Collocations In English
Collocations are conventional word combinations that sound natural to native English speakers. For example, we say a golden opportunity, but not a golden chance. Similarly, we say ‘thanks a lot’, but not ‘thank you a lot’.
More examples are given below:
- A burning desire (BUT NOT a blazing row)
- A blazing row (BUT NOT a burning row)
- A heavy smoker (BUT NOT an indulgent smoker)
- Change one’s mind (BUT NOT Change one’s thoughts)
- Slightly annoyed (BUT NOT slightly interesting)
- A devoted friend
- An indulgent mother
- A crashing bore
Collocations are idiomatic in a way. It is easy to understand the meaning of collocations, but a foreign learner may find it difficult to produce them correctly.
A learner who uses wrong word combinations for an idea may still be understood, but he or she will not sound natural.
All languages have large numbers of collocations. Some English examples are given below:
- have breakfast / have lunch / have supper
- have dinner / have tea / have coffee / have a drink
- have a meal / have a bath / have a wash / have a shave
- have a shower / have a rest / have a sleep / have a dream
- have a good time / have a bad day / have a nice evening
- have a day off / have a holiday / have a good journey
- have a good flight / have a good trip / have a talk
- have a word with somebody / have a chat
- have a conversation / have a row / have a quarrel
- have a fight / have a swim / have a walk
- have a ride / have a dance / have a game of tennis / chess / badminton etc.
- have a try / have a go / have a look
Notes
Americans usually say:
take a bath / shower / rest / swim / walk etc.
get washed / get dressed / get lost / get drowned
get engaged / get married / get divorced
go / come for a swim
go / come for a walk
go / come for a run
go / come for a ride
go / come for a drive
go / come for a sail
go / come for a drink
go for a bath
go for a shower
take a break / take a chance / take a look / take a rest
take a seat / take a taxi / take an exam / take notes
take someone’s place / take someone’s temperature
break a leg / break a promise / break a record
break a window / break someone’s heart / break the ice
break the law / break the news to someone
break the rules
catch a ball / catch a bus / catch a chill
catch a cold / catch a thief / catch fire
catch sight of / catch someone’s attention
catch someone’s eye / catch the flu
keep a promise / keep a secret / keep an appointment
keep calm / keep control / keep in touch
keep quiet / keep someone’s place / keep the change
fall ill / fall asleep / fall in love
come true / come right
go astray / go bad / go bald / go bankrupt
go blind / go crazy / go dark / go deaf / go fishing
go mad/ go missing / go on foot / go online
go out of business / go overseas / go quiet
go sailing / go to war / go yellow
go climbing / dancing / fishing / hunting / riding / sailing
go shooting / shopping / swimming / walking
