Collocations In English Grammar and How They Are Important in PTE Academic

It is often a predictable and unique combination of a set of words. These are used in English grammar to make better sense of a sentence.

First of all, it is important to know what a Collocation is. It is often a predictable and unique combination of a set of words. These are used in English grammar to make a better sense of a sentence. For example, we can call heavy rain is falling, but we cannot say that strong rain is failing. This is because it does not sound good in the English language. Also, in another example, we can say ‘do exercise’, but we cannot say ‘make exercise’. This is because in English language, certain ways of saying things is set and we must follow those parameters. There are no set rules for the use of collocations. They are just a combination of words which are used and these are the ones which sound very familiar when we use them correctly.

Why we should learn collocations?

Proper usage of collocations helps improve you mastery over the English language. As you master various structures of grammar in order to communicate properly, you may watch that at some point, your pace has reduced a bit. At this point, you need to learn new vocabulary by going through new words and even try to learn their use in a natural manner. Here, the learning of collocations can generate a fast and good short-cut to make accurate grammar usage with the use of correct words. Furthermore, you do not need to learn a lot of words, but you need to learn the set of words which sound like a workable combination. These make like ‘one set of language’ rule. Often, while writing essays to general speaking times, people can use collocations and show their good grasp over the language. In exams too, sometimes, in the fill in the blanks’ sections, various questions can come which need the correct usage of the collocations; and so the student can practice the use of these to excel at such tests.

Recent Collocations:

With & Between:

Connection
Collision
Link
Contrast
Relationship
Intimacy
Correspondence

Make:

Promise
An Inquiry (formal)
Sound
Speech (or deliver a speech)
An enquiry
Choice
Journey
Plan
A valid point
Comment
Discovery
Arrangement
Remark
Decision
Some noise
An effort

Some of the Common Collocations are given below:

Time:

Bang on time
Dead on time

Business English:

Close a meeting
Come to the point
Dismiss an offer
Draw a conclusion
Draw your attention to
Launch a new product
Lay off staff
Go bankrupt
Go into partnership
Make a loss
Great deal of time
Late 20th century
Make time for
Next few days
Past few weeks
Right on time
Run out of time
Take your time
Tell someone the time
Make a profit
Bear in mind
Break off negotiations
Cease trading
Chair a meeting
Chair a meeting
Waste time
Early 12th century
Save time
From dawn till dusk
Time goes by
Time passes
Market forces
Take on staff
Spare time
Spend some time
Sales figures
Annual turnover

Collocations starting with the verb ‘do’

Do me a favour
Do your hair
Do the cooking
Do your best
Do the shopping
Do the washing up
Do the housework

Collocations with the verb ‘have’

Have a drink
Have a relationship
Have a holiday
Have lunch
Have a bath
Have sympathy
Have a problem
Have a good time
Have a haircut

Collocations with the verb ‘break’

Break a leg
Break the ice
Break the news to someone
Break a promise
Break someone's heart
Break the rules
Break the law
Break a record

Collocations with the verb ‘take’

Take a rest
Take a look
Take someone’s place
Take a seat
Take an exam
Take a break
Take a taxi
Take notes
Take a chance

Collocations with the verb ‘make’

Make room
Make a noise
Make trouble
Make a difference
Make progress
Make an effort
Make a mess
Make a mistake
Make money

Collocations with the verb ‘catch’

Catch the bus
Catch sight of
Catch someone's eye
Catch someone's attention
Catch a cold
Catch a ball
Catch the flu
Catch a thief
Catch fire

Collocations with the verb ‘pay’

Pay the bill
Pay a fine
Pay respect
Pay attention
Pay the price
Pay someone a visit
Pay by credit card
Pay cash
Pay interest

Collocations with the verb ‘keep’

Keep an appointment
Keep a promise
Keep in touch
Keep the change
Keep calm
Keep quiet
Keep someone's place
Keep a secret

Collocations with the verb ‘save’

Save electricity
Save something to a disk
Save someone a seat
Save time
Save energy
Save yourself the trouble
Save money
Save someone's life

Collocations with the verb ‘go’

Go bankrupt
Go to war
Go quiet
Go bald
Go astray
Go bad
Go out of business
Go fishing
Go missing
Go sailing
Go overseas
Go abroad
Go crazy
Go mad
Go online
Go blind

Collocations with the verb ‘come’

Come to a decision
Come to a standstill
Come right back
Come first
Come early
Come to a total of
Come last
Come close
Come direct
Come to an end
Come under attack
Come into view
Come late
Come to an agreement
Come on time
Come to terms with
Come prepared

Collocations with the verb ‘get’

Get frightened
Get the impression
Get a life
Get worried
Get a job
Get started
Get a shock
Get lost
Get upset
Get the sack
Get drunk
Get married
Get ready
Get home
Get divorced
Get wet
Get permission
Get angry

Collocations related to Time

Free time
Waste time
Right on time
Bang on time
From dawn till dusk
Past few weeks
Time passes
Next few days
Time goes by
Dead on time
Early/late 15th century
Great deal of time
Make time for
Run out of time

Collocations related to business English

Go bankrupt
Close a meeting
Go into partnership
Launch a new product
Draw your attention to
Close a deal
Come to the point
Make a killing
Annual turnover
Make a loss
Make a profit
Keep in mind
Draw a conclusion
Break off negotiations
Dismiss an offer

Noticing collocations for learning them faster!

Collocations are found everywhere. So one does not necessarily be in a class or with a mentor to learn. You could detect collocations in normal conversations, articles, English books, news stories to even a website. The important thing or action which should be taken is to start noticing collocations while somewhere their use is given or somebody is using in their day-to-day talks, because this will make one to learn them faster.

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