Table of Contents
Introduction
Ever heard a non-native speaker say “do a mistake” instead of “make a mistake“? These small errors reveal a lack of collocations—natural word pairings native speakers use without thinking.
In this guide, you’ll learn:
- What collocations are and why they’re essential.
- 7 key types with real examples.
- How to master them quickly.
What Are Collocations?
Collocations are words that frequently appear together in a way that sounds “right” to native speakers. For example:
- Correct: Break the rules (not “destroy the rules”)
- Correct: Fast food (not “quick food”)
Using incorrect word pairings can make your English sound unnatural, even if the grammar is perfect.
Why Are Collocations Important?
- Sound More Natural – Saying “take a shower” (not “make a shower”) makes your speech smoother.
- Improve Fluency – Memorizing chunks of language helps you speak faster without overthinking.
- Avoid Mistakes – Some collocations are fixed (e.g., “commit a crime” not “do a crime”).
- Boost Writing Skills – Academic and professional English rely heavily on precise word combinations.
7 Common Types of Collocations
1. Verb + Noun
- Make a decision (not “do a decision”)
- Take a break (not “have a break” – though British English allows this)
- Do homework (not “make homework”)
2. Adjective + Noun
- Strong coffee (not “powerful coffee”)
- Heavy traffic (not “big traffic”)
- Bitter disappointment (not “sour disappointment”)
3. Noun + Verb
- The economy grows (not “the economy goes up”)
- Time passes (not “time goes”)
4. Adverb + Adjective
- Deeply disappointed (not “highly disappointed”)
- Highly successful (not “very successful” – though both can work)
5. Verb + Adverb
- Speak fluently (not “speak flowingly”)
- Whisper softly (not “whisper quietly”)
6. Noun + Noun / Noun + of + Noun
- A bar of soap (not “a piece of soap”)
- A slice of pizza (not “a part of pizza”)
- Health insurance (Medical cost coverage)
- Traffic jam (Road congestion)
7. Verb + Prepositional Phrase
These are sometimes challenging for learners! They are also called preposition collocations or prepositional collocations:
- Apologize for (not apologize about)
- Arrive in [a city] / Arrive at [a place]
- burst into tears / (not “burst in tears”)
Bonus: Collocation Categories for Quick Reference
Here are some collocations in English organized into various categories:
1. Work & Business
- Meet a deadline (Finish work on time) → We need to meet the deadline.
- Run a company (Manage a business) → He runs a company in London.
2. Emotions & Feelings
- Feel relieved (Stop worrying) → She felt relieved after the test.
- Burst into tears (Start crying suddenly) → He burst into tears when he heard the news.
3. Travel & Transport
- Miss a flight (Fail to board a plane) → I missed my flight due to traffic.
- Book a ticket (Reserve a seat) → Did you book a ticket for the concert?
4. Academic Collocations
- Conduct research (Carry out a study) → Scientists conducted research on climate change.
- Submit an assignment (Hand in academic work) → Students must submit assignments on time.
5. Everyday Expressions
- Catch a cold (Get sick with a cold) → I caught a cold after walking in the rain.
- Save time (Reduce the time needed to do something) → Using shortcuts saves time.
