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.

natural

English... unnatural English...

the fast train the quick train

fast food quick food

a quick shower a fast shower

a quick meal a fast meal

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.

Sample Collocations

There are several different types of collocation. Collocations can be adjective + adverb, noun +

noun, verb + noun and so on. Below you can see seven main types of collocation in sample

sentences.

1. adverb + adjective
  Invading that country was an utterly stupid thing to do.

 We entered a richly decorated room.

 Are you fully aware of the implications of your action?

2. adjective + noun

 The doctor ordered him to take regular exercise.

 The Titanic sank on its maiden voyage.

 He was writhing on the ground in excruciating pain.

3. noun + noun

 Let's give Mr Jones a round of applause.

 The ceasefire agreement came into effect at 11am.

 I'd like to buy two bars of soap please.

4. noun + verb

 The lion started to roar when it heard the dog barking.

 Snow was falling as our plane took off.

 The bomb went off when he started the car engine.

5. verb + noun

 The prisoner was hanged for committing murder.

 He has been asked to give a presentation about his work.

6. verb + expression with preposition

 We had to return home because we had run out of money.

 At first her eyes filled with horror, and then she burst into tears.

 Their behaviour was enough to drive anybody crazy.

7. verb + adverb

 She placed her keys gently on the table and sat down.

 Mary whispered softly in John's ear.

 I vaguely remember that it was growing dark when we left.

Common Collocations

On this page you can find a few short lists of common collocations to give you more of an idea

about them. Many good learner's dictionaries show collocations associated with specific words.

There are also dictionaries of collocations, though these are more difficult to find.

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 attention

take someone's place break the news to someone catch someone's eye

take someone's temperature break the rules catch the flu

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 compliment save someone's life keep control

pay someone a visit save something to a disk keep in touch

pay the bill save space keep quiet

pay the price save time keep someone's place

pay your respects save yourself the trouble keep the change

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 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 negotiations a bar of chocolate

free time cease trading

from dawn till dusk chair a meeting a bottle of water

great deal of time close a deal

late 20th century close a meeting a bunch of carrots

make time for come to the point

next few days dismiss an offer a cube of sugar

past few weeks draw a conclusion

right on time draw your attention to a pack of cards

run out of time launch a new product

save time lay off staff a pad of paper

spare time go bankrupt

spend some time go into partnership

take your time make a loss

tell someone the time make a profit

time goes by market forces

time passes sales figures

waste time take on staff

do/make Collocations Quiz

1. What do you      for a living?   

--
3. Have you      a decision yet?   

4. Amber      badly in her geography exam.   

5. The children      a mess in the kitchen.   

6. We are having guests tonight, so please      your bed.   

7. I only      one mistake in my English test.   

8. I'd like to ask you to      me a favour.   

9. My husband      the grocery shopping.   

10. Please excuse me while I      a phonecall.

1. I stopped to __________ the view.

 admire     watch     see look

2. A few stones are all that __________ of the abbey.

 Remain stay leave keep

3. Lettuces have been cultivated in Spain since __________ times.

A.  Ancient vintage antique old

4. They caught a __________ glimpse of Angelina Jolie through the window.

5. Castles are a __________ sight in Spain.

C. Common frequent typical   usual

6. Everybody __________ the atmosphere there.

D.   Admired delighted in    liked enjoyed

2. The general __________ shows a steep fall in house prices.

A.   mode

B.   fashion

C.  average

D.  trend

3. The discovery was met with __________ joy.

A.   big

B.   sheer

C. great

D.   much

4. Cutting out sugar from his diet was __________ on his list.
 A.   big

B.   high

C.   up

D.   top

5. The serious health problems caused by sugar are generally __________with disbelief.

A.    heard

B. met

C.  found

D.  seen

6. Carl Sagan's Cosmos is one of the greatest documentary films of __________ time.

  all

A.      whole

B.    complete

C.       entire

7. They __________ a great success of their new small business.

A.       managed

B.       made
 C.       did

D.      tried

8. The weather __________ an important part in their victory.

A.       made

B.      took

C.       played

D.       did

9. The robbery __________ important questions about security.

A.      did

B.       made

C.  raised

D.       caused

10. The white leather sofa __________ the entire length of the room.

A.       went

B.       ran

C.       was

D.       fell
11. His mother supplied an endless __________ of tea and cakes.

A.       stream

B.      gamut

C.       selection

D.       range

12. The incident marked a __________ point in her life.

A.       turning

B.       changing

C.       notable

D.       remarkable