Collocations with Verbs for Daily Activities
When learning English, understanding collocations is essential to sound natural.
Collocations are pairs or groups of words that are commonly used together.
For example, we say “take a shower” but not “do a shower.”
Learning these word combinations will make your English sound more fluent and natural.
I will focus on verb collocations for daily activities.
These are perfect for learners looking to improve their speaking and writing skills.
Let’s explore some common collocations, organized by typical parts of the day.
Morning Activities
Wake up
Examples:
I wake up at 7 a.m. every day.
She woke up late this morning.
Get up
Examples:
It’s hard to get up early during winter.
I got up as soon as my alarm rang.
Brush teeth
Examples:
Don’t forget to brush your teeth before bed.
He brushes his teeth twice a day.
Take a shower
Examples:
I always take a shower in the morning.
He took a cold shower to wake himself up.
Get dressed
Examples:
I got dressed quickly and rushed to work.
She always takes her time getting dressed.
Have breakfast
Examples:
I usually have breakfast at 8 a.m.
They had a quick breakfast before leaving.
Commuting and Work/Study Activities
Catch a bus/train
Examples:
I caught the bus to work today.
We need to catch the train by 9 a.m.
Drive to work
Examples:
She drives to work every day.
I drove to the office because it was raining.
Go to school/work
Examples:
The kids go to school by bike.
I went to work early to finish my project.
Start work/school
Examples:
I start work at 9 a.m.
He starts school at 8:30 every day.
Make a phone call
Examples:
I made a phone call to my boss during lunch.
She needs to make a few phone calls this afternoon.
Attend a meeting/class
Examples:
He attended a meeting with his team.
She attends an online class every evening.
Take notes
Examples:
Always take notes during lectures.
I took notes to prepare for the exam.
Afternoon Activities
Have lunch
Examples:
We had lunch at a small café.
I always have lunch with my colleagues.
Go shopping
Examples:
I went shopping for groceries after work.
She loves going shopping on weekends.
Do homework
Examples:
The children are doing their homework now.
I usually do my homework after lunch.
Run errands
Examples:
I spent the afternoon running errands.
He ran a few errands before coming home.
Take a break
Examples:
Let’s take a break and grab some coffee.
She took a short break before continuing her work.
Make plans
Examples:
We made plans to visit the beach this weekend.
I’m making plans for my birthday party.
Evening Activities
Cook dinner
Examples:
She cooked dinner for the whole family.
I love cooking dinner with fresh ingredients.
Set the table
Examples:
The kids helped set the table for dinner.
I always set the table before serving the meal.
Do the dishes
Examples:
He does the dishes after dinner.
I don’t mind doing the dishes as long as I have music.
Watch TV
Examples:
We watched TV together after dinner.
Read a book
Examples:
She read a book before going to bed.
I’m reading a book about history.
Spend time with family
Examples:
We spent time with family over the weekend.
It’s important to spend time with family every day.
Nighttime Activities
Go to bed
Examples:
I usually go to bed at 10 p.m.
They went to bed early because they were tired.
Fall asleep
Examples:
She fell asleep while reading.
It takes me a long time to fall asleep.
Set an alarm
Examples:
Don’t forget to set an alarm for tomorrow.
I always set an alarm to wake up on time.
Turn off the lights
Examples:
He turned off the lights and went to bed.
Please turn off the lights when you leave the room.
Weekend Activities
Go for a walk
Examples:
We went for a walk in the park.
She loves going for a walk in the evening.
Visit friends/family
Examples:
I visited my grandparents last weekend.
They’re visiting friends in another city.
Do the laundry
Examples:
I need to do the laundry today.
She did the laundry and hung it outside to dry.
Clean the house
Examples:
He cleaned the house before the guests arrived.
We spend Saturday mornings cleaning the house.
Play sports
Examples:
He plays football with his friends every weekend.
I enjoy playing sports to stay active.
Go out for dinner
Examples:
We went out for dinner to celebrate.
They love going out for dinner on special occasions.
Why Are Collocations Important?
Collocations help you:
- Sound natural: Native speakers use collocations every day. Learning them will make your English more fluent and natural.
- Build confidence: Using correct word combinations reduces mistakes and boosts confidence.
- Improve understanding: Knowing collocations helps you understand spoken and written English better.
Tips for Learning Collocations
- Read and listen actively: Pay attention to how words are used in books, articles, and conversations.
- Practice speaking: Use collocations in your daily conversations to remember them better.
- Keep a collocation notebook: Write down new collocations you come across.
- Use apps or dictionaries: Some apps and dictionaries specialize in teaching collocations.
Learning collocations with verbs is a practical and effective way to improve your English.
Start by practicing the examples in this post, and try using them in your daily life.
With time and practice, your English will sound more fluent and natural.
Happy learning! 
