COLLOCATION

S
Grammar Lesson
 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:
col- or co- (together)
location (place)
= place together, locate together,
go together
"circuit" collocates with more than 20 words, as in:

circuit collocates left circuit collocates right

CIRCUIT
with... with...
racing circuit  
lecture circuit  
talk-show circuit  
short circuit  
closed circuit  
integrated circuit  
printed circuit  
printed circuit board
  circuit board
  circuit breaker
  circuit training
  circuit judge
Sample Collocations
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.
TOPIC: COLLOCATIONS

Skill Building 1. ADVERB+ADJECTIVE COLLOCATIONS

Choose the best word to complete the following sentences.

1. I'm _____ sleepy. I'm going to bed.

A. incredibly C. totally
B. absolutely D. utterly

2. It was _____ impossible to decide what to do.

A. extremely C. incredibly
 
B. absolutely D. rather
3. I bought some ____ cheap shoes at the weekend.
A. extremely B. absolutely C. utterly D. totally

4. Sa got a very ____ nose.

A. enormous B. huge C. large D. massive

5. I was ______ disappointed by the food in the new restaurant.

A. utterly B. terribly C. completely D. totally
 ADVERB ADJECTIVE

6. The food was delicately A. populated.

7. His argument is perfectly B. flavored.

8. The victims are barely C. reasonable.

9. This old printer is perfectly D. alive.

10. This area is heavily E. good.

Skill Building 2: ADJECTIVE + NOUN COLLOCATIONS

1. Which of the following adjective - noun collocations is NOT possible?

A. a strong exam C. a strong cheese
B. a strong woman D. a strong cigarette

2. Which of the following adjective - noun collocations is NOT possible?

A. a tough decision C. a tough drink
B. a tough steak D. a tough woman

3. Which of the following adjective - noun collocations is NOT possible?

A. fair hair C. a fair beer
B. a fair decision D. a fair result
4. Which is NOT correct? They always drink ________
wine with their friends after dinner.
A. red C. white
B. pink D. sweet

5. Which of the following adjective - noun collocations

is NOT possible?
A. a rich company C. a rich car
B. a rich dessert D. a rich text file
 ADJECTIVE NOUN
6. In a crisis, he keeps a cool A. haven.

7. Rita is in a good B. point.

8. Philippines is a developing C. head.

9. The debater made a good D. country.

10. They needed a safe E. mood.

Skill Building 3: NOUN+ NOUN COLLOCATIONS
Find the missing word to make a noun + noun combination
break question card milk belt
chocolate journalist letter vegetable gift

1. Can you lend me your phone ______ ?

2. My friend likes to drink chocolate ______ .
3. I received a four-page ______ from her.
4. I've only got a fifteen-minute ______ .
5. I'm a chocaholic. I love Cadbury's milk ______
 break question card milk belt
chocolate journalist letter vegetable gift

6. This is a three-part ______ .

7. Sally is a newspaper ______ .
8. String beans are my favorite garden ______ .
9. You should always wear your seat ______ when you are
taking off.
10. Please pick up that ______ wrapper and put it in the
rubbish.
Skill Building 4: VERB + NOUN COLLOCATIONS
1.Can you ___________an eye on my bike while I
go in the shop?
A.keep B. keeping C. do D. make

2. If we___________ a mistake in the exam can we

cross it out.
A. make B. making C. makes D. to make
3.Whose turn is it to ___________ the housework?
A. do B. did C. does D. doing

4. I'm going to ___________a chance and ask her if she wants to go

out somewhere.
A. taking B. take C. took D. takes

5. I have tried telling him that I don't want to see him again but he
doesn't seem to be _____the message.
A. get B. getting C. got D. gets
 VERB NOUN
6. do A.fun
7. take B. an opportunity
8. have C. the dishes
9. miss D. action
10. make E. progress
 
Skill Building 5: VERB+ PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE COLLOCATIONS

Write the correct preposition in space provided.

1. Stop worrying _________ your exam - everything will be fine.
(IN, TO, ABOUT)
2. I've waited _________ Judy for 30 minutes.
(AT, TO, FOR)
3. Stop talking and concentrate _________ your work.
(IN, ON, AT)
4. Don't forget to pay _________ the newspaper.
(ON, FOR, FROM)
5. He explained the computer program _________ me.
(IN, TO, ON)
6. I don't know what we'll do at the weekend. It depends _________
the weather. (IN, ON, FOR)
7. She will arrive _________ Beijing at 3pm.
(IN, ON, AT)
8. Mothers always worry _________their children.
(TO, ABOUT, FROM)
9. He borrowed fifty pesos _________ his brother.
(AT, TO, FROM)
10. Please explain the meaning of this word _________your
classmates.
(IN, ON, TO)
Skill Building 6: ADVERB+VERB /VERB+ ADVERB
COLLOCATIONS
Encircle the adverb then underline the verb in each of the
following sentences.
1. The boy spoke politely and was very well-behaved.
2. He doesn't write very neatly.
3. I waited patiently but she never came.
4.I couldn't see clearly because of the rain.
5.After two years in London, she spoke English fluently.
 Adverb Verb

6.His claims were strongly A. folded.

7. Her clothes were neatly B. defended.

8. Our town is being strongly C. divided.

9. The money was evenly D. matched.

10. These teams are evenly E. denied.

 Adverb Verb
11. The streets are always closely A. delayed.
12. The word was correctly B. criticized.
13. The suspects were briefly C. guarded.
14. The governor was sharply D. spelt.
15. Our flight has been briefly E. detained.
.