What Is A Collocation
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What is a collocation? A collocation is two or more words that often go together. These combinations just sound "right" to native English speakers, who use them all the time. On the other hand, other combinations may be unnatural and just sound "wrong". Look at these examples:
Natural English
Unnatural English
the fast train
the quick train
fast food a quick shower
quick food a fast shower
a quick meal
a fast meal
Why learn collocations? •
Your language will be more natural and more easily understood.
•
You will have alternative and richer ways of expressing yourself.
•
It is easier for our brains to remember and use language in chunks or blocks rather than as single words.
How to learn collocations •
Be aware of collocations, and try to recognize them when you see or hear them.
•
Treat collocations as single blocks of language. Think of them as individual blocks or chunks, and learn strongly support, not strongly + support.
•
When you learn a new word, write down other words that collocate with it (remember rightly, remember distinctly, remember vaguely, remember vividly).
•
Read as much as possible. Reading is an excellent way to learn vocabulary and collocations in context and naturally.
•
Revise what you learn regularly. Practice using new collocations in context as soon as possible after learning them.
•
Learn collocations in groups that work for you. You could learn them by topic (time, number, weather, money, family) or by a particular word (take action, take a chance, take an exam).
1
•
You can find information on collocations in any good learner's dictionary. And you can also find specialized dictionaries of collocations.
Types of Collocation There are several different types of collocation made from combinations of verb, noun, adjective etc. Some of the most common types are: •
Adverb + Adjective: completely satisfied (NOT downright satisfied)
•
Adjective + Noun: excruciating pain (NOT excruciating joy)
•
Noun + Noun: a surge of anger (NOT a rush of anger)
•
Noun + Verb: lions roar (NOT lions shout)
•
Verb + Noun: commit suicide (NOT undertake suicide)
•
Verb + Expression With Preposition: burst into tears (NOT blow up in tears)
•
Verb + Adverb: wave frantically (NOT wave feverishly)
Sample Collocations There are several different types of collocation. Collocations can be adjective + adverb, noun + noun, verb + noun and so on. Below you can see seven main types of collocation in sample sentences.
1. adverb + adjective •
Invading that country was an utterly stupid thing to do.
•
We entered a richly decorated room.
•
Are you fully aware of the implications of your action?
2. adjective + noun •
The doctor ordered him to take regular exercise.
•
The Titanic sank on its maiden voyage.
•
He was writhing on the ground in excruciating pain.
2
3. noun + noun •
Let's give Mr Jones a round of applause.
•
The ceasefire agreement came into effect at 11am.
•
I'd like to buy two bars of soap please.
4. noun + verb •
The lion started to roar when it heard the dog barking.
•
Snow was falling as our plane took off.
•
The bomb went off when he started the car engine.
5. verb + noun •
The prisoner was hanged for committing murder.
•
I always try to do my homework in the morning, after making my bed.
•
He has been asked to give a presentation about his work.
6. verb + expression with preposition •
We had to return home because we had run out of money.
•
At first her eyes filled with horror, and then she burst into tears.
•
Their behaviour was enough to drive anybody to crime.
7. verb + adverb •
She placed her keys gently on the table and sat down.
•
Mary whispered softly in John's ear.
•
I vaguely remember that it was growing dark when we left.
3
Collocation Lists On this page you can find a few short lists of collocations to give you more of an idea about them. Many good learner's dictionaries show collocations associated with specific words. There are also dictionaries of collocations, though these are more difficult to find.
