W h a t is a collocation?

We

say ...

fast cars
fast food

a quick glance

a quick m e a l

We don't say ...

quick food

a fes* glance

a fest meal

A collocation is a pair or g r o u p of w o r d s that are often

used together. These combinations sound natural to

native speakers, but students of English have to make a
special effort to learn them because they are often

difficult to guess. Some combinations just sound 'wrong

1

to native speakers of English. For example, the adjective

fast collocates with cars, but n o t with a glance.

Learning collocations is an i m p o r t a n t p a r t of learning the vocabulary of a language. Some

collocations are fixed, or very strong, for example take a p h o t o , where no w o r d other than
take collocates with photo to give the same meaning. Some collocations are more open,

where several different w o r d s may be used to give a similar meaning, for e x a m p l e keep t o /

stick to the rules. H e r e are some more examples of collocations.

You must m a k e an effort and study for your exams ( N O T de an effort)
Did you w a t c h TV last night? ( N O T look at TV)

This c a r has a very powerful engine. It can do 2 0 0 km an hour. ( N O T strong engine)
There are some ancient m o n u m e n t s nearby. ( N O T antique m o n u m e n t s )

Sometimes, a pair of w o r d s may not be absolutely w r o n g , and people will understand what
is m e a n t , but it m a y n o t be the n a t u r a l , n o r m a l collocation. If someone says / did a few

mistakes they will be understood, but a fluent speaker of English would probably say

I m a d e a few mistakes.

C o m p o u n d s and idioms

C o m p o u n d s are units of meaning formed with t w o or more w o r d s . Sometimes the w o r d s

are written separately, sometimes they have a hyphen and sometimes they are written as one

w o r d . Usually the meaning of the c o m p o u n d can be guessed by k n o w i n g the meaning of

the individual w o r d s . Some examples of c o m p o u n d s are car p a r k , post office, n a r r o w -

minded, shoelaces, teapot.

It is not always easy to separate collocations and c o m p o u n d s a n d , where they are useful for
learners or an i m p o r t a n t p a r t of the vocabulary of a topic, we include some c o m p o u n d s in

this book t o o .

Idioms are groups of w o r d s in a fixed order t h a t have a meaning that c a n n o t be guessed by

k n o w i n g the meaning of the individual w o r d s . For example, pass the b u c k is an idiom

meaning 'to pass responsibility for a problem to a n o t h e r person to avoid dealing with it

oneself. We deal with idioms in detail in the book English Idioms in Use in this series.

W h y learn collocations?

Learning collocations is a g o o d idea because they can:

a) give you the most natural way to say something: smoking is strictly forbidden is m o r e

natural than smoking is strongly forbidden.

b) give you alternative ways of saying something, which may be m o r e colourful/expressive or

more precise: instead of repeating It was very cold and very dark, we can say It was
bitterly cold and pitch dark.

c) improve your style in writing: instead of saying poverty causes crime, you can say

poverty breeds crime; instead of saying a big meal you can say a substantial meal. You

may not need or w a n t to use these in informal conversations, but in writing they can
give your text more variety and make it read better: this book includes notes a b o u t

formality wherever the collocations are especially formal or informal.

6 English Collocations in Use

Exercises

I. I Read A and B a n d a n s w e r these questions.

1 W h a t is a collocation?

2 Which of these w o r d s does fast collocate with: car, food, glance, meal?
3 Which of these are c o m p o u n d s : computer, narrow-minded, teapot, ancient monument,

car park ?

4 W h a t do we call expressions like pass the buck and be over the moon}

1.2 M a k e ten collocations from the w o r d s in the b o x .

an effort ancient bitterly make breakfast cold dark

engine forbidden mistakes have make meal monument

pitch powerful strictly substantial TV watch

1.3 Are these statements a b o u t collocations true or false?

1 Learning collocations will m a k e y o u r English s o u n d m o r e n a t u r a l .

2 Learning collocations will help you to express yourself in a variety of ways.
3 Learning collocations will help you to write better English.

4 Using collocations properly will get you better m a r k s in e x a m s .

5 You will n o t be understood unless you use collocations properly.

1.4 Put the expressions from the b o x i n t o the correct category in the table below.

make a mistake a s t o r m in a tea cup live music checkpoint key ring

pull somebody's leg heavy snow valid passport teapot bitterly disappointed

compound

collocation

idiom

1.5 Underline the collocations in this text.

When I left university I made a decision to take up a

profession In which I could be creative. I could play the

guitar, but I'd never written any songs. Nonetheless I
decided to become a singer-songwriter. I made eome

recordings but I had a rather heavy cold so they didn't

sound good. I made eome more, and sent them to a

record company and waited for them to reply.

