Mastering English Collocation Sentences
English learners often struggle with sounding natural when speaking or writing.
Even with a solid grasp of grammar and vocabulary, their language can still feel stilted or awkward.
The missing piece of the puzzle?
Collocations.
These word partnerships are the secret sauce that brings fluency and authenticity to English expression.
In this lesson, we’ll explore what collocations are, why they matter, and how to master them through targeted sentence practice.
What Are Collocations?
Collocations are words that naturally pair together in English.
They’re combinations that native speakers use instinctively, often without realizing it.
For example:
- Make a decision (not “do a decision”)
- Heavy rain (not “strong rain”)
- Fast food (not “quick food”)
These pairings aren’t based on strict grammatical rules but rather on common usage and convention.
Learning collocations is crucial because they allow you to express ideas more precisely and sound more like a native speaker.
Types of Collocations
Verb + Noun: “make a mistake,” “take a chance”
Adjective + Noun: “strong coffee,” “heavy traffic”
Noun + Noun: “a round of applause,” “a surge of emotion”
Adverb + Adjective: “bitterly disappointed,” “fully aware”
Verb + Adverb: “whisper softly,” “apologize profusely”
Verb + Preposition: “rely on,” “depend on”
Why Collocations Matter
Natural Expression:
Collocations help you sound more like a native speaker, making your English more authentic and fluent.
Precision:
They allow you to convey nuanced meanings more accurately.
For instance, “strong tea” and “powerful tea” might seem interchangeable, but native speakers consistently prefer “strong.”
Efficiency:
By learning words in partnership, you’re essentially killing two birds with one stone, expanding your vocabulary more efficiently.
Improved Comprehension:
Understanding common collocations aids in better reading and listening comprehension.
Enhanced Writing:
Using appropriate collocations makes your writing more cohesive and professional.
Explore more collocations:
- 100+ English Collocations to Sound More Fluent
- 100+ English Collocations to Sound More Fluent
- 30 Common English Collocations You Should Know
- English Collocation Sentences
- Everyday English Expressions for Daily Use
Mastering Collocations Through Sentence Practice
Now that we understand the importance of collocations, let’s dive into how to master them through sentence practice.
We’ll explore various collocation types with example sentences to help cement these partnerships in your mind.
Verb + Noun Collocations
Example Sentences:
- She always makes her bed before leaving for work.
- Can you do me a favor and pick up some groceries?
- They took a risk by investing in the startup.
- Let’s have a chat about your career goals.
- The company conducted a survey to gauge customer satisfaction.
Practice creating your own sentences using these verb + noun collocations:
- Pay attention
- Break a habit
- Catch a cold
- Give advice
- Take responsibility
Adjective + Noun Collocations
Example Sentences:
- The heavy traffic made me late for my appointment.
- She gave a brief description of the suspect to the police.
- We need to address this urgent matter immediately.
- The movie received rave reviews from critics.
- He’s always full of bright ideas during our brainstorming sessions.
Try forming sentences with these adjective + noun pairs:
- Harsh criticism
- Vested interest
- Prime example
- Heated debate
- Lukewarm reception
Noun + Noun Collocations
Example Sentences:
- The ceasefire agreement brought a glimmer of hope to the war-torn region.
- She always keeps a pack of gum in her purse.
- The actor received a standing ovation at the end of his performance.
- Climate change is a hot-button issue in current political debates.
- The company offers a generous benefits package to its employees.
Create your own sentences using these noun + noun collocations:
- Peer pressure
- Time management
- Energy conservation
- Quality control
- Damage control
Adverb + Adjective Collocations
Example Sentences:
- He was blissfully unaware of the surprise party being planned for him.
- The new policy was met with widespread approval from the public.
- She’s deeply committed to environmental causes.
- We were pleasantly surprised by the positive outcome of the meeting.
- The project is virtually complete; we just need to add some finishing touches.
Practice with these adverb + adjective combinations:
- Utterly ridiculous
- Highly recommended
- Painfully shy
- Readily available
- Perfectly reasonable
Verb + Adverb Collocations
Example Sentences:
- He strongly disagreed with the committee’s decision.
- She proudly displayed her artwork at the gallery opening.
- The child eagerly awaited the arrival of Santa Claus on Christmas Eve.
- We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused by the delay.
- They unanimously agreed to postpone the vote until next week.
Try forming sentences with these verb + adverb collocations:
- Firmly believe
- Greatly appreciate
- Strictly enforce
- Vehemently deny
- Casually mention
Verb + Preposition Collocations
Example Sentences:
- We’ll have to account for unexpected expenses in our budget.
- She always stands by her principles, even in difficult situations.
