Collocations

I think, …

When one door closes, …

… another one is slammed in your face.

When the going gets tough, …

… the tough get going – right out the nearest exit.

When life hands you lemon, …

… be careful what you drink.

Collocations

What is a COLLOCATION?

A COLLOCATION is a bundle of words.

It is better to learn the “bundle of words” instead of just the word by itself.

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".

What is a COLLOCATION?

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.

What is a “bundle of words”

MAKE is an often used word. But WHEN can you use it.

MAKE bundles

MAKE a profit MAKE money MAKE a telephone call MAKE a mess

Learn the “bundle”

It is more useful to learn the bundle than just the single vocabulary item.

DO the cooking DO your homework DO the housework

Learning prepositions in a bundle

Prepositions like IN, ON, TO, AGAINST are very difficult to use correctly. It will be easier if you learn them together with NOUN or a VERB.

Verbs with a PREPOSITION

DISCRIMINATE is a verb you will be using a lot this summer. When you use this word, don’t forget the preposition AGAINST.

People DISCRIMINATE AGAINST African Americans.

Some other common VERB + PREPOSITION bundles REFUSE TO He REFUSED TO answer the

questions. REASON FOR What is his REASON FOR being late. ADAPT TO We must ADAPT TO change.

VERB + NOUN bundles

TAKE A VACATION PLACE AN ORDER PLAY A GAME RAISE A QUESTION RAISE AN OBJECTION

ADJECTIVE + NOUN

The Adjective LIGHT

LIGHT RAIN LIGHT BEER LIGHT WORKLOAD LIGHT JACKET

ADVERB + VERB

COMPLETELY FORGOT COMPLETELY RUINED COMPLETELY MISUNDERSTOOD COMPLETELY BROKEN COMPLETELY COVERED

ADVERB ADJECTIVE

TOTALLY AWESOME TOTALLY WRONG TOTALLY DIFFERENT TOTALLY ARTIFICIAL TOTALLY HAPPY

NOUN + NOUN

A BUSINESS DEAL A BUSINESS PARTNER A BUSINESS LETTER A BUSINESS SUIT

Some common collocations

Taketake a break take an exam take a chance take notes take a look take someone's place take a resttake a seattake a taxi

Some common collocations

Breakbreak a habit break the law break a leg break the news to someone break a promise break the ice break a record break the rules break a windowbreak someone's heart

Some common collocations

Catchcatch a ball catch fire catch a bus catch the flu catch a chill catch a thief catch a coldcatch sight ofcatch someone's attentioncatch someone's eye

Some common collocations

Paypay a fine pay the bill pay attention pay the price pay by credit card pay your respects pay cashpay interestpay someone a complimentpay someone a visit

Some common collocationsTime

bang on time past few weeks dead on time right on time early 12th century run out of time free time save time from dawn till dusk spare time great deal of time spend some time late 20th century take your time make time for time goes by next few days waste time

Some common collocationsBusiness English

annual turnover draw a conclusion bear in mind lay off staff break off negotiations go bankrupt cease trading make a loss chair a meeting make a profit close a deal market forces close a meeting sales figures come to the point take on staff dismiss an offer

Some common collocations

Classifiersa ball of stringa bar of chocolatea bottle of watera bunch of carrotsa cube of sugara pack of cardsa pad of paper

Exercises