So, while I was waiting to become famous, I got a job

in a fast-food restaurant. That was five years ago.

I'm still doing the same job.

English Collocations in Use 7

2 Finding, recording and learning collocations

Finding collocations

T h e r e are t w o main w a y s in which you can find collocations.

• You can train yourself to notice them whenever you read or listen to anything in English.

Look at the collocations that are w o r t h learning from this short text in English.

After giving Mark a lift to the airport, Cathy m a d e h e r w a y home. What an exciting life he

led! At times Cathy felt d e s p e r a t e l y j e a l o u s of him. She s p e n t h e r t i m e doing little more
than t a k i n g c a r e of him and the children. Now her sister was g e t t i n g d i v o r c e d and would

doubtless be m a k i n g d e m a n d s on her too. Cathy had promised to give her sister a call as
soon as she got home but she decided to r u n herself a b a t h first. She had a s h a r p p a i n in her
side and hoped that a hot bath might e a s e t h e p a i n .

a

G e t into the habit of making a note of any good collocations you come across in any English t e x t

you read.

• You c a n find them in any good learner's dictionary.

For example, if you look up the w o r d sharp you will find some of these collocations:

a sharp pain
a sharp b e n d / t u r n

a s h a r p contrast/difference/distinction

a sharp rise/increase/drop

U W h e n you look up a new w o r d make a point of noting it d o w n in several different collocations.

B Recording collocations

T h e best way to record a collocation is in a phrase or a sentence showing h o w it is used.

Highlight the collocation by underlining it or by using a highlighting pen.

For example: I don't have access to that kind of secret information.

O r : J i m gave me a very useful piece of advice.

C L e a r n i n g collocations

Learning collocations is not so different from learning any vocabulary item. T h e key things
are t o :

• regularly revise w h a t you w a n t to learn

• practise using w h a t you w a n t to learn in contexts that are meaningful for you personally

• learn collocations in groups to help you fix them in your memory. You might g r o u p

together collocations relating to the same topic. Or you might g r o u p collocations based
on the same w o r d , for example:

I must find a way to help him.

Can you find your way back to my house?

I learnt the h a r d way that Jack can't be trusted.

Please tell me if I'm getting in y o u r w a y .

You must give way to traffic from the left.

I've tried every possible way to get him to change his mind.

8 English Collocations in Use

Exercises

2.1 Underline 11 collocations in this text.

My f r i e n d Beth Is desperately worried about her son at

trie moment. He wants to enrol on a course of some sort
but j u s t can't make a decision about what to studu.. I
gave Beth a, ring a n d we h a d a long c h a t about It l a s t
night. She scad he'd Like to study f o r a degree. but i.s

a f r a i d he won't meet t h e requirements f o r university
entry. Beth thinks he should do a course In Management

because h e ' d tike to set up his own business In t h e
future,. I agreed t h a t t h a t would be a wise choice.

2 . 2 Match the beginning of each sentence on the left with its ending on the right.

1 She's having her duty.

2 She's taking a lecture.

3 She's giving a party.

4 She's m a k i n g an e x a m .
5 She's doing good progress.

2 . 3 Correct the eight collocation errors in this text. Use a dictionary to help you if necessary.

In the m o r n i n g I m a d e some w o r k in the g a r d e n , then I spent a rest for a b o u t an h o u r
before going out to have some shopping in t o w n . It w a s my sister's birthday and I

wanted to do a special effort to cook a nice meal for her. I gave a look at a new T h a i

cookery book in the b o o k s h o p and decided to buy it. It has some totally easy recipes

and I managed to do a good impression with my very first Thai meal. I think my sister
utterly enjoyed her birthday.

2 . 4 Look at this entry for the verb lead in the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

W h a t collocations could you learn from this entry? Underline or highlight t h e m . T h e n
write one new sentence for each of t h e m .

l e a d ICONTRQLI © /li:d/ verb [I or T] (led, led) to control a

group of people, a country, or a situation: / think we've

chosen the right person to lead the expedition, o I've
asked Gemma to lead the discussion, o Who will be lead-

ing the inquiry into the accident?

• lead sb by the nose

INFORMAL

to control someone and

make them do exactly what you want them to do

See also Unit 3, Using your dictionary.

i

Use a dictionary to find three or four other good collocations for each of these words:
desperately pain wise run

Write the collocations you find in an appropriate way in your vocabulary notebook.

English Collocations in Use 9

3 Using your dictionary

A good learner's dictionary will give you information on collocations. Sometimes the
information is highlighted in some special way. In other cases, the examples used in the
dictionary include the most c o m m o n collocations.

