COLLOCATIONS
First let’s define what a collocation is; a collocation is when two words usually go together and we use them all the time. Other combination of these words may sound unnatural or awkward to a native English speaker.
Let’s take an example of fast and quick, words that are synonyms, yet we use them with different nouns.
Natural collocation
a quick step
a quick meal
a quick glance
Unnatural collocation
a fast step /wrong/
a fast meal /wrong/
a fast glance /wrong/
Natural collocation
a fast car
fast food
a fast runner
Unnatural collocation
a quick car /wrong/
quick food /wrong/
a quick runner /wrong/
Some verbs might have a very similar meaning in the student’s mother tongue; this often leads to confusion and to wrong usage of these verbs. Study the following collocations and try to memorize them.
HOLD vs KEEP
hold a record
hold smt in your hand
hold sb tight
hold a meeting/ceremony
hold an election/referendum
keep a secret/promise
keep smt in mind
keep control
keep smt under control
keep records
SAY vs TELL
say smt about smt/sb
say sorry
say a few words
say for sure
say a prayer
tell the truth/a lie
tell a joke/story
tell somebody something
tell the difference
tell the time
WIN vs BEAT
win a match
win a prize/award
win a competition
win public support
beat an opponent
beat a team
beat a player
NOTICE vs SPOT
notice smt strange
notice the difference
notice sb in the crowd (by chance)
spot a mistake (intentionally)
spot an animal (as a hunter)
spot a free parking plot
spot sb in the crowd (intentionally)
Why learn collocations?
• Your language will sound natural and be more easily understood.
• It easier to remember and use word blocks/chunks rather than words individually.
How to learn collocation?
• Reading is an excellent way to learn new words and collocations in natural context.
• Think of collocation as a single blocks of the language. (treat highly unlikely or rain heavily as one unit.
• Try to recognize them when you read or hear them.
• Learn collocation by a topic (A) – family, weather, money etc. or by a single word (B).
A
family life
nuclear family
extended family
single-parent family
large family
family ties
close-knit family
B
make exception
make an excuse
make dinner
make friends
make the bed
make a mistake
make noise
ADVERB
+
ADJECTIVE
absolutely
amazing
beautiful
devastated
convinced
furious
terrified
delighted
incredible
massive
deeply
concerned
ashamed
hurt
offended
religious
worried
highly
controversial
unlikely
effective
recommended
unusual
qualified
widely
accepted
available
optimistic
painfully
slow
thin
shy
bitterly
cold
disappointed
significantly better
inversely proportional
cautiously optimistic
reasonably priced
actively involved
completely different
blissfully unaware
ridiculously easy
virtually impossible
carefully chosen
ideally situated
utterly stupid
hard-earned (money)
hardly believable
totally unbelievable
reasonably priced
thoroughly spoilt
heavily armed
fully aware
deadly serious
strongly opposed
pleasantly surprised
conversely proportional
mutually agreed
flat broke
scared stiff
vaguely familiar
strongly opposed
eagerly awaited
drop-dead gorgeous
COMPOUND
ADJECTIVES
bone-dry
brand-new
rock-solid
paper-thin
mounth-watering
time-consuming
long-lasting
narrow-minded
high-pitched
low-key
fast-paced
cold-hearted
hard-hitting
deep-rooted
far-reaching
open-minded
short-lived
bullet-proof
ground-breaking
eye-catching
jaw-dropping
bitter-sweet
stone-cold
short-tempered
short-sighted
drop-dead
state-of-the-art
over-the-top
up-to-date
down-to-earth
all-time high/great
ADJECTIVE
+
NOUN
part I
big
decision
problem
mistake
disappointment
improvement
surprise
deal
concert
profit
slice
spender
in a big way
city
brother
large
number
amount
population
scale
house
T-shirt
light
meal
rain
traffic
beer
great
fun
expectation
happiness
joy
admiration
anger
power
skill
strength
wisdom
in great detail
scientist
age
wealth
rough
surface
sea
skin
estimate
diamond
time
terrain
tough
guys
day
coockie
strong
argument
evidence
resistance
influence
criticism
candidate
personality
accent
wind
smell
taste
acid
pain-killer
hard
exam
question
day
time
surface
shell
work
facts/evidence
numbers
rock
cash
man
skin
heavy
smoker
drug-user
rain
snow
suitcase
load
meal
timetable
casualties
traffic
debt/loss
dose
coat
heart
broad
context
definition
range
shoulders
outline
accent
agreement
ADJECTIVE
+
NOUN
part II
mutual agreement
symbolic gesture
malicious joy
seamless transition
boorish behavior
ulterior motive
political overtone
lavish present
lush greenery
subdued colours/interior
discarded material
provocative cleavage
moral obligation
public procurement
pinpoint accuracy
natural resources
optical illusion
popular belief
steep price
good deed
unbroken sunshine
critical condition
wee hours
ominous silence
social unrest
lame excuse
biased opinion
meager salary
detrimental effects
vital information
hard bargain
interim government
indigenous people