List of Common Collocations in English
| Collocation Type | Collocation | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verb + Noun | Make a decision | Decide something | She had to make a decision quickly. |
| Take a break | Pause for rest | Let’s take a break after this meeting. | |
| Take notes | Write down information | Students should take notes during lectures. | |
| Do homework | Complete school assignments | I need to do homework tonight. | |
| Commit a crime | Perform an illegal act | He committed a crime and was arrested. | |
| Break the law | Do something illegal | If you speed, you’re breaking the law. | |
| Keep a promise | Do what you vowed | He always keeps his promises. | |
| Pay attention | Focus | Pay attention to the teacher! | |
| Adjective + Noun | Strong coffee | Coffee with intense flavor | I prefer strong coffee in the morning. |
| Strong accent | Very noticeable pronunciation | She has a strong accent from Texas. | |
| Heavy rain | Intense rainfall | The heavy rain flooded the streets. | |
| Bitter disappointment | Extreme sadness from failure | Losing the match was a bitter disappointment. | |
| Bright colors | Vivid, bold hues | The painting uses bright colors. | |
| Bitter cold | Extreme cold | We shivered in the bitter cold. | |
| Sharp pain | Sudden, intense hurt | He felt a sharp pain in his back. | |
| Noun + Verb | Time passes | Time moves forward | As time passes, we forget old pains. |
| The economy grows | Economic improvement | If the economy grows, jobs will increase. | |
| Prices rise | Costs increase | Prices rise during inflation. | |
| Opportunities arise | Chances appear | New opportunities arise with hard work. | |
| Heart beats | Pulsation of the heart | Her heart beat faster with excitement. | |
| Adverb + Adjective | Deeply disappointed | Very upset | She was deeply disappointed by the news. |
| Highly successful | Very accomplished | He runs a highly successful business. | |
| Fully aware | Completely conscious | I’m fully aware of the problem. | |
| Ridiculously expensive | Extremely high-cost | That car is ridiculously expensive. | |
| Deeply moved | Emotionally touched | We were deeply moved by her speech. | |
| Verb + Adverb | Speak fluently | Talk smoothly in a language | She speaks English fluently. |
| Whisper softly | Speak very quietly | He whispered softly to avoid waking her. | |
| Work efficiently | Be productive | The team works efficiently under pressure. | |
| Noun + Noun / Noun + of + Noun | A bar of soap | A single piece of soap | Can you buy a bar of soap? |
| A slice of pizza | A single piece of pizza | I ate a slice of pizza for lunch. | |
| A stroke of luck | Unexpected good fortune | Winning the lottery was a stroke of luck. | |
| A burst of laughter | Sudden loud laughing | His joke caused a burst of laughter. | |
| A piece of advice | A suggestion | Let me give you a piece of advice. | |
| Data analysis | Process of examining data | She specializes in data analysis. | |
| Climate change | Long-term weather shifts | Climate change affects us all. | |
| Verb + Preposition | Depend on | Rely on someone/something | Children depend on their parents. |
| Believe in | Have faith in something | I believe in hard work. | |
| Be in trouble | Have problems | If you cheat, you’ll be in trouble. | |
| Fall in love | Begin to love someone | They fell in love at first sight. |
How to Learn Collocations in English Effectively
- Read & Listen Actively – Books, news, and podcasts expose you to natural word pairs.
- Use a Collocation Dictionary – Tools like Collocations Dictionary help you find correct pairings.
- Practice with Flashcards – Apps like Anki or Quizlet can reinforce common collocations.
- Keep a Vocabulary Journal – Write down new collocations in sentences.
- Speak & Write Regularly – Use collocations in conversations and essays to make them stick.
Final Tip: Don’t Translate Directly!
Many collocations don’t translate word-for-word from other languages. For example:
- Spanish: “Hacer una pregunta” → Incorrect English: “Do a question”
- Correct English: “Ask a question”
Need a Collocation Worksheet in PDF Format?
FAQs About Collocations in English
What is the definition of a collocation?
A collocation is a natural pairing of words that native speakers frequently use together. These combinations sound “right” (e.g., make a decision) while alternatives sound unnatural (e.g., do a decision).
What are the 7 types of collocation?
1. Verb + Noun: Take a photo (not make a photo)
2. Adjective + Noun: Strong coffee (not powerful coffee)
3. Noun + Verb: Time passes (not time goes)
4 Adverb + Adjective: Deeply disappointed (not highly disappointed)
5. Verb + Adverb: Speak fluently (not speak flowingly)
6. Noun + Noun: Traffic jam (not car jam)
7. Verb + Prepositional Phrase: Run out of time (not finish time)
What are examples of have collocations?
– Have a shower (not take a shower in British English)
– Have breakfast
– Have a headache
– Have an opportunity
What are examples of do collocations?
– Do homework
– Do business
– Do exercise
– Do your best
What are examples of make collocations?
– Make a mistake
– Make progress
– Make a phone call
– Make money
Why do we use collocations?
– Sound natural: Avoid awkward phrasing (e.g., heavy rain vs. strong rain).
– Boost fluency: Pre-memorized phrases speed up speech.
– Prevent errors: Some pairings are fixed (e.g., commit a crime never do a crime).
How to learn collocations in English?
– Read/listen actively: Note word pairs in articles, podcasts, or movies.
– Use a collocation dictionary: Try Free Collocation Dictionary.
– Practice with flashcards: Apps like Anki or Quizlet.
– Speak/write regularly: Use collocations in daily conversations or journals.
Conclusion
Mastering collocations takes time, but it’s one of the fastest ways to sound more like a native speaker. Start noticing them in everyday English, practice regularly, and soon, phrases like “make progress” and “catch a cold” will feel natural to you!