In the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary (CALD), c o m m o n and useful collocations

are given in bold type. Look at the C A L D entry for the w o r d pain a n d note h o w useful

collocations are highlighted in bold.

p a i n <^ /pein/ noun [c or u] 1 a feeling of physical suffer-

ing caused by injury or illness: Her symptoms included

abdominal pain and vomiting, o Are you in (= suffering

from) pain? o She was in constant pain, o These tablets

should help to ease the pain, o I felt a sharp pain in my

foot, o He's been suffering various aches and pains for

years. 2 emotional or mental suffering: It's a film about

the pains and pleasures of parenthood, o The parents are

still in great pain over the death of their child.

• a pain (in the neck)

INFORMAL

someone or something

that is very annoying: That child is a real pain in the

neck.

C D - R O M versions of dictionaries are
useful because you can usually search

for a lot more information very quickly
indeed. T h e C A L D C D - R O M h a s a

special button labelled

j

f

apffWl

i

,

TfT'*ll

l

1r^

in m a n y entries. Clicking on this button

gives you a list of collocations. H e r e

are the verb collocations for pain. T h e

dictionary also gives adjectives and
n o u n s which are used with pain.

' •! Collocations I CALD 2

C o l l o c a t i o

pain

Verbs

e x p e r i e n c e / f e e l / suffer p a i n

/ experienced chest pains and dizziness.

a l l e v i a t e / ease / lessen / relieve / s o o t h e p a i n

A hot bath may help to relieve the pain.

cause / i n f l i c t p a i n

He deliberately inflicted pain on his pupils.

c o m p l a i n o f p a i n

She came in complaining of stomach pains.

p a i n subsides

As the pain subsided, I began to relax.

b e racked w i t h p a i n

He is emaciated and racked with pain.

A good dictionary will also tell you if a collocation is formal or informal. For example,

C A L D indicates t h a t to t a k e somebody up on an offer is an informal collocation (accept an

offer w o u l d be a more formal alternative).

Offer <^ /'Df.sV c® /'cu.f^/ noun [C] when someone asks

you if you would like to have s o m e t h i n g or if you would
like them to do something: "If you like I can do some

shopping for you." "That's a very kind offer." o / must say

the offer of a weekend in Barcelona quite tempts me.
o

INFORMAL

One day I'll take you up on (= accept) that

offer. _ _

a

W h e n you buy a dictionary, make sure it gives good, clear information about collocations. W h e n you

look up words, if you don't know the collocations, highlight them in your dictionary or transfer

them to your vocabulary notebook.

10 English Collocations in Use

Exercises

3.1 Answer these questions a b o u t collocations and dictionaries.

1 H o w does the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary s h o w collocations?

2 So, which five collocations with pain can you see in the t o p b o x on the opposite page?

3 Why is a C D - R o m dictionary particularly useful?

4 What h a p p e n s if you click on the Collocations b u t t o n w h e n using the Cambridge

Advanced Learner s Dictionary C D - R o m ?

5 H o w does the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary indicate t h a t a collocation is

informal?

6 Look at the dictionary that you normally use. Does it indicate collocations? If so h o w ?

7 Look up pain in your o w n dictionary. Which of the collocations on the left-hand page

does it either highlight or illustrate in example sentences?
Does it s h o w any o t h e r interesting collocations for pain}

8 Look up the noun offer in your own dictionary. W h a t collocations can you find?

Does the dictionary indicate w h e t h e r the collocations are formal/informal? If so, how?

3.2 Put the expressions from the b o x into the correct category in the table below.

to suffer pain to alleviate pain to be racked w i t h pain to cause pain

to complain of pain to ease pain to experience pain to feel pain

to inflict pain to lessen pain to relieve pain to soothe pain pain subsides

making others experience pain

the experience of being in pain

making pain go away

3.3 Look in a g o o d learner's dictionary. W h a t collocations do you find there for the w o r d ache}

Look up t w o or three words that you have recently learnt, using a good learner's dictionary.

W r i t e down any interesting collocations that are shown for those words.

1

English Collocations in Use I I

Types of collocation

There are m a n y different types of collocations. Here are some examples.

Adjectives and nouns

Notice adjectives t h a t are typically used with particular n o u n s .

Jean always wears red or yellow or some other bright colour.

We had a brief chat a b o u t the e x a m s but d i d n ' t have time to discuss them properly.

U n e m p l o y m e n t is a major p r o b l e m for the g o v e r n m e n t at the m o m e n t .
Improving the health service is a n o t h e r key issue for g o v e r n m e n t .

