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 quick food
- a quick shower a fast shower
a quick meal a fast mealHow 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. Practise 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).
- 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)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.
- 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.
Complete the sentences with the correct form of a verb given below.
BRING, CATCH, DO, DRAW, GET
1. The negotiator was looking for a way to ___________________ the two sides together.
2. He came into the room quietly so that he wouldn’t ___________________ attention.
3. The politician promised to _______________ change to his community if he was elected.
4. While mum was preparing meals, I helped her and ___________________ the laundry.
5. The actors ___________________ the ideas of the director to life.
6. We have to _________________ some more research before we can publish the results.
7. I’m sorry. I didn’t ___________________ your name. Could you tell me again?
8. The mafia boss had his associates do everything for him, so he didn’t have to
___________________ his hands dirty.
9. I was sitting too close to the fire, so my newspaper ___________________ fire.
10. ___________________ your duty and arrest those two muggers.
11. The journalists revealed some exciting details and ___________________ the crimes of
the company to light.
12. Even though I am an adult I still ___________________ a kick out of putting toys
together.
13. You can’t behave like that. You must ___________________ a line between your private
and professional life.
14. You must wear something warmer or else you’ll ___________________ a cold.
15. The four-leaf clover I got from my girlfriend ___________________ me luck at the test.
16. When the robber tried to escape from the bank the police were already waiting and
___________________ him red-handed.
17. If you don’t start learning more, you’ll ___________________ badly in the test next week.
18. Arguing like this will ___________________ us nowhere. We must start from the
beginning.
Complete the sentences with a prepositional phrase given below.
AT THE AGE OF – AT THE LATEST – AT SHORT NOTICE – AT TIMES – BY CHANCE – BY
FAR – BY NATURE – BY SURPRISE – IN A GOOD MOOD – IN CONCLUSION – IN DETAIL –
IN FASHION – IN NO TIME – IN PUBLIC – IN VAIN – ON FIRE – ON LEAVE – OUT OF
STOCK – UNDER REPAIR – UNDER STRESS
1. He started composing his own symphonies _________________________ 9.
2. I’m not _________________________ today, so please leave me alone.
3. Has anyone _________________________ found my red fountain pen? I lost it yesterday.
4. Shorter skirts were _________________________ a few years ago but they’re not anymore
today.
5. Mom told me I had to be home by midnight, _________________________ .
6. He was questioned _________________________ so don’t believe everything he says.
7. By the time someone got to the scene of the accident, the car was _____________________ .
8. I tried to convince her to take part in the course, but all my efforts were _______________ .
9. _________________________ , I don’t think we should hire too many new workers.
10. The headmaster cancelled the meeting _________________________ because he had to be
somewhere else.
11. Mission Impossible is _________________________ the best thriller I have ever seen.
12. I’m sorry but this item is _________________________ . We’ll try to get it by next month.
13. He is _________________________ until the end of the year, so I’m afraid we won’t be here
for the planning stages.
14. The main bridge of the city is still _________________________ , so you’ll have to find
another route across the river.
15. The question took him __________________ , so he was struggling to find the right answer.
16. Politicians sometimes make statements _________________________ that they regret later.
17. If you study really hard, your English will improve _________________________ .
18. The new girl is shy _________________________ , so you’ll have to give her some time to
loosen up.
19. I wrote out the instructions ____________________ so she would know exactly what to do.
20. _________________________ , I feel like leaving this country and moving somewhere else.
Complete the sentences with the correct form of a verb from the first set and a
corresponding noun from the second set.
1. BREAK – BURST – CATCH – GET –
GIVE – KEEP – LOSE – MAKE – MEET
– RAISE – RUN – TAKE
2. BREAK – DIVORCE – EFFORT –
EXPECTATIONS – GLIMPSE – LIFT –
PROMISE – RECORD – RISK –
TAXES – TEARS – TEMPER
1. When our daughter found out that our cat was missing, she ______________ into
______________ and couldn’t be stopped.
2. Our boss is often angry and ______________ his ______________ when things go wrong.
3. If she never posts anything on her personal website, she ______________ the ______________
of alienating her fans.
4. Not everything happens on its own. Sometimes you have to ______________ an
______________ to get things done.
5. Why don’t you ______________ a ______________? You’ve been working so hard recently.
6. He has been preparing for the race for months. He wants to ______________ his own
______________ and be the best in the world.
7. His car broke down, so I ______________ him a ______________ to the nearest garage.
8. Politicians often think we should ______________ ______________ in order to get more
money to spend.
9. The new teacher didn’t ______________ the headmaster’s ______________ and was fired after
only two months on the job.
10. The couple ______________ a ______________ only a few months after their wedding.
11. Dad ______________ his ______________ and took me to Disneyland in the summer holidays.
12. We ______________ a ______________ of the famous football player as we came down the
stairs.