Collocation Words Examples with Sentences is a beginner-friendly guide that helps learners understand how collocations work in real English.
Learning single words is not enough to speak fluently—students must learn how words naturally combine.
This article provides common collocation words along with clear example sentences to show correct usage. It is perfect for improving vocabulary, sentence formation, and spoken English.
Written in simple language, this post is suitable for school students, ESL learners, and exam candidates. Using examples makes learning easier and helps students remember collocations more effectively.
Collocations with “Make”
Make a decision
Meaning: Decide something.
Example: She made a decision to move abroad.
Make progress
Meaning: Improve or move forward.
Example: He’s making progress in learning French.
Make an effort
Meaning: Try hard to do something.
Example: You should make an effort to arrive on time.
Make a mistake
Meaning: Do something wrong.
Example: We all make mistakes; it’s okay.
Make a difference
Meaning: Have an important effect.
Example: Helping others can make a difference in their lives.
Make a promise
Meaning: Commit to doing something.
Example: He made a promise to never lie again.
Make a complaint
Meaning: Officially express dissatisfaction.
Example: You can make a complaint to the manager.
Make an impression
Meaning: Leave a strong effect on someone.
Example: Her speech made a great impression on everyone.
Make sense
Meaning: Be logical or understandable.
Example: This idea doesn’t make sense to me.
Make a suggestion
Meaning: Offer an idea or proposal.
Example: May I make a suggestion about this project?
Collocations with “Take”
Take responsibility
Meaning: Accept that you are in charge of something.
Example: She took responsibility for the team’s failure.
Take a risk
Meaning: Do something that might fail.
Example: Sometimes you need to take a risk to succeed.
Take action
Meaning: Do something to deal with a problem.
Example: It’s time to take action against climate change.
Take advantage of
Meaning: Use a situation for your benefit.
Example: Let’s take advantage of the sunny weather and go to the beach.
Take care of
Meaning: Look after something or someone.
Example: I’ll take care of your plants while you’re away.
Take a break
Meaning: Pause from work or activity.
Example: Let’s take a break and have some coffee.
Take part in
Meaning: Join or participate.
Example: She took part in the dance competition.
Take notes
Meaning: Write down important information.
Example: Please take notes during the lecture.
Take pride in
Meaning: Feel proud of something.
Example: He takes pride in his cooking skills.
Take it seriously
Meaning: Treat something as important.
Example: You need to take this job seriously.
Collocations with “Have”
Have a conversation
Meaning: Talk with someone.
Example: We had a long conversation about our future plans.
Have a good time
Meaning: Enjoy yourself.
Example: Did you have a good time at the party?
Have a problem
Meaning: Face a difficulty.
Example: I’m having a problem with my laptop.
Have an opportunity
Meaning: Get a chance.
Example: I had an opportunity to work abroad.
Have an impact on
Meaning: Affect something or someone.
Example: This decision will have a big impact on the economy.
Have a habit of
Meaning: Regularly do something.
Example: He has a habit of arriving late.
Have a laugh
Meaning: Enjoy a funny moment.
Example: We had a good laugh during the meeting.
Have second thoughts
Meaning: Doubt your earlier decision.
Example: I’m having second thoughts about this job offer.
Have access to
Meaning: Be able to use or enter something.
Example: Students have access to free online resources.
Have patience
Meaning: Stay calm when waiting or dealing with problems.
Example: You need to have patience with small children.
Collocations with “Do”
Do homework
Meaning: Complete schoolwork at home.
Example: He always does his homework after dinner.
Do a favor
Meaning: Help someone.
Example: Can you do me a favor and lend me your book?
Do your best
Meaning: Try as hard as you can.
Example: Just do your best in the exam.
Do research
Meaning: Investigate or study something.
Example: She’s doing research on renewable energy.
Do the dishes
Meaning: Wash the plates, glasses, etc.
Example: I’ll do the dishes after dinner.
Do damage
Meaning: Cause harm.
Example: The storm did a lot of damage to the houses.
Do business
Meaning: Engage in commerce or trade.
