Collocations

One may ask what a collocation is. Collocation is a combination of words that are often used together. For example, the word "good" is often collocated with the word "job." This means that you will often see the two words used together, such as "a good job."

Here are some other examples of collocations:

• make a decision (not do a decision)

• take a risk (not make a risk)

• find a solution (not do a solution)

• have a meeting (not do a meeting)

• work hard (not do hard)

Collocations are important because they make your English sound more natural. If you use the wrong collocation, it can make you sound unnatural or even incorrect.

Here are some tips for learning collocations:

• Read as much English as you can. The more you read, the more collocations you will be exposed to.

• Pay attention to the collocations that you see. When you see a collocation that you don't know, make a note of it and look it up later.

• Use a collocation dictionary. There are many collocation dictionaries available online and in libraries. These dictionaries can help you find collocations for specific words.

• Practice using collocations. The best way to learn collocations is to practice using them. Try to use collocations in your own writing and speaking.

By following these tips, you can learn collocations and improve your English skills.

Here are some additional examples of collocations:

• Adjective + Noun

  • big problem

  • good idea

  • hard work

  • quick answer

  • slow traffic

• Verb + Noun

  • ask a question

  • make a decision

  • take a risk

  • find a solution

  • have a meeting

• Adverb + Verb

  • clearly explain

  • carefully choose

  • quickly solve

  • slowly drive

  • hardly work

I hope this helps!

Underline the collocated words of each sentences.

1. She decided to make an effort to improve her grades in school.

2. After studying for hours, she needed to take a break and relax.

3. We had to cancel our outdoor plans due to the heavy rain.

4. They grabbed some fast food on their way home from the movies.

5. He completed high school with excellent academic achievements.

6. Despite the challenges, she remains optimistic about her bright future.

7. John loves to start his day with a strong coffee to stay energized.

8. Lisa and Sarah have been close friends since they were kids.

9. When she saw the surprise party, a big smile lit up her face.

10. The teacher provided a clear explanation of the difficult concept.