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Everything that you need to know about collocations.

 

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
fast food		the quick train
quick food
a quick shower
a quick meal		a fast shower
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).
  • 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 a 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.

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 a 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 behavior 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.

List of Most Common Collocations

These are the most common collocations, they have been divided by the verb they usually accompany to make learning them easier.

Collocations with Have and Do

These are some of the most common collocations in English with have and do

havedo
have a bathdo business
have a drinkdo nothing
have a good timedo someone a favour
have a haircutdo the cooking
have a holidaydo the housework
have a problemdo the shopping
have a relationshipdo the washing up
have a restdo your best
have lunchdo your hair
have sympathydo your homework

Collocations with Take and Break

These are some of the most common collocations in English with Take and Break

takebreak
take a breakbreak a habit
take a chancebreak a leg
take a lookbreak a promise
take a restbreak a record
take a seatbreak a window
take a taxibreak someone’s heart
take an exambreak the ice
take notesbreak the law
take someone’s placebreak the news to someone
take someone’s temperaturebreak the rules

Collocations with Pay and Save

These are some of the most common collocations in English with pay and save

paysave
pay a finesave electricity
pay attentionsave energy
pay by credit cardsave money
pay cashsave one’s strength
pay interestsave someone a seat
pay someone a complimentsave someone’s life
pay someone a visitsave something to a disk
pay the billsave space
pay the pricesave time
pay your respectssave yourself the trouble

Collocations with Come and Go

These are some of the most common collocations in English with come and go

comego
come closego abroad
come complete withgo astray
come directgo bad
come earlygo bald
come firstgo bankrupt
come into viewgo blind
come lastgo crazy
come latego dark
come on timego deaf
come preparedgo fishing
come right backgo mad
come secondgo missing
come to a compromisego on foot
come to a decisiongo online
come to an agreementgo out of business
come to an endgo overseas
come to a standstillgo quiet
come to terms withgo sailing
come to a total ofgo to war
come under attackgo yellow

Collocations with Make and Keep

These are some of the most common collocations in English with make and keep

makekeep
make a differencekeep a diary
make a messkeep a promise
make a mistakekeep a secret
make a noisekeep an appointment
make an effortkeep calm
make furniturekeep control
make moneykeep in touch
make progresskeep quiet
make roomkeep someone’s place
make troublekeep the change

Collocations with Catch and Get

These are some of the most common collocations in English with catch and get

catchget
catch a ballget a job
catch a busget a shock
catch a chillget angry
catch a coldget divorced
catch a thiefget drunk
catch fireget frightened
catch sight ofget home
catch someone’s attentionget lost
catch someone’s eyeget married
catch the fluget nowhere



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