COLLOCATIONS

 

COLLOCATIONS:

I.  Definition:

1. Conventional combination of words are called collocations

2. Collocation is the way in which some words are often used together.

3. Collocation= word partners

4, Collocation is the way in which particular words tend to occur or being together

5. A collocation refers to two or more words that often go together  snd have a specific meaning

II. WHY COLLOCATION:

·         Language more natural, more easily understood.

·         Knowledge of word partners is important for developing  a rich and more interesting use of English

·         Knowledge of collocations help us to speak and write natural and correct English

·         Help expressing the idea naturally and correctly

III. EXAMPLES:

            1. We say heavy rain , but we don’t say

                             Strong rain

            Heavy collocates with the noun rain, but strong does not.

            2. We say a hard frost , but we don’t say

                        a strong frost

            3. My grandfather made this house. It sounds strange. Because we usually say

                My grandfather built this house.

 

IV some combinations are wrong.

               You cannot say, ‘She did a mistake.’  But

               You can say,       ‘ She made a mistake

 

V. SOME WORD PARTNERS:

            1. a fine poem

            2. an impressive performance

            3. a brilliant career

            4. a helpful suggestion

            5. a great success

            Note: Learners tend to use the same basic word ( for example, good) again and again.

 

VI. We say:

            Meals will be served outside on the terrace, weather permitting

                                                                        Not        weather allowing

‘Allow’ and ‘permit’ have very similar meanings. But in this combination only permitting  is correct.

Permitting collocates with weather and allowing does not.

 

VII .We can say:

            1. I fully understand  but not

    I fully like

            2. I rather like           but not

    I rather understand

            3. I firmly believe    but not

     I firmly think

            4. a heavy smoker or  a devoted friend but not

    a devoted smoker or a heavy friend

 

VIII SOME MORE EXAMPLES:

            1. a burning desire not a blazing desire

            2. a blazing row but not  a burning row

            3. a golden opportunity not a golden chance

            4. change one’s mind not change one’s thought

            5. thanks a lot not thank you a lot

IX. All languages have collocations:

            Tamil

      தென்னை மரம்               கோழிக் குஞ்சு

      ஆட்டுக் குட்டி                கன்றுக் குட்டி

  மாட்டுக்கன்று               யானைக்குட்டி

    நாய் குட்டி

 

X. SOME MORE EXAMPLES:

            Heavy rain                  not thick rain

            High temperature      not tall temperature

            A fast train                 not a quick train

              Fast food                  not quick food

            A quick meal              not a fast meal

 

XI         We commit suicide

            We do regular exercise

            We give a round of applause

            We propose a vote of thanks

 

XII. EXERCISE:

            1. Fill in the blanks with right option to complete collocations(AU Dec/Nov 2017)

                        1. The prisoner tried to………… suicide in the jail ( do/make/ commit/ take)

2. She ……….. her teacher a visit after returning from abroad. (paid/ made/ gave/ did)

3. I cut all the vegetables the previous night to……….. Time in the morning.( make/ buy/ kill/ save)

4. The officer………. ( pay/ had) sympathy on the manager and offered  financial support.

5. The dog in our house……… ( went /get ) missing when we moved to a new place.

 

            2. Give a word that collocates with the following:

                        1. Mountainous…………… (region)

                        2. remote……………………… ( control/ car/ sensing/ place…)

                        3. drastic…………………………( changes/ steps)

                        4. fast……………………………..( food/ train/…)

 

            3. Fill in the blanks with right options to complete the collocations:

1. He tried to ……… ( give/ suggest/ recommend/ take) her  some advice but she wouldn’t listen.

2. She is slowly getting……….. ( well,/ better/ ok/ healthy) after the accident.

3. Castles are a ………….( common/frequent/ usual/ typical sight in Spain.

4. Cutting out sugar from his diet is………. ( top/ big/ up/ high) on his list.

 

            4. Door…………. ( delivery, step)

            5. Mobile………. ( phone, court, library, van)

6.  Tell me who you go with and I shall tell you who you are

 

EXERCISE:

            I. Choose the word that collocates with the given word and complete the sentence:

1. the man had a miraculous…………. ( day/ escape) when the bus ………. ( fell/ met)  with an accident.

