A
collocation is a pair of group of words that are often used together. These
combinations sound natural to native speakers, but students of English have to
make a special effort to learn them because they are often difficult to guess.
Some combinations just sound ‘wrong’ to native speakers of English. For
example, the adjective handsome collocates
with men, but not with trees. Some collocations are fixed, or
very strong, for example take a photo, where no word other than take collocates with photo or give the same meaning. Sometimes,
a pair of words may not be absolutely wrong, and people will understand what is
meant, but it may not be the natural, normal collocation. If someone says I did a few mistakes they will be
understood, but a fluent speaker of English would probably say I made a few mistakes.
You need to
learn collocations because they will help you to speak and write English in a
more natural and accurate way. People will probably understand what you mean if
you talk about ‘making your homework’
or say ‘My dad is a very high man’
but your language will sound unnatural and might perhaps confuse. Also,
learning collocations will help you to increase your range of your vocabulary.
For example, you’ll find it easier to avoid words like very or nice or
beautiful or get by choosing a word that fits the context better and has a more
precise meaning. This is particularly useful if you are taking a written exam
in English and want to make a good impression on the examiners.
APPEARANCE
enhance or
improve your
appearance
have or get a taboo
done
have or get a
piercing, nose pierced
use/wear/apply/put
on make up, cosmetics
sashay/
strut down the
catwalk
pull on/off coat,
socks, gloves
wear perfume,
accessories
ECONOMY
freeze/open a bank
account
live on pension, a low wage, salary
inherit/amass wealth,
a fortune
earn a keep
extend/renew/terminate the
lease/tenancy/contract
put your
home/property on the market (sell)
survive/weather/experience/suffer a recession/downtown
accumulate/incur/run
up debts
retain customer/clients
face/be
plunged into an
economic crisis
combat/fight inflation/unemployment
GOVERNANCE/POLITICS
foster/strengthen cooperation
exercise/defend national sovereignty
provoke/spark criticism/discussion
bring
down/overthrow/topple the government
abolish/restore/topple the monarchy
lead/spearhead a campaign/movement
have seats in parliament
introduce/draw
up/pass/adopt/draft a
bill/law legislation
veto/oppose/vote
against a bill/proposal
perpetuate/conform
to/fit/defy a common/negative stereotype
entrench/perpetuate racist attitude
deport/repatriate illegal immigrants
outlaw/end segregation
practice racial/religious tolerance/segregation
fear/escape
from/flee racial/political/religious persecution
HEALTH
get Aids/cancer/flu/cold
be infected
with a virus/HIV
feel ill/sick/nauseous/queasy
put on/rub
on/apply cream/lotion/ointment
dress/bandage/clean a bullet wound
suffer/sustain an injury, a hairline fracture
have a fall/an injury
absorb/extract/release nutrients
RULE/LAW
exercise/defend national sovereignty
embrace/resist/drive globalization
take on/do freelance work
raise/withdraw/overrule an objection
lodge/file an appeal
carry/face/serve a seven year life sentence
impose/enforce/lift a curfew
house/resettle refugee
negotiate/conclude/ratify/sign/
reject/accept/violet a peace treaty
cut short a trip/holiday/vacation
train/equip/deploy army/military/combat/unit
deploy/send/station/pull
back troops
enforce law/regulation
PICTURE
carve a figure/image/sculptor/relief
sculpt a status/an abstract figure
etch a line/pattern/design/name into the glass
install/place a sculptor on something
showcase/feature/promote a conceptual artist
WEATHER
The weather
brightens/improves/worsens/breaks. (changes suddenly)
A storm
breaks/passes/brews/abates (grow less strong)
The sun
breaks through the clouds.
The sky
clears/brightens up.
The clouds
part/clear.
The rain
holds off.
The wind
dies down.
The mist/fog
lifts or clears.
The sun
warms/beats down on something.
The sunshine
breaks/streams through something.
A fine mist
hangs in the air.
Thunder
rolls, rumbles, sounds, etc.
We
forecast/expect/predict----- rain/snow.
FEAR
A phobia is
an extreme or unnatural fear of something.
Aichmophobia fear of
sharp or pointed object
Ailurophobia fear of cats
Brontophobia fear of thunder
Crystallophobia fear of glass
Kathisophobia fear of
sitting down
Kinosophobia fear of motion
Triskaidekaphobia fear of the number
Take
Take notice
of the following words that go together with the highlighted words.
|
Hi!
Sameer,
We’re so
glad we decided to take a holiday
here. Yesterday we took a trip to
the mountains. First we took a bus
to a little village and got off when we saw one that we took a liking to. Of course, we were taking a risk as we didn’t know exactly we’d find there. But we
were lucky. Some kids took an interest in us and showed us some
great places. We took a lot of photos.
Have you
done anything yet about your job? I’d take
a chance and leave if I were you. No point in staying somewhere where the
boss has taken a dislike to you! Take advantage of being in
Kathmandu—there are always plenty of jobs there. You’ll soon find something
else, so take action, that’s my
advice! Good luck!
Santey
|
Physical
appearance
The words
that are likely to obstruct your understanding have been glossed below.
|
My father
has a round face, with chubby
cheeks and a droopy moustache. My
mother has a more pointed face and a straight nose. My younger sister is more
like my father. She has an oval face and an upturned nose. My older sister is
like a model. She has a slim figure and a slender waist. She has a lovely
complexion and beautiful sleek,
waist-length hair, and she’s always immaculately groomed. If eel so ordinary
next to her—I’ve got coarse hair and rather broad hips, but she always says I
look nice.
Srijana
a)
chubby fat in a pleasant and attractive way
b)
droopy long and hanging down heavily
c)
sleek smooth and shiny
|
|
My father
and my two older brothers are all well-built
with broad shoulders. My father is going bald but he still has a very
youthful appearance for someone who is over forty. My brothers both have
thick hair and bushy eyebrows. My
younger brother is only two—he’s just a tiny tot, but he’s very cute. My mother’s sides of the family mostly
have dark hair—in fact my mother had jet-black
hair when she was younger, before she went white—but on my father’s side some
have fair hair and some have ginger
hair.
Subhash
a.
well-built
= have strong, attractive bodies
b.
bushy
= very thick
c.
tot
= a small child
d.
jet-black
hair = completely black
e.
ginger
= a red or orange-brown colour; used of people’s hair
|
THE MOST
FREQUENTLY MISPRONOUNCED WORDS
The following words are
usually mispronounced by non-native speakers of English. The readers need to
consult an up-to-date English dictionary.
aesthetic apple April Asian autopsy aisle bathe
balloon behind bouquet cauliflower council cuisine dais
deity delicious depot devil elephant exhibition familiar
felicitate gauge geography ghee guardian hammer healthy
hurricane increase January jeans jersey leopard liaison
luxurious majority maternal mature militia newspaper oblige
obtain of oil orchard pamphlet paralysis parent
penchant pencil phenomenon phoenix precious photography quiet
question recitation regime release renaissance registration resort
résumé risen roster salad salon salt science
shaman specific specimen suggestion suicide Switzerland thesis
threw tomb tortoise used to vacancy vacation vase
vehicle visa women