N o u n s and verbs

Notice h o w n o u n s a n d verbs often go together. T h e examples below are all to do with

economics and business.

The economy b o o m e d in the 1990s, [the economy was very strong]
T h e c o m p a n y has g r o w n and n o w employs 50 more people t h a n last year.
T h e c o m p a n y has e x p a n d e d and n o w has branches in most major cities.

T h e t w o companies merged in 2 0 0 3 and n o w form one very large c o r p o r a t i o n .

T h e c o m p a n y launched the p r o d u c t in 2 0 0 2 . [introduced the product]
T h e price increase poses a problem for us. [is a problem]
T h e Internet has created opportunities for o u r business, [brought new opportunities]

N o u n + noun

There are a lot of collocations with the pattern a ... of... .

As Sam read the lies a b o u t him, he felt a surge of anger, [literary: a sudden angry feeling]
Every p a r e n t feels a sense of pride when their child does well or wins something.
I felt a p a n g of nostalgia when I saw the old p h o t o s of the village w h e r e I grew up.

Verbs and expressions w i t h prepositions

Some verbs collocate with particular prepositional expressions.

As Jack went on stage to receive his gold medal for the j u d o competition you could see his
parents swelling with pride, [looking extremely p r o u d ]

I w a s filled with h o r r o r when I read the newspaper report of the explosion.

When she spilt juice on her new skirt the little girl burst into tears, [suddenly started crying)

Verbs and adverbs

Some verbs have particular adverbs which regularly collocate with them.

She pulled steadily on the rope and helped him to safety, [pulled firmly and evenly)

He placed the beautiful vase gently on the w i n d o w ledge.

'I love you and w a n t to marry y o u , ' Derek whispered softly to M a r s h a .

She smiled proudly as she looked at the p h o t o s of her new g r a n d s o n .

A d v e r b s and adjectives

Adjectives often have particular adverbs which regularly collocate with t h e m .

They are happily married.

I am fully a w a r e that there are serious problems. [I k n o w well]
H a r r y was blissfully u n a w a r e that he was in danger. [Harry had no idea at all, often used

a b o u t something unpleasant]

12 English Collocations in Use

Exercises

4.1 Complete each sentence with a collocation from A.

1 C o m e to my office ten minutes before the meeting so we can have ...

2 With her lovely d a r k hair Uma looks best w h e n she w e a r s ...
3 In your essay on the influence of TV, d o n ' t forget to discuss these ...

4 There is some crime in o u r town but it isn't ...

4 . 2 Replace the underlined w o r d s with a collocating verb from B.

1 We are going to introduce an exciting new p r o d u c t in J u n e .

2 T h e economy w a s extremely high 20 years a g o .

3 T h e new university they are planning will provide a lot of job o p p o r t u n i t i e s .

4 There are always some problems when t w o c o m p a n i e s join together but I think it will be

w o r t h it in the long run.

5 T h e increase in oil prices certainly creates a problem for us.
6 T h e c o m p a n y got bigger and has n o w added children's clothing to its p r o d u c t range.

4 . 3 C h o o s e the correct feeling from the b o x to complete each sentence.

anger h o r r o r tears nostalgia pride pride

1 M o s t older people feel a slight p a n g of as they think back on their

schooldays.

2 Carla's father w a s filled with w h e n he saw that she had dyed her beautiful

black hair blonde.

3 W h e n Paul saw h o w harshly the p o o r were treated by the wealthy l a n d o w n e r s he felt a

surge of

4 Swelling with , Dan w a t c h e d his daughter pick up her violin a n d play.

5 When she saw her e x a m results, Kate burst into

6 If people have a sense of in their t o w n , they are more likely to behave

well there.

4 . 4 Look at E and F and choose the correct adverb to complete these sentences.

1 Perhaps it's a good thing that Ken's u n a w a r e of w h a t people really think of

him.

2 I am a w a r e that there will be problems whatever we decide.

3 N a d y a smiled as she watched the children playing happily in the garden.

4 My g r a n d p a r e n t s have been married for 45 years.

5 Place the glasses in the box - they're very fragile.

6 Paul whispered in Anna's ear t h a t he w o u l d always love her.

4 . 5 Which of the sections A - F on the opposite page w o u l d each of these collocations fit into?

1 m a k e a decision 6 roar with laughter

2 blissfully h a p p y 7 a key factor

3 tread carefully 8 prices rise

4 a surge of e m o t i o n 9 a ginger cat

5 acutely embarrassing 10 burst into song

i

Make a page in your vocabulary notebook for each of the types of collocations listed on the

opposite page.

