Common Collocations

Common Collocations

Summary of Collocations

Collocations are combinations of words that frequently go together in English. They make language sound more natural and fluent. Here are some common types of collocations with examples:

Verb + Noun

Make: make a decision, make a mistake, make a promise
Do: do homework, do business, do someone a favor
Take: take a break, take a chance, take a look
Have: have a good time, have a look, have a problem
Give: give advice, give a call, give permission
Pay: pay attention, pay a fine, pay a visit

Adjective + Noun

Strong: strong argument, strong belief, strong influence
Heavy: heavy rain, heavy traffic, heavy workload
High: high expectations, high quality, high pressure
Deep: deep understanding, deep trouble, deep thought

Adverb + Adjective

Highly: highly effective, highly likely, highly recommended
Totally: totally different, totally wrong, totally unacceptable
Extremely: extremely important, extremely difficult, extremely valuable
Absolutely: absolutely necessary, absolutely fantastic, absolutely essential

Noun + Noun

Job: job satisfaction, job security, job market
Health: health care, health problem, health insurance
Market: market economy, market research, market trend
Technology: technology sector, technology development, technology innovation

Verb + Adverb

Drive: drive carefully, drive slowly, drive safely
Talk: talk loudly, talk openly, talk briefly
Work: work hard, work efficiently, work independently
Wait: wait patiently, wait anxiously, wait quietly

Adverb + Verb

Closely: closely monitor, closely observe, closely follow
Greatly: greatly improve, greatly benefit, greatly appreciate
Fully: fully understand, fully support, fully recover
Thoroughly: thoroughly enjoy, thoroughly clean, thoroughly investigate

7. Preposition + Noun

In: in charge, in debt, in demand
On: on purpose, on time, on average
At: at risk, at fault, at the moment
By: by chance, by accident, by heart

Noun + Preposition

Access to
Advantage of
Answer to
Approval of
Chance of
Concern for
Confidence in

Example sentences

Make a decision: She had to make a difficult decision about her future career.
Do homework: Every evening, he sits down to do his homework before dinner.
Take a chance: They decided to take a chance and start their own business.
Have a problem: If you have a problem, don’t hesitate to ask for help.
Give advice: The teacher gave advice to the students on how to prepare for the exam.
Pay attention: Please pay attention to the instructions before starting the test.
Strong argument: She presented a strong argument that convinced everyone in the room.
Heavy rain: The match was canceled due to heavy rain.
Highly recommended: This book is highly recommended for anyone interested in history.
Work hard: If you work hard, you can achieve your goals.

Make sentences using these common collocations

Verb + Noun

Make:
- Make a decision
- Make a difference
- Make a mess
- Make an effort
- Make a mistake
- Make a profit
- Make a promise
Do:
- Do business
- Do your best
- Do damage
- Do someone a favor
- Do harm
- Do homework
- Do housework
Take:
- Take a break
- Take a chance
- Take a look
- Take a seat
- Take a nap
- Take a risk
- Take action
Have:
- Have a bath
- Have a drink
- Have a good time
- Have a look
- Have a party
- Have a problem
- Have a rest
Give:
- Give advice
- Give an answer
- Give a call
- Give a chance
- Give a hug
- Give an example
- Give permission
Pay:
- Pay attention
- Pay a fine
- Pay respect
- Pay the bill
- Pay a visit
- Pay a compliment
- Pay interest

Adjective + Noun

Strong:
- Strong argument
- Strong belief
- Strong influence
- Strong opinion
- Strong wind
- Strong feeling
- Strong possibility
Heavy:
- Heavy rain
- Heavy traffic
- Heavy smoker
- Heavy drinker
- Heavy fine
- Heavy burden
- Heavy workload
High:
- High expectations
- High speed
- High standard
- High quality
- High temperature
- High priority
- High pressure
Deep:
- Deep understanding
- Deep trouble
- Deep sleep
- Deep thought
- Deep depression
- Deep voice
- Deep concern

Adverb + Adjective

Highly:
- Highly effective
- Highly likely
- Highly successful
- Highly recommended
- Highly skilled
- Highly motivated
- Highly respected
Totally:
- Totally different
- Totally wrong
- Totally convinced
- Totally dependent
- Totally useless
- Totally unacceptable
- Totally destroyed
Extremely:
- Extremely important
- Extremely difficult
- Extremely popular
- Extremely dangerous
- Extremely rare
- Extremely valuable
- Extremely useful
Absolutely:
- Absolutely necessary
- Absolutely fantastic
- Absolutely certain
- Absolutely delighted
- Absolutely free
- Absolutely essential
- Absolutely incredible

Noun + Noun

Job:
- Job satisfaction
- Job security
- Job description
- Job performance
- Job opportunity
- Job market
- Job application
Health:
- Health care
- Health problem
- Health service
- Health insurance
- Health risk
- Health issue
- Health benefit
Market:
- Market economy
- Market research
- Market value
- Market share
- Market price
- Market trend
- Market leader
Technology:
- Technology sector
- Technology company
- Technology development
- Technology innovation
- Technology transfer
- Technology industry
- Technology solution

Verb + Adverb

Drive:
- Drive carefully
- Drive slowly
- Drive fast
- Drive recklessly
- Drive safely
- Drive aggressively
- Drive directly
Talk:
- Talk loudly
- Talk quietly
- Talk openly
- Talk briefly
- Talk endlessly
- Talk rapidly
- Talk continuously
Work:
- Work hard
- Work efficiently
- Work tirelessly
- Work independently
- Work closely
- Work effectively
- Work diligently
Wait:
- Wait patiently
- Wait eagerly
- Wait anxiously
- Wait nervously
- Wait quietly
- Wait calmly
- Wait indefinitely

Adverb + Verb

Closely:
- Closely monitor
- Closely observe
- Closely examine
- Closely follow
- Closely resemble
- Closely study
- Closely watch
Greatly:
- Greatly improve
- Greatly enhance
- Greatly benefit
- Greatly increase
- Greatly reduce
- Greatly appreciate
- Greatly affect
Fully:
- Fully understand
- Fully appreciate
- Fully support
- Fully recover
- Fully develop
- Fully agree
- Fully commit
Thoroughly:
- Thoroughly enjoy
- Thoroughly clean
- Thoroughly investigate
- Thoroughly understand
- Thoroughly review
- Thoroughly prepare
- Thoroughly examine

Preposition + Noun

In:
- In charge
- In debt
- In demand
- In trouble
- In advance
- In progress
- In favor
On:
- On purpose
- On time
- On average
- On schedule
- On the rise
- On the verge
- On the other hand
At:
- At risk
- At fault
- At the moment
- At the end
- At first sight
- At ease
- At a loss
By:
- By chance
- By accident
- By mistake
- By all means
- By the way
- By heart
- By and large

Noun + Preposition

Access to
Addition to
Advantage of
Answer to
Approval of
Awareness of
Basis for
Chance of
Comparison with
Concern for
Confidence in
Connection to
Contrast with
Control over
Difficulty in
Effect on
Example of
Experience in
Fear of
Influence on
Interest in