What Trip Up Many Test-Takers

Strong grammar is the foundation of a good CELPIP score. While CELPIP doesn’t require you to be a native speaker, it does expect accuracy and clarity in your language. Unfortunately, many candidates lose easy marks because of recurring CELPIP grammar mistakes in both writing and speaking.

In this post, we’ll highlight the most common errors, explain why they hurt your score, and show you practical ways to fix them — so your CELPIP writing grammar works for you, not against you.

1. Confusing Verb Tenses

One of the top CELPIP grammar mistakes is inconsistent verb tense usage. For example:

❌ Yesterday I go to the store and buy groceries.

✅ Yesterday I went to the store and bought groceries.

Why it matters: CELPIP evaluators look for correct time references. Switching tenses confuses readers and lowers clarity.

Fix: Practice writing short stories in past, present, and future tenses. Recheck your verbs before submitting your answers.

2. Incorrect Subject–Verb Agreement

Mistakes like these are extremely common:

❌ She go to work every day.

✅ She goes to work every day.

CELPIP writing grammar tip: Always make sure the verb matches the subject — singular subjects need verbs with s or es (he works, she runs).

Practice idea: Write 10 sentences daily focusing only on subject–verb agreement. Small drills like this improve accuracy over time.

3. Misusing Articles (a, an, the)

Article errors are subtle but frequent in CELPIP responses:

❌ I bought new phone.

✅ I bought a new phone.

CELPIP grammar mistake fix:

• Use a/an for general or first mentions (a car, an apple).
• Use the for specific things already mentioned (the car I bought yesterday).

4. Overusing Long Sentences

Many test-takers believe longer sentences sound smarter — they don’t. Run-on sentences can reduce readability.

❌ I love my neighborhood it is quiet and it has friendly people so I go for walks every evening.

✅ I love my neighborhood because it is quiet and has friendly people. I often go for walks in the evening.

CELPIP writing grammar advice: Keep sentences concise. Two short, clear sentences are better than one confusing one.

5. Using the Wrong Prepositions

Prepositions are tricky because they often don’t translate directly from other languages.

❌ I am good in cooking.

✅ I am good at cooking.

Fix: Memorize common English prepositions (interested in, depend on, good at, responsible for) and practice them in short phrases.

Final Thoughts

Even small CELPIP grammar mistakes can impact your writing and speaking scores. Focus on mastering basics like verb tenses, articles, and sentence structure. Before the test, practice short writing tasks and review them using grammar tools like Grammarly or Prep27. With attention to detail and consistent revision, your CELPIP writing grammar will shine — and so will your score.