Collocations are combinations of words that sound “right” to native English speakers. They are not random word combinations but rather words that naturally pair together through common usage.
For example:
make a mistake
This is correct in English. We don’t say “do a mistake” even though logically it might seem fine.
Why Collocations Matter
Learning collocations is important because:
- They make your English sound more natural
- They improve your fluency
- They help you express yourself more precisely
- Native speakers understand you more easily
Types of Collocations
There are several main types of collocations:
1. Verb + Noun Collocations
These are very common in English. Some examples include:
| Verb | + | Noun | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| make | + | decision | I need to make a decision soon. |
| do | + | homework | Have you done your homework yet? |
| take | + | break | Let’s take a break after this exercise. |
| have | + | conversation | We had a long conversation about movies. |
| pay | + | attention | Please pay attention to the instructions. |
2. Adjective + Noun Collocations
These collocations involve an adjective describing a noun:
| Adjective | + | Noun | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| strong | + | coffee | I need a strong coffee to wake up. |
| heavy | + | rain | There was heavy rain all weekend. |
| fast | + | food | We stopped for some fast food on the way home. |
| good | + | chance | There’s a good chance we’ll finish on time. |
| last | + | minute | They made a last minute decision to change the venue. |
3. Adverb + Adjective Collocations
These involve an adverb modifying an adjective:
| Adverb | + | Adjective | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| extremely | + | difficult | The test was extremely difficult. |
| completely | + | different | Their opinions are completely different. |
| highly | + | recommended | This book is highly recommended. |
| deeply | + | concerned | We are deeply concerned about the situation. |
| perfectly | + | clear | The instructions are perfectly clear. |
4. Verb + Adverb Collocations
These combinations show how an action is performed:
| Verb | + | Adverb | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| speak | + | fluently | She speaks English fluently. |
| whisper | + | softly | He whispered softly in her ear. |
| apologize | + | sincerely | I apologize sincerely for the mistake. |
| smile | + | broadly | She smiled broadly when she saw us. |
| strongly | + | disagree | I strongly disagree with that opinion. |
Common Collocation Mistakes
English learners often make mistakes with collocations by translating directly from their native language. Here are some common errors to avoid:
| ❌ Incorrect | ✅ Correct |
|---|---|
| do a mistake | make a mistake |
| take a decision | make a decision |
| say a lie | tell a lie |
| close the light | turn off the light |
| open the TV | turn on the TV |
Key Takeaways
- Collocations are words that naturally go together in English
- Learning collocations will make your English sound more natural
- There are several types of collocations: verb + noun, adjective + noun, adverb + adjective, etc.
- The best way to learn collocations is through practice and exposure to authentic English
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