Learning about collocations

1 What is a collocation?

2 Finding, recording and learning collocations

3 Using your dictionary

4 Types of collocation

5 Register

Grammatical aspects of collocations

6 Intensifying adverbs highly unlikely, utterly ridiculous, strongly object

7 Everyday verbs 1 make a mistake, do your best, do damage

8 Everyday verbs 2 go bald, become extinct, fall ill

9 Everyday verbs 3 have fun, take action, pay a compliment

Special aspects of collocations

10 Synonyms and confusable words 1 close a meeting, antique furniture, only child

11 Synonyms and confusable words 2 gain power, achieve your goals, defeat an opponent

12 Metaphor sunny smile, ideas flow, heated discussion

Topics: Travel and the environment

13 Weather strong wind, blanket of fog, river bursts its banks

14 Travel tiring journey, aisle seat, family-run hotel

15 Countryside surrounding countryside, well worth seeing

16 Towns and cities lined with shops, sprawling city, volume of traffic

Topics: People and relationships

17 People: character and behaviour have a vivid imagination, lose your patience

18 People: physical appearance slender waist, immaculately groomed

19 Families distant cousin, expecting a baby, stable home

20 Relationships casual acquaintance, love at first sight

21 Feelings and emotions lasting happiness, worried sick, emotional wreck

Topics: Leisure and lifestyle

22 Houses, flats and rooms move into a flat, spacious living room

23 Eating and drinking nourishing meal, spoil your appetite, dying of hunger

24 Films and books film critic, go on the stage, renew a library book

25 Music give a performance, go on tour, strum a guitar

26 Sport go snowboarding, take a penalty

27 Health and illness catch a cold, vigorous exercise, be taken ill

Topics: Work and study

28 Computers forward a message, e-mail bounces

29 Study and learning do research, attend a lecture, first draft

30 Work high-powered job, hand in your notice

31 Business set up a business, launch a product, rival company

32 Academic writing 1: giving opinions: key factor, challenge a theory, carry out research

33 Academic writing 2: structuring an argument: make reference to, argue convincingly, research suggests

Topics: Society and institutions

34 Laws and punishments break the law, bend the rules, fair trial

35 Crime hardened criminal, juvenile crime, tackle crime

36 News hit the headlines, hold talks, take hostage

37 Money squander money, price soars, go cheap

38 War and peace war breaks out, restore order, call a truce

39 Global problems irreparable damage, eradicate poverty, earthquake hits

Basic concepts

40 Time save time, ungodly hours, from dawn till dusk

41 Sound break the silence, excessive noise, almighty bang

42 Distance and size within commuting distance, painfully thin

43 Colour and light bright colour, beam of light, shed some light on

44 Texture choppy sea, soft pillow, ice melts

45 Taste and smell fragrant perfume, have a taste, smell danger

46 Number and frequency significant number, come to a total of, rare species

47 Movement and speed prompt payment, painfully slow, lose your balance

48 Change make an adjustment, break a habit, change the subject

49 Ways of speaking brief chat, raise a subject, drop a hint

50 Ways of walking pace up and down, wander aimlessly, faltering steps

Functions

51 Starting and finishing promising start, bring something to an end

52 Talking about success and failure make a breakthrough, fail miserably

53 Talking about cause and effect cause alarm, adverse effects, have a major impact

54 Remembering and sensing vaguely remember, blot out a memory, have a feeling

55 Agreeing and disagreeing settle a dispute, agree to differ, heated argument

56 Talking about beliefs and opinions firmly believe, colour someone’s judgement

57 Deciding and choosing arrive at a decision, have second thoughts, tough choice

58 Claiming and denying make the point that, contradictory evidence

59 Liking and disliking have a liking, state a preference, take offence

60 Praising and criticising offer your congratulations, speak highly of

How to choose a Collocations lesson.

1. Add your name and email.

2. Pick a lesson number that you would like to study. From (1-60)

3. Pick a date that you would like to study. Add more lessons and dates if you want.

4. Add a message if you want.

5. Send your choice.

Your Collocation lesson will be added to the schedule.