Word Collocation Exercise

Identify the word that forms a strong collocation:

Example: neat and . ? (a) good (b) feat (c) tidy
Answer: (c) tidy neat and tidy
Answer
(a) (b) (c)
1. sugar and .. ice / spice / mice _____
2. boom and .. bust / bloom / gloom _____
3. black and .. blue / cheap / good _____
4. black and .. fire / white / green _____
5. tooth and .. pick / nail / polish _____
6. thick and .. true / bad / thin _____
7. sick and ill / tired / out _____
8. down and .. ill / tired / out _____
9. milk and .. wine / honey / beer _____
10. time and .. tide / school / fun _____
11. home and . hot / dry / cool _____
12. hue and .. cry / shout / loud _____
13. safe and .. easy / good / sound _____
14. wear and . air / tear / bear _____
15. hot and . cold / cool / fresh _____
16. hot and . cool / heat / bothered _____
17. fire and. scent / brimstone / sand _____
18. heart and . beard / soul / mouth _____
19. open and . honest / frank / happy _____
20. open and case frank / sad / shut _____
21. cats and . food / home / dogs _____
22. cat and . dogs / mouse / mice _____
23. high and. warm / dry / wet _____
24. hammer and. tongs / saw / fire _____
 Word Collocation Exercise
25. alarm and . bell / flood / despondency _____
26. cloak and . dagger / knife / sword _____
27. up and . going / running / singing _____
28. up and . round / around / about _____
29. up and . left / down / right _____
30. left, right, and.. central / circle / centre _____

Answers:
1. b
2. a
3. a
4. b
5. b
6. c
7. b
8. c
9. b
10. a
11. b
12. a
13. c
14. b
15. a
16. c
17. b
18. b
19. a
20. c
21. c
22. b
23. b
24. a
25. c
26. a
27. b
28. c
29. b
30. c