English Collocations in Use 13

Register

Often, collocations rather than individual w o r d s suggest a particular register. For example,

phrases using pretty meaning fairly sound informal when used with negative adjectives

(pretty awful, pretty dreadful, pretty dull), and are typical of spoken English.

Spoken English

Here are some more collocations which are almost exclusively found in spoken English.

I'm bored stiff
in this lesson!

7W

You badly need

a haircut!

Fll have a think a b o u t it

and let you know.

1/

extremely bored

Give me a ring

2

w h e n you get home.

M

give me a phone ca

F o r m a l English

Some collocations are typical of formal English and are most likely to be found in an

official, often legal, context, such as in notices.

Passengers must

n o t a l i g h t f r o m

t h e bus whilst it

is in m o t i o n .

Cyclists must

d i s m o u n t

here

(get off the bus)

(get off their
bicycles]

T r e s p a s s e r s will

b e p r o s e c u t e d

[people who go onto

someone's land or

enter their building
without permission

Please dispose o f

u n w a n t e d items

in t h e receptacle

2

provided

'throw away

Container used for storing

will be taken to court] or putting objects in

N e w s p a p e r English

Some collocations - particularly ones that use short, d r a m a t i c w o r d s - are found mainly in
newspapers. In most cases they w o u l d not normally be used in everyday conversation.

COMPUTER FACTORY

TO AXE JOBS

[make staff redundant]

AIRLINE SLASHES PRICES

leuts prices drastically]

GOVERNMENT S P E N D I N G

WILL R O C K E T THIS YEAR

POLICE CRACK DOWN ON SPEEDING

[start dealing with it in a more severe way]

POLICE Q U I Z 16-YEAR-

OLD IN MURDER ENQUIRY

|ask questions]

FLU O U T B R E A K HITS SOUTHERN EUROPE

Business English

Some collocations are characteristic of business English.

to submit a tender [present a d o c u m e n t offering to do a job and stating the price]
to raise capital [get money to p u t into a business]
to go into partnership with someone [agree to start or run a business with someone]
to start up a business

14 English Collocations in Use

Exercises

5.1 Underline formal (F) or informal (I) collocations in these sentences (one per sentence) and

put F or I in the brackets at the end.

1 Cyclists should d i s m o u n t before crossing the footbridge. ( )

2 Never dispose of batteries and similar items by t h r o w i n g them o n t o a fire. ( )
3 The students were all bored stiff by the lecture. ( )

4 Passengers must alight from the bus t h r o u g h the rear door. ( )

5 The grass badly needs cutting. ( )

6 Please place all used tickets in the receptacle provided as you leave the building. ( )

5.2 Underline typical n e w s / m e d i a collocations in these n e w s p a p e r clips.

1

OIL COMPANIES SLASH PRICES

3

FLOODS HIT CENTRAL REGION

There was good news for motorists today Towns and villages in the Central region
as pump prices were lowered by the major

w e r

e battling against floods tonight as

oil companies. heavy rain continued.

B^SMA

Q

N

U

OVER

4

CAR FIRM TO A X E 200 J O B S

MISSING TEENAGER T h e Presco car firm has a n n o u n c e d that 2 0 0 w o r k e r s

Senior detectives will he made r e d u n d a n t at its Kenton factory. T h e

interviewed a man who job losses are the result of falling profits.

has been named as prime

suspect in the case of a

missing 18 year-old w h o

is feared to have been
abducted.

5.3 Rewrite the headlines in exercise 5.2 using collocations m o r e typical of ordinary

conversation, as if you w e r e telling a friend the n e w s . Start each a n s w e r with ' H a v e y o u
h e a r d . . . ? ' Use a dictionary if necessary.

5.4 Match the beginning of each sentence on the left with its ending on the right to m a k e

typical collocations used in business English.

1 We raised partnership to develop a new range of p r o d u c t s .

2 They submitted capital to e x p a n d the business.
3 They w e n t into a business to supply sports e q u i p m e n t to schools.

4 We started up a tender for the new stadium.

5 . 5 Choose a formal or informal collocation as instructed at the end of each sentence. Use a

dictionary if necessary.

1 She w a s dead I extremely keen to meet the new director, (informal)

2 We should be boarding the aircraft I getting on the plane in a b o u t ten minutes, (formal)
3 Mr Trotter paid for I bore the cost of the repairs, (formal)
4 I withdrew from I dropped out of my university course after a year, (informal)
5 The president launched into I embarked upon a detailed explanation of his policies.

(informal)

English Collocations in Use 15

Intensifying adverbs

In English there are lots of other ways of saying very or very much. For example, we can

use w o r d s such as highly, utterly, bitterly, deeply. These alternatives collocate strongly with

specific w o r d s , and o t h e r c o m b i n a t i o n s often s o u n d u n n a t u r a l .