2. the patient is  making ………….. ( progress/ attempt) after the accident. But his dog went……….. ( alone/ missing)

 

            2. Choose the word that collocates with the given word and complete the sentence:

1. There was ………… ( heavy/ high) rain in Ooty yesterday, yet we ………… ( went/ walked) for trekking.

2. He  was ………… ( wearing/ using)  sunglasses and ………… ( carrying / wearing an umbrella.

 

Common collocations:

                                Common collocations – nouns which naturally follow verbs

1.Three of the following nouns follow the verb ‘catch’ very naturally. Which verb and noun combination does NOT go together?

a) catch a fish

 b) catch a bus

                c) catch a cold

 d) catch a new word in English

 

2. “Excuse me, would you mind __________ a photo of me and my girlfriend?”

a) making

b) taking

 c) catching

d) doing

 

3. Three of the following nouns follow the verb ‘have’ very naturally. Which verb and noun combination does NOT go together?

 a) have a meeting

b) have a baby

c) have a cup of coffee

 d) have business with someone

 

4. “Could you _________ me a favour? Would you mind answering the phone for a minute – I need to pop out to the post office.”

 a) do

 b) make

c) take

d) all of the above answers

 

5. Which of the following verbs do NOT fit into this sentence: “The Health Authority has _____________ its decision and will now allow the fertility treatment to go ahead.”

 a) altered

 b) changed

c) moved

d) reversed

 

6. Three of the following nouns follow the verb ‘make’ very naturally. Which verb and noun combination does NOT go together?

 a) make your bed in the morning

 b) make progress

 c) make a noise

d) make the weekly shopping

 

ANSWERS:

Common collocations – nouns which naturally follow verbs

                1. Three  of the following nouns follow the verb ‘catch’ very naturally. Which verb and noun combination does NOT go together?

 a) catch a fish

 b) catch a bus

c) catch a cold

                d) catch a new word in English

 

a) This is not the answer because we can say: The number of fish being caught in the North Sea is decreasing.

b) This is not the answer because we can say: I usually catch the number 22 into town.

c) This is not the answer because we can say: I feel awful – I’ve caught a horrible cold.

d) You can say: ‘I didn’t catch it’ if you didn’t understand, but usually you learn or pick up a new word.

 

2. “Excuse me, would you mind __________ a photo of me and my girlfriend?”

 a) making

b) taking

c) catching

 d) doing

 

a) You cannot make a photo in this situation.

 b) In English we say take a photo.

 c) You cannot catch a photo in this situation.

d) You cannot do a photo in this situation.

 

3.Three  of the following nouns follow the verb ‘have’ very naturally. Which verb and noun combination does NOT go together?

 a) have a meeting

 b) have a baby

 c) have a cup of coffee

d) have business with someone

 

a) This is not the answer because we can say: Don’t forget, we’re having a meeting at 11.00.

 b) This is not the answer because we can say: Have you heard? Jane’s having a baby!

c) This is not the answer because we can say: I’m going to have a cup of coffee. Do you want one?

 d) We usually use the verb ‘do’ with business, e.g. It’s been a pleasure doing business with you!

 

4. “Could you _________ me a favour? Would you mind answering the phone for a minute – I need to pop out to the post office.”

a) do

 b) make

c) take

d) all of the above answers

 

a) If we want someone to help us, we say: ‘Could you do me a favour?”

b) What do we say if we want someone to help us?

 c) What do we say if we want someone to help us?

 d) Only one of the verb + noun combinations is correct.

 

5. Which of the following verbs do NOT fit into this sentence: “The Health Authority has _____________ its decision and will now allow the fertility treatment to go ahead.”

 a) altered

 b) changed

c) moved

d) reversed

 

a) Alter is very similar in meaning to change but it's used in more formal situations and can sometimes mean to 'change slightly’.

 b) To 'change a decision' is a common collocation which is used in many situations, both formal and informal.

 c) This is the right answer because ‘move its decision’ is not correct.

d) To 'reverse its decision' is often used in formal situations; it means to go back to the situation as it was BEFORE the decision was made.

 

6. Three  of the following nouns follow the verb ‘make’ very naturally. Which verb and noun combination does not go together?

 a) make your bed in the morning

 b) make progress

 c) make a noise

d) make the weekly shopping

 

a) This is not the answer because we can say: I never make my bed in the morning – I never have enough time!

 b) This is not the answer because we can say: I think I’m making quite good progress in my English studies.

 c) This is not the answer because we can say: Stop making so much noise! I’m trying to sleep.

 d) When we talk about going to the supermarket we usually say ‘do the shopping’, e.g. My wife usually does the shopping when I’m at work.