Collocations

Collocations

Collocations

• A collocation is a group of words that go together. As you get more advanced in English, more and

  more of your progress depends on knowing collocations.

  
  

  An example of a collocation is 'heavy rain'. We always say 'heavy' here. We can't say 'big' or 'thick' or

  'strong'.

• Here are some verb + noun collocations. We very often use these verbs with these nouns.

  
  

  • to maintain standards

  • to shirk responsibility

  • to meet a deadline

  • to avert a disaster

  • to accomplish a mission

Le's practice!

1. You still need to wash, even when you're camping. You should  

_________________________ standards! 

2. Thank goodness you hit the brakes so quickly! You really _________________________ a  disaster there. 

3. Hurray! I found some Japanese food. I have _________________________ my mission! 4. He never volunteers for any projects and always _________________________ responsibility. 

5. She really isn't sure if she can _________________________ the deadline. There's still a lot  of work to do. 

6. I think if we call the client now and explain, we can _________________________ a disaster. 7. It's your job to take out the rubbish! Don't _________________________ responsibility! 8. All the books must be checked very carefully before we publish them, to  _________________________ 

standards. 

9. I can't believe you _________________________ the deadline! You worked really fast. 

10. His mission is to change the world. Can he _________________________ it?

Answers:

1. You still need to wash, even when you're camping. You should maintain standards!

 2. Thank goodness you hit the brakes so quickly! You really averted a disaster there.

 3. Hurray! I found some Japanese food. I have accomplished my mission!

 4. He never volunteers for any projects and always shirks responsibility.

 5. She really isn't sure if she can meet the deadline. There's still a lot of work to do.

 6. I think if we call the client now and explain, we can avert a disaster.

 7. It's your job to take out the rubbish! Don't shirk responsibility! 

 8. All the books must be checked very carefully before we publish them, to maintain standards. 

9. I can't believe you met the deadline! You worked really fast. 

10. His mission is to change the world. Can he accomplish it?

Here are some more collocations. Collocations are so important for really moving your English to an  advanced level. 

• a speck of dust 

• a gust of wind 

• a wave of panic 

• a shred of evidence 

• a stroke of luck 

Let's practice!

1. The house was so clean that there wasn't a _______________ of dust anywhere. 2. A _______________ of panic swept through the room at the bad news. 

3. You don't have a _______________ of evidence that the bike was stolen. 4. A _______________ of wind blew the papers onto the floor. 

5. The train was delayed so we didn't miss it! That was a _______________ of luck! 6. The detective was sure that James was guilty, even though he didn't have a _______________ of evidence. 

7. She felt a _______________ of panic when she heard the ambulance. 

8. Please make sure your room is clean! I don't want to see a _______________ of dust  anywhere! 

9. John is coming to help us! That's a _______________ of luck! 

10. There was a _______________ of wind and he felt the first raindrops.

Answers 

1. The house was so clean that there wasn't a speck of dust anywhere. 

2. A wave of panic swept through the room at the bad news. 

3. You don't have a shred of evidence that the bike was stolen. 

4. A gust of wind blew the papers onto the floor. 

5. The train was delayed so we didn't miss it! That was a stroke of luck! 

6. The detective was sure that James was guilty, even though he didn't have a shred of evidence.

7. She felt a wave of panic when she heard the ambulance. 

8. Please make sure your room is clean! I don't want to see a speck of dust anywhere!

9. John is coming to help us! That's a stroke of luck! 

10. There was a gust of wind and he felt the first raindrops.