Highly

collocations

(un)fikely unusual successful c o m p e t i t i v e

p r o f i t a b l e effective controversial

r e c o m m e n d e d

comments

Highly is used with some probability words (likely,

unusua/). W i t h the exception of highly

controversial it usually combines w i t h very

positive words. E x t r e m e l y can also be used

with all the opposite adjectives except recommended.

It is highly unlikely that I'll finish my work on time.

Jill's highly unusual behaviour began to w o r r y her p a r e n t s .

Absolutely, utterly

collocations

ridiculous stupid impossible w r o n g

a l o n e appalled convinced d e v a s t a t e d
m i s e r a b l e

comments

Absolutely and (slightly more formal) utterly combine

w i t h adjectives w i t h very extreme meanings where we

can't use very. For example, we say a b s o l u t e l y / u t t e r l y

e x h a u s t e d , not vefy exhausted, whereas we say very tired,

but not absolutely or utterly tired. Often, but not always,

these words have negative connotations.

It was an absolutely stupid c o m m e n t to m a k e .

T h e w h o l e area was utterly devastated after the e a r t h q u a k e .

Bitterly, deeply, ridiculously, strongly

word

b i t t e r l y

d e e p l y

ridiculously

strongly

collocations

disappointing/disappointed r e s e n t

criticise r e g r e t c o m p l a i n cry w e e p

a s h a m e d c o n c e r n e d shocked

c o m m i t t e d m o v e d affected

h u r t (of feelings)

r e g r e t c a r e religious unhappy

c h e a p expensive easy low high long

s h o r t small large e a r l y

oppose influence believe deny

r e c o m m e n d s u p p o r t c o n d e m n

suggest feel a r g u e o b j e c t

comments

carries a feeling of deep sadness; used

slightly more in writing than in conversation

collocates mainly w i t h words associated

with feelings; used slightly m o r e in w r i t i n g
than in conversation

suggests something extreme, which seems

unbelievable or unreasonable

collocates w i t h verbs, particularly verbs

that relate to having an opinion

I was bitterly disappointed when I failed the e x a m .

Professor McDellvit was always deeply committed to her students.

T h e restaurant was ridiculously expensive. I d o n ' t think we'll go there again.

I would strongly r e c o m m e n d that you learn a foreign language.

16 English Collocations in Use

Exercises

Choose an adverb from the b o x to replace very in each of these expressions.

utterly strongly bitterly ridiculously highly deeply

1 very ashamed

2 very cheap
3 very controversial

4 very stupid

5 very successful

6 very disappointing

7 very opposed
8 very ridiculous

9 very easy

10 very concerned

Use a collocation from exercise 6.1 to complete each of these sentences.

1 The flight from L o n d o n to R o m e w a s It only cost 20 euros.

2 Some people love her new b o o k , others are very angry a b o u t it. It is

t o war.

for the whole class. We had all

3 His father was a pacifist all his life and was

4 T h e e x a m results were

expected to do much better.

5 When I realised h o w much my selfish behaviour had upset everyone, I w a s

c o m p a n y which m a d e o u t s t a n d i n g

remark

6 In the 1990s she ran a(n)

profits.

7 Everyone got more than 9 5 % correct in the test; it was

8 You must apologise immediately. It was a(n)

t o m a k e .

9 She has always been a b o u t the environment and w o u l d

like to w o r k for a conservation agency.

10 T h a t you should even think t h a t I would steal money from you is !

You must be crazy!

In each of these sets of phrases, one is not a correct collocation. Cross out the incorrect o n e .

1 strongly r e c o m m e n d strongly influence strongly love strongly dislike

2 highly educated highly profitable highly unusual highly exhausted

3 bitterly regard bitterly regret bitterly resent bitterly criticise

4 absolutely convinced absolutely tired absolutely devastated absolutely a b s u r d
5 deeply u n h a p p y deeply religious deeply successful deeply committed

In this short text, the writer has often misused the w o r d strongly. Correct the w r o n g
collocations using adverbs from t h e b o x . Use each a d v e r b once only.

bitterly strictly deeply utterly

Everyone w a s complaining strongly
when they heard a b o u t the new plan.

People were strongly shocked to hear
that children would be strongly

forbidden to use the sports g r o u n d and
most people were strongly opposed to

the new rules. Even people w h o
normally never expressed an opinion
were strongly appalled by the proposals.

