CELPIP vocabulary: events and free time

A public celebration with events.

CELPIP tip Speaking Task 5 often offers a festival as one option; mention specific features like food or music when you compare.

A live music performance.

CELPIP tip Say you went "to a concert" and were "at a concert"; "in a concert" means you performed in it.

A public display of art or objects.

CELPIP tip The "h" is silent: ek-si-BISH-un. Pair it with "on": "a new exhibition on dinosaurs".

A place that shows art.

CELPIP tip A good Speaking Task 5 option for a quiet indoor outing; free entry days make a strong argument.

The price to enter.

CELPIP tip Reading Part 1 and Writing Task 1 emails often involve prices; "free admission" means there is no fee.

The place where an event happens.

CELPIP tip More precise than "place" in Writing Task 1 emails about organizing a party or event.

A show for an audience.

CELPIP tip Also means how well someone does a job (work performance), so let the Reading context tell you which meaning.

The people watching a show.

CELPIP tip A collective noun: "The audience was" is standard in Canada. Use it for shows and "spectators" for sports.

A line of people waiting, or the list of performers.

CELPIP tip Canadians usually say "lineup" or "line" where British speakers say "queue". Common pairing: wait in a lineup.

An activity done for fun.

CELPIP tip Remember the Canadian spelling "favourite hobby", with a "u". Speaking Task 2 may invite you to talk about one.

The activity of making things by hand, or something made this way.

CELPIP tip "Arts and crafts" is a common pairing for kids' activities at libraries and community centres.

A group that reads and discusses books.

CELPIP tip Pattern: join a book club; a book club meets. A good example of a low-cost social activity in Speaking Task 5.

A game played on a board.

CELPIP tip Use "play" with it, never "do": "We play board games." Good for describing family time in Speaking Task 2.

Taking photos as an art or hobby.

CELPIP tip Watch the stress: PHO-to-graph but pho-TOG-ra-phy. Say "take a photography class", not "make".

A sports league played for fun, not by professionals.

CELPIP tip Canadians often shorten it to "rec league" in casual speech; useful in Speaking Task 2 about joining a team.

A competition with many games.

CELPIP tip Pair it with win, enter or host: "Our team entered a hockey tournament."

A person watching an event.

CELPIP tip Spelled with "-or". Use it for sports and outdoor events; for plays and concerts, "audience" fits better.

A ticket for a whole season.

CELPIP tip A useful cost argument in Speaking Task 5: it costs more upfront but saves money over the season.

A place for plays and shows.

CELPIP tip Canadian spelling is "theatre" with "-re", though "theater" appears in some American names.

Music played in person.

CELPIP tip Here "live" rhymes with "five", not "give". A strong selling point when you recommend a restaurant or venue.

A public procession, often with music and floats.

CELPIP tip Pattern: watch a parade, a parade goes down Main Street. Canada Day parades make a good Speaking Task 2 story.

Explosives that light up the sky.

CELPIP tip Usually plural. Pair it with "watch" or "set off": "We set off fireworks on Victoria Day."

Having no tickets or items left to sell.

CELPIP tip Works after a verb ("The show is sold out"); hyphenate it before a noun: a sold-out show.

No matter what the weather is like.

CELPIP tip Handy in Writing Task 1 when describing outdoor plans, because it tells the reader the event will not be cancelled.

Suitable for children and adults.

CELPIP tip Hyphenate it before a noun (a family-friendly event). A strong reason to give in Speaking Task 5 when choosing an outing.