- Can you please elaborate on your proposal?
- The success of the project hinges on securing adequate funding.
- They decided to opt for the more economical solution.
Create sentences using these verb + preposition combinations:
- Comply with
- Refrain from
- Consist of
- Resort to
- Yearn for
Strategies for Learning and Remembering Collocations
Read Extensively:
Expose yourself to a wide variety of English texts, paying attention to word combinations that appear frequently.
Use a Collocation Dictionary:
Resources like the Oxford Collocations Dictionary can be invaluable for learning common word partnerships.
Create Collocation Notebooks:
Organize new collocations you encounter by themes or types, and review them regularly.
Practice in Context:
Instead of memorizing isolated pairs, learn collocations within full sentences or short paragraphs to better understand their usage.
Use Technology:
Apps like Quizlet or Anki can help you create flashcards and quizzes to reinforce your collocation knowledge.
Listen Actively:
Pay attention to collocations used in English-language media, podcasts, and conversations.
Write and Speak:
Actively incorporate new collocations into your own writing and speaking practice.
Common Collocation Mistakes to Avoid
Mixing up similar verbs:
Incorrect: “He did a mistake.”
Correct: “He made a mistake.”
Using the wrong adjective:
Incorrect: “I had a strong headache yesterday.”
Correct: “I had a severe headache yesterday.”
Mismatching intensifiers:
Incorrect: “The film was greatly boring.”
Correct: “The film was extremely boring.”
Incorrect prepositions:
Incorrect: “She’s married with a doctor.”
Correct: “She’s married to a doctor.”
Confusing similar nouns:
Incorrect: “He gave me a good advice.”
Correct: “He gave me good advice.” (Or: “He gave me a good piece of advice.”)
Advanced Collocation Practice
As you become more comfortable with basic collocations, challenge yourself with more advanced combinations and idiomatic expressions.
Here are some examples:
Idiomatic Collocations:
- “To have a chip on one’s shoulder”
- “To bite the bullet”
- “To kill two birds with one stone”
- “To break the ice”
- “To burn the midnight oil”
Example Sentence: Despite having a chip on his shoulder about his lack of formal education, he decided to bite the bullet and apply for the job.
Register-specific Collocations:
Formal: “to conduct research”
Informal: “to do research”
Formal: “to submit a proposal”
Informal: “to put in a proposal”
Example Sentences:
Formal: The scientists are conducting extensive research on climate change.
Informal: I’m doing some research on local history for my school project.
Subject-specific Collocations:
Business: “to launch a product,” “to penetrate a market”
Law: “to file a lawsuit,” “to reach a verdict”
Medicine: “to administer treatment,” “to perform surgery”
Example Sentence: The company plans to launch its new product line next quarter, hoping to penetrate the Asian market.
Collocations with Multiple Meanings:
“To run” collocates differently based on context:
- Run a business
- Run a bath
- Run a risk
- Run late
Example Sentences:
- She’s been running her own business for over a decade.
- Can you run a bath for the kids while I prepare dinner?
- By investing all his savings, he’s running a significant risk.
- I’m sorry I’m running late; traffic was worse than expected.
Near-synonyms with Different Collocations:
“Big” and “large” are often interchangeable, but they collocate differently in some cases:
- Big mistake (not “large mistake”)
- Large quantity (more common than “big quantity”)
Example Sentences:
- Ignoring the warning signs was a big mistake.
- The factory produces large quantities of textiles each month.
Conclusion
Mastering English collocations is a journey that requires patience, practice, and persistence.
By incorporating collocation study into your daily language learning routine, you’ll gradually develop a more nuanced and natural command of English.
Remember these key points:
Awareness: Start paying attention to word partnerships in everything you read and hear in English.
Context is Key: Always learn collocations in context, preferably within full sentences or paragraphs.
Active Use: Challenge yourself to use new collocations in your own speaking and writing regularly.
Patience: Building a rich repertoire of collocations takes time. Celebrate small victories along the way.
Resources: Take advantage of collocation dictionaries, language learning apps, and authentic materials to support your learning.
Feedback: Seek feedback from native speakers or teachers to refine your usage of collocations.
Continuous Learning: Language is ever evolving, so stay curious and open to learning new combinations.
By paying attention to collocations, you’re not just learning single words, but the skill of putting them together effectively.
This method will improve your English skills, helping you communicate more accurately, naturally, and confidently in both personal and professional situations.
Keep in mind, every fluent speaker you look up to has learned these word combinations. With practice and exposure, you can also reach that level of fluency and naturalness in your English.
So, dive in, surround yourself with collocations, and see how your English changes from good to great, from formal to natural, and from practical to truly fluent.
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