pilot project
internal bleeding
diminishing returns
inversely proportional
smear campaign
imminent danger
steady growth
collaborative effort
political consensus
political affiliation
innate ability
balanced diet
casual relationship
dead silence
empty promise
ADJECTIVE
+
NOUN
part III
formative year
mutual agreement
symbolic gesture
malicious joy
seamless transition
boorish behavior
ulterior motive
political overtone
lavish present
subdued colours/interior
discarded material
provocative cleavage
unprecedented scale
prime example
sustainable solution
grated cheese
laughable argument
timid smile
diffident manner
solemn promise
disparaging remark
sparsly furnitured
lenient punishment
run-down buildings
derilict building
upmarket shops
perishable food
irreversible process
wicked game
inside information
inflection point
deep-seated anger
scorching hot/heat
deep-rooted hatred
pristine condition
mouldy walls
lush greenery
false impression
vague memories
staunch friend/supporter
landslide victory
visceral reaction
incumbent president
tearful farewell
salvageable equipment
petty criminal
cobbled streets
pebble beach
ADJECTIVE
+
NOUN
part IV
finite amount
impeccable style
formative year
unilateral decision
economic woes
back-to-back meetings
faltering process
compound interest
political affiliation
burning desire
indelible mark
eye-watering price
educated guess
moot point
riveting story
austere lifestyle/condition
jinxed family
stoic behaviour
brazen lie
uncanny resemblance
unwavering support
gaudy colours/clothes
competitive edge
brute force/fact
lenient punishement
stark contrast
negligible difference
premeditaded attack
false allegations
overzealous student/fan
bold claim
VERB
+
NOUN
part I
do
the right thing
a test
a job
exercises
your hair
business
damage
research
the shopping
a favour
a course
wonder
take
a break
the lead
(your) time
advantage of
part in
a breath
a risk
pictures (of)
medicine
a seat
an exam
a chance
care
notes
a deep breath
a day off
the credit for smt.
go
fishing
abroad
red
grey
bald
crazy
deaf
astray
on holiday
to prison
to college
bankrupt
get
a cold
stuck
a degree
wet
fired
dressed
the impression
permission
the sack
angry
upset
to the point
come
to a decision
to a compromise
to an agreement
make
noise
an appointment
a speech
an excuse
a difference
a mess
money
progress
loss/profit
a decision
a breakthrough
contributions
keep
in touch
cool
a promise
the change
in mind
quiet
the distance
it simple
a secret
control
animals
the balance
come
to mind
to terms
to light
have
sympathy
a rest
lunch
a haircut
a dream
a discussion
a bad tamper
fun
advantages
bad luck
the courage
an impact on
break
the ice
the law
a promise
the rules
even
the news
a code
a record
someone’s heart
free
a habit
a sweat
come
in view
into play
VERB
+
NOUN
part II
incur debts/costs
chair a meeting
stand a chance
boost morale
gain control
cut the ribbon
conduct a survey
crave attention
tarnish sb’s reputation
ignore naysayers
latch a door
reach enlightment
pay in istallments
run errands
infringe regulations
deplete resources/energy
defy gravity
elicit information
harbour fears
admit defeat
bolster image/confidence
unravel a secret/mystery
draw a conclusion
throw a party
reach zenith
give credence (to)
cast shadow (on)
look/dress the part
wage war on smt.
reach enlightment
capture attention
slash costs/jobs
untangle a case/knot
lay claim (to)
lay the blame (on)
pay tribute (to)
shoot photos/films
shed tears
follow a hunch
implement a rule
launch a campaign
feel rejuvenated
rejuvenate a team/company
ADVERB
+
VERB
strongly deny
closely examine
distinctly remember
flatly refuse
greatly admire
fully understand
sincerely hope
strongly deny
totally agree
rise steadily
regularly attend
eagerly await
simply assume
recently become
behave similarly
change dramatically
connect directly
contrast sharply
attack ferociously
contribute equally
fall significantly
partly explain
fit easily
grow slowly
simply ignore
gradually increase
listen closely
simply move
operate independently
actively promote
thoroughly inspect
vehemently deny
develop gradually
briefly discuss
firmly believe
deeply regret
typically range
clearly reflect
narrowly escape
deal primarily
NOUN
+
NOUN
beauty industry
bread-and-breakfast
birth certificate
boot camp
budget deficit
cable car
case study
ceasefire agreement
child care
comfort zone
core values
insurance fraud
case study
road rage
stag night
goose bump
cross hairs
pencil pusher
breast implant
dairy product
taste bud
bunk bed
bull market
enterprise zone
tail wind
tech-savvy
departure time
foot soldier
fringe benefit
head teacher
hit man
office hours
parking ticket
peer group
price competition
custody battle
panic attack
photo shoot
poverty line
cost breakdown
tax avoidance
dress rehearsal
city dweller
fire hazard
fleet vehicle
fortune teller
spring chicken
elbow room
business model
elevator pitch
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