Some common verbs Have
Do
Make
have a bath
do business
make a difference
have a drink
do nothing
make a mess
have a good time
do someone a favour make a mistake
have a haircut
do the cooking
make a noise
have a holiday
do the housework
make an effort
have a problem
do the shopping
make furniture
have a relationship
do the washing up
make money
have a rest
do your best
make progress
have lunch
do your hair
make room
have sympathy
do your homework
make trouble
Take take a break
Break break a habit
Catch catch a ball
take a chance
break a leg
catch a bus
take a look
break a promise
catch a chill
take a rest
break a record
catch a cold
take a seat
break a window
catch a thief
take a taxi
break someone's
catch fire
4
take an exam
heart
catch sight of
take notes
break the ice
catch someone's
take someone's
break the law
attention
place
break the news to
catch someone's eye
take someone's
someone
catch the flu
temperature
break the rules
Pay pay a fine
Save save electricity
Keep keep a diary
pay attention
save energy
keep a promise
pay by credit card
save money
keep a secret
pay cash
save one’s strength
keep an appointment
pay interest
save someone a
keep calm
pay someone a
seat
keep control
compliment
save someone’s life
keep in touch
pay someone a visit
save something to a
keep quiet
pay the bill
disk
keep someone’s
pay the price
save space
place
pay your respects
save time
keep the change
save yourself the trouble
Come come close
Go go abroad
Get get a job
come complete with
go astray
get a shock
come direct
go bad
get angry
come early
go bald
get divorced 5
come first
go bankrupt
get drunk
come into view
go blind
get frightened
come last
go crazy
get home
come late
go dark
get lost
come on time
go deaf
get married
come prepared
go fishing
get nowhere
come right back
go mad
get permission
come second
go missing
get pregnant
come to a
go on foot
get ready
compromise
go online
get started
come to a decision
go out of business
get the impression
come to an
go overseas
get the message
agreement
go quiet
get the sack
come to an end
go sailing
get upset
come to a standstill
go to war
get wet
come to terms with
go yellow
get worried
Time bang on time
Business English annual turnover
Classifiers a ball of string
dead on time
bear in mind
a bar of chocolate
early 12th century
break off
a bottle of water
free time
negotiations
a bunch of carrots
from dawn till dusk
cease trading
a cube of sugar
come to a total of come under attack
Miscellaneous
6
great deal of time
chair a meeting
a pack of cards
late 20th century
close a deal
a pad of paper
make time for
close a meeting
next few days
come to the point
past few weeks
dismiss an offer
right on time
draw a conclusion
run out of time
draw your attention
save time
to
spare time
launch a new
spend some time
product
take your time
lay off staff
tell someone the
go bankrupt
time
go into partnership
time goes by
make a loss
time passes
make a profit
waste time
market forces sales figures take on staff
Collocation Quizzes Do or Make Collocations Quiz 1. What do you…………..for a living? 2. Have you……………your homework already? 3. My husband………..the grocery shopping. 4. Amber……………..badly on her geography exam. 5. The children…………….a mess in the kitchen.
7
6. We are having guests tonight, so please ……………..your bed. 7. I only ……………one mistake in my English test. 8. I have to ask you to……………..me a favor. 9. Have you and your friend ……………..a decision yet? 10. Please excuse me while I ………………..a phone call.
Time Collocations Quiz 1. He arrived exactly at 11A.M. …………….on time. 2. What do you do in your…………? 3. We couldn't finish because we……………….time. 4. If we take this short cut we'll………………….some time. 5. I……………….time, and now doth time waste me. (Shakespeare) 6. There have been several burglaries in the…………..weeks. 7. The Internet was developed in the……………century. 8. They have no time. They work…………………dusk. 9. You'll forget it……………..by. 10. Can you……………for me this weekend?
8
Natural English
Unnatural English
the fast train
the quick train
fast food a quick shower
quick food a fast shower
a quick meal
a fast meal
Why learn collocations? •
Your language will be more natural and more easily understood.
•
You will have alternative and richer ways of expressing yourself.
•
It is easier for our brains to remember and use language in chunks or blocks rather than as single words.
How to learn collocations •
Be aware of collocations, and try to recognize them when you see or hear them.
•
Treat collocations as single blocks of language. Think of them as individual blocks or chunks, and learn strongly support, not strongly + support.
•
When you learn a new word, write down other words that collocate with it (remember rightly, remember distinctly, remember vaguely, remember vividly).
•
Read as much as possible. Reading is an excellent way to learn vocabulary and collocations in context and naturally.
•
Revise what you learn regularly. Practice using new collocations in context as soon as possible after learning them.
•
Learn collocations in groups that work for you. You could learn them by topic (time, number, weather, money, family) or by a particular word (take action, take a chance, take an exam).
1
•
You can find information on collocations in any good learner's dictionary. And you can also find specialized dictionaries of collocations.
Types of Collocation There are several different types of collocation made from combinations of verb, noun, adjective etc. Some of the most common types are: •
Adverb + Adjective: completely satisfied (NOT downright satisfied)
•
Adjective + Noun: excruciating pain (NOT excruciating joy)
•
Noun + Noun: a surge of anger (NOT a rush of anger)
•
Noun + Verb: lions roar (NOT lions shout)
•
Verb + Noun: commit suicide (NOT undertake suicide)
•
Verb + Expression With Preposition: burst into tears (NOT blow up in tears)
•
Verb + Adverb: wave frantically (NOT wave feverishly)
Sample Collocations There are several different types of collocation. Collocations can be adjective + adverb, noun + noun, verb + noun and so on. Below you can see seven main types of collocation in sample sentences.
1. adverb + adjective •
Invading that country was an utterly stupid thing to do.
•
We entered a richly decorated room.
•
Are you fully aware of the implications of your action?
2. adjective + noun •
The doctor ordered him to take regular exercise.
•
The Titanic sank on its maiden voyage.
•
He was writhing on the ground in excruciating pain.
2
3. noun + noun •
Let's give Mr Jones a round of applause.