Example: We’ve been doing business with them for years.
Do well
Meaning: Perform successfully.
Example: She’s doing well in her new job.
Do harm
Meaning: Cause injury or problems.
Example: Smoking can do a lot of harm to your health.
Do a job
Meaning: Complete a task or work.
Example: He did a fantastic job on the presentation.
Miscellaneous Collocations
Break the ice
Meaning: Make people feel more comfortable.
Example: The host told a joke to break the ice.
Catch attention
Meaning: Make people notice you.
Example: Her colorful dress caught everyone’s attention.
Give advice
Meaning: Offer suggestions.
Example: My teacher gave me advice on my career.
Pay attention
Meaning: Focus on something.
Example: Please pay attention to the instructions.
Save time
Meaning: Use less time for something.
Example: Online shopping saves time.
Set a goal
Meaning: Decide on something you want to achieve.
Example: You should set a goal to exercise daily.
Keep a promise
Meaning: Do what you said you would do.
Example: Always keep your promises to others.
Lose control
Meaning: Be unable to manage something.
Example: He lost control of his emotions during the argument.
Reach an agreement
Meaning: Come to a mutual decision.
Example: After long talks, they reached an agreement.
Run a business
Meaning: Manage a company or shop.
Example: She runs a small bakery in the city.
Conclusion:
Collocation words make your English sound more natural and correct.
When you use the right word combinations, your speaking and writing improve automatically.
By practicing collocations regularly, you can avoid common mistakes and communicate like a native speaker.
Keep revising these collocation word examples and try to use them in daily conversations and writing.
FAQs – Collocation Words with Examples
1. What are collocation words in English?
Collocation words are combinations of words that naturally go together, such as “make a decision,” “take a risk,” or “have a conversation.” These combinations sound correct and natural in English.
2. Why are collocations important for learners?
Collocations are important because they:
- Improve fluency
- Make your English sound natural
- Help in sentence formation
- Reduce common mistakes
3. Who should learn collocation words?
Collocations are useful for:
- Beginners and ESL learners
- School students
- Competitive exam candidates
- Anyone improving spoken and written English
4. How do collocations improve English speaking?
They help you:
- Speak smoothly without hesitation
- Use natural expressions
- Avoid translation errors
- Communicate more clearly
5. What are common collocations with “make”?
Examples include:
- Make a decision
- Make progress
- Make an effort
- Make a mistake
- Make a difference
6. What are common collocations with “take”?
Examples include:
- Take responsibility
- Take a risk
- Take action
- Take care of
- Take notes
7. What are collocations with “have”?
Examples include:
- Have a conversation
- Have a good time
- Have a problem
- Have an opportunity
- Have patience
8. What are collocations with “do”?
Examples include:
- Do homework
- Do a favor
- Do research
- Do the dishes
- Do business
9. What are some miscellaneous collocations?
Examples include:
- Break the ice
- Catch attention
- Give advice
- Pay attention
- Save time
- Set a goal
10. How can I learn collocations effectively?
You can:
- Practice daily
- Use them in sentences
- Read and listen regularly
- Revise frequently
- Learn in context
11. Why are examples important in learning collocations?
Examples help you:
- Understand usage clearly
- Remember collocations easily
- Apply them in real situations
- Avoid mistakes
12. What mistakes should I avoid with collocations?
Avoid:
- Translating directly from your language
- Using incorrect word combinations
- Memorizing without practice
13. How many collocations should I learn daily?
Start with 5–10 collocations per day and practice using them regularly.
14. Can collocations improve writing skills?
Yes, collocations:
- Make writing more natural
- Improve sentence quality
- Enhance clarity and expression
15. What is the overall benefit of learning collocations?
The overall benefit is:
You can speak and write English more naturally, fluently, and confidently.
You may like more collocations here:
- English Collocations with Prepositions
- Health and Fitness Collocations to Improve Your Vocabulary
- Sports Collocations: Words for Discussing Games and Teams
- Collocations for Talking About Success and Failure
- Collocations for Talking About Technology and Gadgets