English Collocations in Use 17

Everyday verbs I

This unit deals with make and do, t w o verbs that m a n y learners have problems with. If you

remember t h a t the basic m e a n i n g of make is a b o u t p r o d u c i n g something a n d the basic

meaning of do is a b o u t performing an action, then the collocations on this page may seem

m o r e logical.

Make

collocation

make arrangements for

make a change / changes

make a choice

make a comment /

comments

make a contribution to

make a decision

make an effort

make an excuse

make friends

make an improvement

make a mistake

make a phone calf

make progress

example

The school can m a k e a r r a n g e m e n t s f o r pupils with special needs.

The new manager is planning to m a k e s o m e changes.

Jill had to m a k e a choice between her career and her family.

W o u l d anyone like to m a k e any c o m m e n t s on the talk?

She m a d e a useful c o n t r i b u t i o n to the discussion.

I'm glad it's you w h o has to m a k e t h e decision, n o t me.

Joe is really m a k i n g an e f f o r t w i t h his maths this t e r m .

I'm t o o tired to go o u t tonight. Let's m a k e an excuse and stay at home.

Karen is very good at m a k i n g friends.

Repainting the r o o m has really m a d e an i m p r o v e m e n t .

They've m a d e a m i s t a k e in o u r bill.

I've got to m a k e s o m e p h o n e calls before dinner.

Harriet is m a k i n g progress w i t h all her schoolwork.

Do

collocation

do your best

do damage

do an experiment

do exercises

do someone a good turn /

do someone a favour

do harm

do your hair

do your h o m e w o r k

do the ironing/shopping/

washing, etc.

d o some w o r k

example

All that matters in the exam is to do y o u r best.

The s t o r m d i d s o m e d a m a g e t o o u r roof.

We are d o i n g an e x p e r i m e n t to test how the metal reacts w i t h water.

We'll do s o m e exercises practising these collocations t o m o r r o w .

Scouts and guides are supposed to do s o m e o n e a good t u r n every day.

•

Changing the rules may do more h a r m than good.

N o , I'm not ready. 1 haven't d o n e my hair yet.

My son has to do his h o m e w o r k straight after school.

I'll do t h e washing if you do t h e ironing.

We'll do s o m e w o r k on o u r project and then we'll go to the cinema.

I

Notice all the patterns that you can see in these tables. For example, make a comment, make an

excuse and make a contribution to a discussion are all connected w i t h saying things.

Noticing connections like this may help you to remember the correct collocation.

18 English Collocations in Use

Exercises

7.1 Use a collocation with make and a n o u n instead of the underlined w o r d s in each of these

conversations.

1 Miriam: T h e bill says we've had three desserts. We only had t w o .

Rosa: T h e waiter must have been mistaken.

2 Kim: It's so difficult. Should I t a k e the job or n o t ?

Todd: I k n o w it's difficult. But you have to decide one way or the other.

3 Jane: C a n you and Brian come to dinner on Saturday?

Jill: Yes, we'll have to arrange to get a babysitter, but it should be O K .

4 Brona: Did you hear a b o u t the air traffic controllers' strike in the USA?

Aaron: Yes. We had to change our travel itinerary because of it.

5 Pete: Can I have chips and rice with my lunch?

Clare: N o , you have to choose, chips or rice, but not b o t h .

6 Fran: Do you intend to speak at the meeting?

Gloria: Yes, I hope I can contribute to the debate.

7.2 Choose the correct collocation, do or make.

1 Did the fire do / make much d a m a g e to the factory?

2 I hate doing I making my h o m e w o r k at the last minute.

3 You must do I make an effort to w o r k harder.

4 Did you do I make a n y w o r k at the weekend?

5 We are trying to do I make improvements to the system for registering.
6 Do you think it w o u l d do I make any harm if I cut some leaves off this plant?

7.3 You are designing a questionnaire for y o u r school magazine. C o m p l e t e each question with

do or make.

ffm MZ M*t t{0nf

1 Do you always your best to be on

t i m e w h e n m e e t i n g a friend?

2 Do you ever t h e cooking at home?

3 Do y o u excuses if someone asks

you to a big favour f o r t h e m ?

4 Do you ever negative comments

a b o u t your friends' hair, clothes, etc?

5 Do you f i n d it easy to friends?

Give yourself three points for 'always', t w o for

'sometimes', one for 'never'. Turn the page to

f i n d o u t h o w nice you really are.

ALWAYS

•

•

•

a
a

SOMETIMES

•

•

•

•

•

NEVER

a

•

•

•

•

English Collocations in Use 19

Everyday verbs 2

Get is a very c o m m o n verb in English, but it is not always a p p r o p r i a t e for talking about

changes. N o t e also alternatives to get which can improve y o u r style.

