Collocations

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". Look at these examples:

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.

Knowing collocation will improve your English speaking and writing skill because: 

 Using wrong collocation is an error. 

  Using correct collocation will show the level of your English, the better you use collocation,
the better your English will be. 
  Using correct collocation makes your English more like a native speaker.
Tell me who you go with and I'll tell you who you are.

How to learn collocations

 Be aware of collocations, and try to recognize them when you see or hear them.
 Treat collocations as single blocks of language. Think of them as individual blocks or
chunks, and learn strongly support, not strongly + support.
 When you learn a new word, write down other words that collocate with it (remember
rightly, remember distinctly, remember vaguely, remember vividly).
 Read as much as possible. Reading is an excellent way to learn vocabulary and collocations
in context and naturally.
 Revise what you learn regularly. Practice using new collocations in context as soon as
possible after learning them.
  Learn collocations in groups that work for you. You could learn them by topic (time,
number, weather, money, family) or by a particular word (take action, take a chance, take an
exam).
 You can find information on collocations in any good learner's dictionary. And you can also
find specialized dictionaries of collocations.

Advanced Collocations
The further information on this page may be of interest to advanced students and teachers.

"You shall know a word by the company it keeps." J R Firth (British linguist, 1890-1960)

The "father" of collocation is usually considered to be J.R. Firth, a British linguist who died in 1960.
It was he that first used the term "collocation" in its linguistic sense.

Some definitions:

 to collocate (verb): to appear with another word more frequently than by chance - The
word "white" collocates with "coffee".
 collocation (noun): the combination of two or more words more frequently than by
chance - Learning about collocation helps us speak more fluent English.
 a collocation (noun): an example of collocation - "White coffee" is a collocation.

An easy way to remember the meaning of collocation: think of "co-" (together) and "location" (place)
= place together, locate together, go together

Note also (non-linguistic senses):

 collocate (verb): place side by side or in relation

 collocation (noun): the action of placing things side by side or in position
 colocate/co-locate (verb): share a location or facility with someone or something

Strong and weak collocation

If we look deeper into collocations, we find that not only do the words "go together" but there is a
degree of predictability in their association. Generally, in any collocation, one word will "call up"
another word in the mind of a native speaker. In other words, if I give you one word, you can predict
the other word, with varying degrees of success. This predictability is not 100%, but it is
always much higher than with non-collocates.

The predictability may be strong: for example, "auspicious" collocates with very few words, as in:

 auspicious occasion
 auspicious moment
 auspicious event
Lexical and grammatical collocations
A distinction may, if wished, be made between lexical collocations and grammatical collocations.

A lexical collocation is a type of construction where a verb, noun, adjective or adverb forms a
predictable connection with another word, as in:

 adverb + adjective: completely satisfied (NOT downright satisfied)

 adjective + noun: excruciating pain (NOT excruciating joy)
 noun + verb: lions roar (NOT lions shout)
 verb + noun: commit suicide (NOT undertake suicide)

A grammatical collocation is a type of construction where for example a verb or adjective must be
followed by a particular preposition, or a noun must be followed by a particular form of the verb, as
in:

 verb + preposition: depend on (NOT depend of)

 adjective + preposition: afraid of (NOT afraid at)
 noun + particular form of verb: strength to lift it (not strength lifting it)

When is a collocation NOT a collocation?

The term "collocation" in its linguistic sense is relatively new (dating from the 1950s) and not all
linguists agree on its definition. In fact, there is considerable disagreement and even some confusion.
Some linguists treat fixed phrases as extended collocations (as far as I'm concerned, not on your life,
rather you than me, under the weather, if you've got the time). Others suggest that when a sequence
of words is 100% predictable, and allows absolutely no change except possibly in tense, it is not
helpful to treat it as a collocation. Such sequences they generally treat as fixed expressions ("prim
and proper") or idioms ("kick the bucket").

A good dictionary of collocations is the Oxford Collocations Dictionary for Students of English.

Types of collocation
There are several different types of collocation made from combinations of verb, noun, adjective etc.
Some of the most common types are:

 adverb + adjective: completely satisfied (NOT downright satisfied)

 adjective + noun: excruciating pain (NOT excruciating joy)
 noun + noun: a surge of anger (NOT a rush of anger)
 noun + verb: lions roar (NOT lions shout)
 verb + noun: commit suicide (NOT undertake suicide)
 verb + expression with preposition: burst into tears (NOT blow up in tears)
 verb + adverb: wave frantically (NOT wave feverishly)
In this lesson we look at some sample collocations, and end with quizzes to check your
understanding:

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.

 I always try to do my homework in the morning, after making my bed.
 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 to crime.
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 save keep

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 on time go deaf get married
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
 Time Business English Classifiers

spend some time go into partnership

take your time make a loss
tell someone the make a profit
time market forces
time goes by sales figures
time passes take on staff
waste time

Tell me who you go with and I'll tell you who you are.