Technology & Digital Life — Part 3
The Celpip Plus team
Written and reviewed against the official CELPIP scoring criteria
What you'll learn: the phrasal verbs native speakers use for everyday device and app actions — log in, set up, catch up on notifications — so descriptions of your digital habits sound conversational rather than like a manual translated from a device menu.
Why phrasal verbs matter for tech topics
Technology is one of the few CELPIP topics where the "textbook correct" vocabulary (e.g., "authenticate," "configure," "initialize") is actually less natural than the everyday phrasal verb equivalent. Native speakers say "log in," not "authenticate," and "set up a device," not "initialize a device," in casual conversation. This makes tech topics a great place to practice sounding native rather than academic — especially useful for Speaking Task 3 and 6.
Core collocations
| Collocation | Meaning | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|
| log in (to) | enter credentials to access an account | I couldn't log in to my email this morning. |
| log out (of) | exit an account session | Remember to log out of the shared computer when you're done. |
| sign up for | register for a new service or account | I signed up for a free trial of the streaming service. |
| set up (a device) | configure a device for first use | It took me an hour to set up my new phone. |
| switch on/off | turn a device on or off | Just switch off the router and wait ten seconds. |
| plug in | connect a device to a power source or port | Make sure the charger is plugged in properly. |
| scroll through | move down or up through content on a screen | I spent an hour scrolling through old photos. |
| catch up on | review things you missed, like messages or news | I need to catch up on all these unread notifications. |
| keep up with | stay current with changes or trends | It's hard to keep up with how fast technology changes. |
| opt out of | choose not to participate in something | You can opt out of targeted ads in your settings. |
| look up | search for specific information | I always look up reviews before buying anything online. |
| back up onto | save a copy of data onto a specific device or service | I back up my photos onto a cloud drive every week. |
Worked example — CELPIP Speaking Task 3 (describing a routine)
Prompt: Describe how you typically start your day with technology.
The first thing I do every morning is log in to my phone and scroll through any messages that came in overnight. I usually catch up on the news for a few minutes while my coffee is brewing. If I see an app update, I'll let it install, but honestly I try not to keep up with every single tech trend — it's exhausting. Once I get to my desk, I plug in my laptop and log in to my work account. If it's a new tool the company just adopted, I'll spend a bit of time figuring out how to set it up properly instead of guessing. And whenever I'm not sure how something works, I just look up a quick tutorial instead of wasting time.
Common mistakes
- Dropping the preposition: saying "log in my account" instead of the correct log in to my account.
- Confusing "sign up" and "sign in" — you sign up for a new service once, but you sign in (or log in) every time you return.
- Using "look for" instead of look up when the meaning is searching for specific information rather than searching physically.
- Saying "catch up with notifications" instead of the correct pairing, catch up on notifications.
- Writing "plug the charger" without "in" — the phrasal verb requires the particle: plug in the charger.
Recap
Trade formal-sounding verbs like "authenticate" and "configure" for the phrasal verbs native speakers actually use — log in, set up, catch up on, keep up with, look up — and your tech-related Speaking answers will sound noticeably more natural.