GV

Common Collocations

Words that naturally go together: heavy rain, make a mess

intermediate

When to Use Common Collocations

  • •Weather: heavy rain (not 'strong rain'), strong wind (not 'heavy wind')
  • •Actions: make a decision, take a break, do homework
  • •Descriptions: deeply sorry, highly recommended, bitterly cold
  • •Expressions: catch a cold, miss the bus, pay attention
  • •Natural-sounding English: using words that go together

How to Form Common Collocations

Affirmative (+)

Learn collocations as fixed phrases

Negative (-)

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Question (?)

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💡 Collocations are word combinations that native speakers use naturally. They may not follow logical patterns—you need to learn them.

Examples of Common Collocations

✓There was heavy traffic this morning.

✗There was strong traffic this morning.

Traffic collocates with 'heavy', not 'strong'.

✓I made a mistake on the test.

✗I did a mistake on the test.

Mistake collocates with 'make', not 'do'.

✓She has blonde hair.

✗She has yellow hair.

Hair color uses 'blonde/brown/black', not basic colors.

Common Mistakes with Common Collocations

💡 Practice Tips for Common Collocations

  • • Make: a decision, a mistake, money, friends, progress
  • • Do: homework, the dishes, business, your best, harm
  • • Take: a break, a photo, a shower, notes, time
  • • Have: a look, a rest, a good time, breakfast
  • • Learn collocations in context, not just single words
Quick Quiz
  1. 1.It rained all night — there was   rain.
  2. 2.After hours of debating, we finally   a decision.
  3. Question 3: Excuse me, I need to blank a break for ten minutes.
    3.Excuse me, I need to a break for ten minutes.
  4. Question 4: She didn't blank (do/make) her homework last night. (Choose the correct verb.)
    4.She didn't (do/make) her homework last night. (Choose the correct verb.)
  5. Question 5: It's freezing — blank cold today. (adverb collocating with 'cold')
    5.It's freezing — cold today. (adverb collocating with 'cold')
  6. Question 6: I'm going to blank (make/take/have) a shower before dinner.
    6.I'm going to (make/take/have) a shower before dinner.
  7. Question 7: Did you blank many photos at the wedding? (verb collocating with 'photos')
    7.Did you many photos at the wedding? (verb collocating with 'photos')
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