•
The ceasefire agreement came into effect at 11am.
•
I'd like to buy two bars of soap please.
4. noun + verb •
The lion started to roar when it heard the dog barking.
•
Snow was falling as our plane took off.
•
The bomb went off when he started the car engine.
5. verb + noun •
The prisoner was hanged for committing murder.
•
I always try to do my homework in the morning, after making my bed.
•
He has been asked to give a presentation about his work.
6. verb + expression with preposition •
We had to return home because we had run out of money.
•
At first her eyes filled with horror, and then she burst into tears.
•
Their behaviour was enough to drive anybody to crime.
7. verb + adverb •
She placed her keys gently on the table and sat down.
•
Mary whispered softly in John's ear.
•
I vaguely remember that it was growing dark when we left.
3
Collocation Lists On this page you can find a few short lists of collocations to give you more of an idea about them. Many good learner's dictionaries show collocations associated with specific words. There are also dictionaries of collocations, though these are more difficult to find.
Some common verbs Have
Do
Make
have a bath
do business
make a difference
have a drink
do nothing
make a mess
have a good time
do someone a favour make a mistake
have a haircut
do the cooking
make a noise
have a holiday
do the housework
make an effort
have a problem
do the shopping
make furniture
have a relationship
do the washing up
make money
have a rest
do your best
make progress
have lunch
do your hair
make room
have sympathy
do your homework
make trouble
Take take a break
Break break a habit
Catch catch a ball
take a chance
break a leg
catch a bus
take a look
break a promise
catch a chill
take a rest
break a record
catch a cold
take a seat
break a window
catch a thief
take a taxi
break someone's
catch fire
4
take an exam
heart
catch sight of
take notes
break the ice
catch someone's
take someone's
break the law
attention
place
break the news to
catch someone's eye
take someone's
someone
catch the flu
temperature
break the rules
Pay pay a fine
Save save electricity
Keep keep a diary
pay attention
save energy
keep a promise
pay by credit card
save money
keep a secret
pay cash
save one’s strength
keep an appointment
pay interest
save someone a
keep calm
pay someone a
seat
keep control
compliment
save someone’s life
keep in touch
pay someone a visit
save something to a
keep quiet
pay the bill
disk
keep someone’s
pay the price
save space
place
pay your respects
save time
keep the change
save yourself the trouble
Come come close
Go go abroad
Get get a job
come complete with
go astray
get a shock
come direct
go bad
get angry
come early
go bald
get divorced 5
come first
go bankrupt
get drunk
come into view
go blind
get frightened
come last
go crazy
get home
come late
go dark
get lost
come on time
go deaf
get married
come prepared
go fishing
get nowhere
come right back
go mad
get permission
come second
go missing
get pregnant
come to a
go on foot
get ready
compromise
go online
get started
come to a decision
go out of business
get the impression
come to an
go overseas
get the message
agreement
go quiet
get the sack
come to an end
go sailing
get upset
come to a standstill
go to war
get wet
come to terms with
go yellow
get worried
Time bang on time
Business English annual turnover
Classifiers a ball of string
dead on time
bear in mind
a bar of chocolate
early 12th century
break off
a bottle of water
free time
negotiations
a bunch of carrots
from dawn till dusk
cease trading
a cube of sugar
come to a total of come under attack
Miscellaneous
6
great deal of time
chair a meeting
a pack of cards
late 20th century
close a deal
a pad of paper
make time for
close a meeting
next few days
come to the point
past few weeks
dismiss an offer
right on time
draw a conclusion
run out of time
draw your attention
save time
to
spare time
launch a new
spend some time
product
take your time
lay off staff
tell someone the
go bankrupt
time
go into partnership
time goes by
make a loss
time passes
make a profit
waste time
market forces sales figures take on staff
Collocation Quizzes Do or Make Collocations Quiz 1. What do you…………..for a living? 2. Have you……………your homework already? 3. My husband………..the grocery shopping. 4. Amber……………..badly on her geography exam. 5. The children…………….a mess in the kitchen.
7
6. We are having guests tonight, so please ……………..your bed. 7. I only ……………one mistake in my English test. 8. I have to ask you to……………..me a favor. 9. Have you and your friend ……………..a decision yet? 10. Please excuse me while I ………………..a phone call.
Time Collocations Quiz 1. He arrived exactly at 11A.M. …………….on time. 2. What do you do in your…………? 3. We couldn't finish because we……………….time. 4. If we take this short cut we'll………………….some time. 5. I……………….time, and now doth time waste me. (Shakespeare) 6. There have been several burglaries in the…………..weeks. 7. The Internet was developed in the……………century. 8. They have no time. They work…………………dusk. 9. You'll forget it……………..by. 10. Can you……………for me this weekend?
8
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