G o , n o t get

Go is used for changes in people's personality, a p p e a r a n c e and physical abilities:

People go m a d / b a l d / g r e y / b l i n d / d e a f .

Go is often used for sudden, usually negative, changes:

He was very embarrassed and his face went red.
Suddenly the sky went very d a r k and it started to rain.

Go can also be used for slower colour changes:

The pages of the book had gone yellow over the years.

Turn, n o t get

Turn often collocates with colours:

T h e sky turned gold as the sun set.
When the t o m a t o e s turn red, the farmers pick them and sell them.

T h e news gave his m o t h e r such a shock that her hair turned white overnight.

Get and become

Get and become can often be used with the same collocations, but become is m o r e formal

and is therefore m o r e a p p r o p r i a t e in essays:
She gave up smoking when she became p r e g n a n t .
I would like to b e c o m e involved in raising m o n e y for charity.

T h e same is true for collocations with adjectives such as angry, bored, excited, depressed,

upset, impatient, violent:
He b e c a m e depressed after his wife's death.

Become, n o t get, is used with the following: extinct, (un)popular, homeless, famous.
O u r local baker's has become famous for its apple tarts.

A l t e r n a t i v e s to get and become

She fell ill and was taken to hospital.
Everyone fell silent when they heard the shocking news.
As my father grew older, he spent less time w o r k i n g .

T h e noise g r e w l o u d e r a n d soon we realised it w a s a plane a p p r o a c h i n g .

O v e r u s i n g a n d misusing get

H e r e are some sentences from students' essays where get is wrongly used.

sentences with get

1 was able to get new friends.

A year ago he got a heart attack.

If 1 get a child of my o w n one day ...

1 was getting crazy.

In June, 1 got a baby, James.

more appropriate alternatives

1 was able to m a k e new friends.

A year ago he had/suffered a h e a r t a t t a c k .

If 1 have a child of my o w n one day ...

1 was g o i n g c r a z y .

In June, 1 had a baby, James.

20 English Collocations in Use

Exercises

8.1 Answer these questions using collocations from A a n d B.

1 W h a t can happen to men as they get older? (Clue: Think of their hair.)

2 W h a t can h a p p e n if you are embarrassed? (Clue: T h i n k of your face.)

3 W h a t can happen if you get bad news? (Clue: Think of your face or hair.)

4 W h a t can happen to the pages of a n e w s p a p e r after a long time?

5 What happens to strawberries as they ripen?

6 T h e poet J o h n Milton lost his eyesight at the end of his life. W h a t is a n o t h e r way of

saying that?

7 The composer Beethoven lost his hearing at the end of his life. W h a t is a n o t h e r way of

saying that?

8 At the end of Shakespeare's play, H a m l e t loses his mind. W h a t is a n o t h e r w a y of

saying that?

9 If it is a b o u t to rain, w h a t might happen to the sky?

8.2 Look at C, D and E opposite. Correct these sentences.

1 Dinosaurs got extinct t h o u s a n d s of years ago.

2 When I get married, I'd like to get lots of children.
3 Janet fell depressed after failing her final exams.

4 H a m i d has always d r e a m t of getting famous.

5 Would you be interested in growing involved in this project?
6 M o r e people have got homeless this year than in any previous year.

7 My sister got a baby last week.

8 My grandfather got a heart attack last winter.

8.3 Replace each use of get with a verb from the b o x .

become fall become grow have make

As yow get older, you'll begin to u n d e r s t a n d your parents better. Getting angry with

them ail t h e time d o e s n ' t help. You may not w a n t to go to summer camp when none,
of your friends will be t h e r e , but ^O(AY parents know you will soon get new friends
t h e r e . You would all h a v e gone on a family holiday together If i^our grandmother
h a d n ' t got III, but surely you can u n d e r s t a n d why thex^ don't w a n t to leave h e r .

You'll feel much more sympathetic to \^our parents* feelings when

I^OIA.

get a child

of your own!

8.4 Complete the collocations in these sentences.

1 I think I'd go if I had to put up with such a terrible boss!

2 It was a wonderful sunset. T h e sky gold and we sat on the terrace enjoying

it.

3 Once u p o n a time the walls were probably cream but they have b r o w n n o w

and badly need repainting.

4 When I start g

re

Y» I '

m

definitely going to dye my hair.

5 As the headmaster walked into the hall, the children all silent.
6 The noise on the street louder a n d I looked out of the w i n d o w to see w h a t

was happening.

7 My g r a n d m o t h e r is a little afraid of ill while she is a b r o a d .

8 I was so embarrassed t h a t I bright red.

English Collocations in Use 21