CELPIP Grammar Practice: 40 Exercises With Answers

Because the front entrance was closed, we used the side door.

A clause beginning with because gives a reason but needs a main clause here. Joining the clauses shows why the group used the side door. “We used the side door because the front entrance was closed” also works.

The meeting ended early; we returned to our desks.

Both parts can stand alone. A comma alone does not join them, but a semicolon does. Two separate sentences also work. You could use “The meeting ended early, so we returned to our desks” if you want to make a result relationship explicit.

The kitchen is small. It has enough space for two people to cook.

Each statement has its own subject and verb. A full stop works; a semicolon also works. You could instead use “The kitchen is small, but it has enough space for two people to cook” to emphasize the contrast.

The workshop helps newcomers practise job interviews.

The original names a workshop and describes it with a relative clause but does not make a complete main statement. “This is a workshop that helps newcomers practise job interviews” is another complete version.

The line was long, but the staff served everyone before closing time.

No correction is needed. But joins two complete clauses, and the comma before it is appropriate. A sentence is not a run-on simply because it contains two ideas.

I have worked at this community centre since 2023.

Since identifies the starting point of a period that continues to the present. The present perfect fits that meaning. “I have been working at this community centre since 2023” is also natural.

We visited the new branch last Saturday.

Last Saturday places the completed visit in a finished past period, so use the simple past here. The present perfect is useful when the time is not presented as a finished past period.

I was preparing the room when the organizer called.

Was preparing sets the background activity already in progress. Called identifies the event that occurred during it.

I will send the address as soon as I receive the confirmation.

After as soon as, a present form normally expresses this future time relationship. The main clause keeps will to state the planned action.

By the time we reached the station, the bus had left.

Had left makes clear that the departure happened before our arrival. This exercise asks for that earlier-action meaning; a different context could call for a different sequence.

Each of the rooms has a window.

Each is the singular head of the subject. The plural noun rooms inside the of phrase does not control the verb.

The list of available classes is on the noticeboard.

The subject is the singular list. Classes describes the contents of that list, so the verb is is.

The changing rooms are beside the pool.

The subject rooms is plural and takes are. Changing describes the kind of rooms.

There are several reasons to extend the opening hours.

In this formal written sentence, are agrees with the plural noun phrase several reasons. There introduces the existence of those reasons; it is not a singular person or thing.

One of my neighbours keeps a spare key for me.

One is the singular subject. The phrase of my neighbours identifies the group from which that person is selected.

Could we book the room for an hour?

Hour begins with a vowel sound because the h is silent. Use an before that sound; article choice depends on sound, not simply the first written letter.

The receptionist gave me three useful pieces of information.

Information is normally uncountable. Use pieces of information when counting separate details. “The receptionist gave me some useful information” also works if the exact number is not needed.

Your advice helped me choose a suitable course.

Advice is normally uncountable and does not take a plural s. Use “pieces of advice” if you need to count individual suggestions.

The smaller cupboard holds fewer boxes than the old one.

Boxes are separate countable items, so fewer is the standard choice in this edited sentence. Less normally describes an uncountable amount, such as less storage space.

The new equipment is ready to use.

Equipment is normally uncountable and takes a singular verb. “The new pieces of equipment are ready to use” is also correct because pieces is plural.

Maya told Leila, “I will contact the supplier.”

The original she could refer to either person. Direct speech makes Maya the speaker of I. “Maya told Leila that Maya would contact the supplier” is also clear, although repeating the name can sound less natural.

The coordinator asked my colleague and me to arrive early.

The pronoun is part of the object of asked, so use me. Checking “asked me” without the other person can help you see the form.

The centre has changed its opening hours.

Its shows possession. It’s is the contraction of it is or it has and does not fit before opening hours here.

The volunteer who showed us around was very patient.

Who refers to the volunteer, a person. That is also possible in this defining relative clause; which normally refers to things rather than people here.

If a participant needs a quieter seat, they can ask the organizer.

No correction is needed. Singular they is standard when a person’s gender is unspecified. It takes the usual they verb form and avoids an unnecessary assumption about the participant.

Could you send me the revised timetable?

A modal verb such as could is followed by the base form, send. Do not add a third-person s to that main verb.

If it rains tomorrow, we will move the event indoors.

A present form normally expresses the future condition after if in this pattern. Will remains in the main clause to state the planned result.

If I lived closer to the centre, I would attend more evening classes.

Lived presents a hypothetical situation here. Would attend gives the imagined result. Changing the first clause to “If I live closer” would change the intended meaning.

Visitors must sign in at reception.

Must takes the base verb without to. Have to has a different structure: “Visitors have to sign in” is also grammatical.

I should have checked the address before leaving.

Should have is followed by a past participle, checked. The sentence reflects on an action that would have been useful but was not completed.

Although the room is small, it has enough chairs for our group.

Although already marks the contrast between the clauses, so do not also use but in this structure. “The room is small, but it has enough chairs for our group” is another correct version.

Despite the bus being late, we arrived before the meeting.

Despite takes a noun phrase or an -ing construction, not this complete clause by itself. “Despite the fact that the bus was late” also works; “Although the bus was late” uses a different structure.

Because the path was icy, the walking group cancelled its outing.

Because expresses the reason specified in the instruction. Although would present the icy path as something that contrasts with the cancellation, which is not the intended relationship here.

The location is convenient; however, the room is too small for our group.

However does not join independent clauses in the same way as but. Use a semicolon before it here, or write two sentences: “The location is convenient. However, the room is too small for our group.”

We postponed the picnic because of the heavy rain.

Because of takes a noun phrase such as the heavy rain. Because takes a clause: “We postponed the picnic because it was raining heavily” is another correct structure.

I look forward to hearing from you.

In look forward to, to is a preposition, so a following verb takes the -ing form. This differs from infinitive to in phrases such as “hope to hear.”

My colleague suggested taking the earlier train.

Suggest can be followed by an -ing form. It can also introduce a clause: “My colleague suggested that we take the earlier train.” The latter makes the intended travellers explicit.

The organizer let us stay for the second session.

Let is followed by an object and the base verb without to. “Allowed us to stay” is a correct alternative using a different verb pattern.

The manager asked us to send the receipts by Friday.

For this request, ask takes an object followed by to and the base verb: asked us to send.

Booking ahead helps us avoid waiting outside.

Avoid takes an -ing form when followed by another verb. The first verb phrase, helps us avoid, is already grammatical and does not need changing.