Collocations

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Collocations to use in writing and speaking

A collocation is made up of two or more words that are commonly used together in English.
Think of collocations as words that usually go together. It makes one sound more natural while
using English.

Common mistakes with collocations

Can you correct the following sentences? (You can check your answers at the bottom of the
page)

I very enjoyed the party.

I’ve made my homework

I had a strong meal this morning.

The Shard is the highest building in the UK.

I lost the train so I was late.

I did a mistake.

I’m not very good in maths.

I can’t listen the recording, it’s too quiet.

Answers to common mistakes and noticing collocations:

I really enjoyed the party.

I’ve done my homework

I had a heavy meal this morning.

The Shard is the tallest building in the UK.

I missed the train so I was late.

I made a mistake.

I’m not very good at math.

Common English collocations


Here are some of the most common English collocations and how to use them correctly:

1. Make a decision: "I need to make a decision about which college to attend."
2. Take a shower: "I usually take a shower in the morning before work."
3. Have a meal: "Let's have a meal together this weekend."
4. Break a habit: "It's difficult to break a habit like smoking."
5. Catch someone's attention: "The bright colors caught my attention."
6. Get a job: "I'm hoping to get a job in the marketing industry."
7. Give an answer: "Can you give me an answer to the question?"
8. Take a break: "I need to take a break from work and go for a walk."
9. Make progress: "I'm making progress with my English language skills."
10. Do a favor: "Can you do me a favor and pick up some groceries?"
11. Keep in touch: "Let's keep in touch and catch up soon."
12. Pay attention: "It's important to pay attention during class."
13. Break the news: "I had to break the news to her that the project was canceled."
14. Take an exam: "I have to take an exam next week for my English class."
15. Make a mistake: "Everyone makes mistakes sometimes."
16. Have fun: "I always have fun when I'm with my friends."
17. Give a speech: "The CEO will give a speech at the conference next month."
18. Take a risk: "Sometimes it's good to take a risk and try something new."
19. Make a plan: "Let's make a plan for the weekend."
20. Keep an eye on: "Can you keep an eye on my bag while I go to the restroom?"

By using these common collocations correctly, you can improve your English language skills and
become a more confident and fluent speaker and writer.

Tips to learn collocations smartly

Learning collocations can be challenging for English language learners, but there are some tips
that can make the process easier:

1. Read extensively: Reading is one of the best ways to learn collocations. Read a variety of
materials, such as books, articles, and news reports, paying attention to the way words are
used together in phrases and expressions.
2. Keep a vocabulary journal: Keep a journal of new collocations that you come across
while reading or listening to English. Review your journal regularly to help reinforce
your learning.
3. Use flashcards: Create flashcards with collocations on one side and their meanings on the
other side. Review them regularly to help you memorize them.
4. Practice using them in context: Use the collocations you learn in context by writing
sentences and using them in conversation. This will help you to remember them better
and use them correctly.
5. Listen to native speakers: Listen to native speakers, paying attention to how they use
collocations. You can watch English movies, TV shows, and listen to English language
podcasts to help you practice listening and learn collocations at the same time.
6. Use a collocation dictionary: A collocation dictionary can be a valuable resource for
English language learners. Look up collocations related to a specific topic or word to help
expand your vocabulary and reinforce your learning.
7. Practice, practice, practice: The more you practice using collocations, the easier they will
become to remember and use correctly. So, practice as often as possible.

Examples

to feel free Please feel free to take a seat and enjoy the show.

to come prepared Make sure to come prepared for the test tomorrow.

to save time You'll save time if you turn off your smart phone and concentrate on the
lesson.

to find a We need to find a replacement for Jim as soon as possible.


replacement

to make progress We're making progress on the project at work.

to do the washing I'll do the washing up and you can put Johnny to bed.
up

to open an account Would you like to open an account at our bank?

to forgive a debt Do you think the bank would forgive a debt?

to land a deal We landed a deal worth $3 million.

to key in a PIN Just key in your PIN at the ATM and you can make a deposit.

to deposit a check I'd like to deposit this check for $100.

hard-earned money Once you get a job, you'll know what hard-earned money really is.

to close a deal I closed a deal on a new account last week.


to write up a Let's write up your contract.
contract

counterfeit money Be on the lookout for counterfeit money in circulation.

Common Expressions

Collocations are often used as short expressions to describe how someone feels about a situation.
In this case, collocations can be used in the adjective form, or also as emphatic expressions using
an intensifier and a verb. Here are a few examples using some common collocations:

positively encourage someone to do We'd like to positively encourage you to buy this
something stock.

deeply regret the loss of someone / I deeply regret the loss of your loved one.
something

to be in an utter fury over something Tom's in an utter fury over the misunderstanding
with his wife.

to go to great lengths to do something He went to a great length to explain the situation.

Verb collocations

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 break catch

take a break break a habit 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 heart catch fire
take an exam break the ice catch sight of
take notes break the law catch someone's
take someone's place break the news to attention
take someone's someone catch someone's eye
temperature break the rules catch the flu

pay save keep

pay a fine save electricity 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 seat keep calm
pay someone a save someone's life keep control
compliment save something to a disk keep in touch
pay someone a visit save space keep quiet
pay the bill save time keep someone's place
pay the price save yourself the trouble keep the change
pay your respects

come go get
come close go abroad get a job
come complete with go astray get a shock
come direct go bad get angry
come early go bald get divorced
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 compromise go on foot get ready
come to a decision go online get started
come to an agreement go out of business get the impression
come to an end go overseas get the message
come to a standstill go quiet get the sack
come to terms with go sailing get upset
come to a total of go to war get wet
come under attack go yellow get worried

Miscellaneous collocations

Time Business English Classifiers


bang on time annual turnover a ball of string
dead on time bear in mind
early 12th century break off a bar of
free time negotiations chocolate
from dawn till dusk cease trading
great deal of time chair a meeting a bottle of water
late 20th century close a deal
make time for close a meeting a bunch of
next few days come to the point carrots
past few weeks dismiss an offer
right on time draw a conclusion a cube of sugar
run out of time draw your attention
save time to a pack of cards
spare time launch a new product
spend some time lay off staff a pad of paper
take your time go bankrupt
tell someone the go into partnership
time make a loss
time goes by make a profit
time passes market forces
waste time sales figures
take on staff

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