Collocations: Use the
following dictionary to find collocations: https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/us/
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 fast food |
the
|
|
a quick shower a quick meal |
a a |
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.
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.
● Read as much as possible.
Reading is an excellent way to learn vocabulary and collocations in context and
naturally.
● You can find information on
collocations in any good learner's dictionary. And you can also find
specialized dictionaries of collocations.
Types and Samples of
Collocations
Below you can see seven main types of collocation in sample
sentences.
1. adverb + adjective
● We entered a richly decorated room.
● Are you fully aware of the implications of your action?
2. adjective + noun
● The doctor ordered him to get
regular exercise.
● He was writhing on the ground
in excruciating pain.
3. noun + noun
● Let's give Mr Jones a round of applause.
● 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.
5. verb + noun
● 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.
From: https://www.englishclub.com/vocabulary/collocations.htm
Collocation
Practice:
Choose
the correct verb to go with the following words/phrases:
Catch Pay
Keep
a
cold attention a bus control the
bill
a
promise a ball calm the price
by check
a
thief a visit an appointment by surprise quiet
fire cash a
secret someone a compliment
the
change someone’s eye
Take Have Break
a
break a headache an exam a seat breakfast
the
law a taxi a world record someone’s heart
a
bath someone’s
temperature a look a promise
a
chance the rules notes time a habit
a
problem the ice
Patterns:
Whenever
you learn a new verb or adjective, look it up in the dictionary and study the
grammatical patterns that can follow them.
The
patterns can be seen in you learner’s dictionary. For this class we will use: https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/us/
Verb
patterns:
Type
of pattern: Example: Pattern in dictionary
Verb
+ verb -ing
I enjoy cooking enjoy
doing sth.
Verb
+ infinitive I
need to eat need
to do sth.
Verb
+ obj. + inf. I
asked him to go sb
asks sb to do sth
Verb
+ obj. + base v. I let my son play games sb lets sb do sth
Verb
+ prep. + verb -ing I plan on leaving early plan on doing sth
Verb
+ obj. + prep. + v. -ing I
stopped her from leaving stop sb from doing sth.
Adjective
patterns:
Type
of Pattern Example: Pattern in
dictionary
Prep.
+ v -ing excited
about finishing excited
about doing sth/sth
Adj.
+ infinitive sad to
say… sad
to do sth
Adj
+ that afraid
that I have some…. Afraid
that…
In
groups, see if you can make your own example for each pattern. Use the
dictionary if you are not sure if your pattern is correct.
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