What Are Collocations in English?
Collocations are words that often go together naturally. They sound correct and fluent to native English speakers. For example, we say heavy rain, not strong rain.
Learning collocations makes your English sound more natural and fluent. It also helps you avoid common mistakes. For B2 learners, knowing collocations is key for exams like the B2 First.
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Take our FREE Placement TestWhen Do We Use Educational?
The adjective educational means "relating to education" or "providing education." It describes things, systems, or activities connected to learning.
- Educational opportunities: Chances to learn and study.
- Educational standards: The level of quality in teaching and learning.
- Educational qualifications: Official documents or degrees that show you have completed a course of study.
- Educational institutions: Schools, colleges, and universities.
- Educational programmes: Courses or plans of study.
Think of educational as describing the process or system of learning.
When Do We Use Educated?
The adjective educated describes a person who has received a good education. It means they have a good level of knowledge, often from school or university.
- An educated person: Someone who has learned a lot and has good knowledge.
- Well-educated: Having received a good quality education.
- Highly educated: Having a very high level of education, often with advanced degrees.
- Educated guess: A guess based on some knowledge or experience, not just random.
Remember, educated describes a person and their level of knowledge.
Why Are These Collocations Important for B2 First?
Mastering collocations like these is vital for success in the B2 First exam. They appear in several parts of the test.
- Use of English: You might need to choose the correct adjective in a 'gap-fill' exercise (Part 1 or Part 2).
- Writing: Using natural collocations makes your essays and reports sound more sophisticated and accurate.
- Speaking: Correct collocations help you express your ideas clearly and fluently, showing a wider range of vocabulary.
Using these collocations correctly shows examiners you have a strong grasp of B2-level vocabulary.
| Adjective | Meaning | Common Collocations |
|---|---|---|
| Educational | Relating to education or providing education. | educational opportunities, educational standards, educational qualifications, educational system, educational programme |
| Educated | Having received a good education; knowledgeable. | educated person, well-educated, highly educated, educated guess |
Examples
- The new policy aims to create more educational opportunities for young people.
- Many countries are working to improve their educational standards.
- To get this job, you need strong educational qualifications.
- She is a very educated person who can discuss many topics.
- His educated guess about the exam results was surprisingly accurate.
- The university is an excellent educational institution.
Practice
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A very common mistake for Spanish speakers is confusing educated with the Spanish word "educado."
- Incorrect: My friend is very educated; he always says "please" and "thank you." (Meaning "polite")
- Correct: My friend is very polite; he always says "please" and "thank you."
- Correct: My friend is very educated; he has two university degrees. (Meaning "knowledgeable from schooling")
Remember, educated in English refers to having received formal schooling and knowledge, not politeness. For politeness, use polite or well-mannered.
Also, avoid using educational to describe a person's knowledge. For example:
- Incorrect: She is an educational woman.
- Correct: She is an educated woman.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main difference between educational and educated?
Educational refers to things connected to the process or system of education, like educational institutions or educational reforms. Educated describes a person who has received a good education and has a lot of knowledge as a result.
Can I say an educational person?
No, you should not say an educational person. Use an educated person to describe someone who has received a good education. Educational describes things, systems, or activities related to education, not the person themselves in this context.
How do collocations help me in the B2 First exam?
Knowing collocations like educational opportunities helps you sound more natural and accurate in the Use of English paper, especially in tasks like 'Open Cloze' or 'Key Word Transformation'. They also improve your writing and speaking fluency, allowing you to express complex ideas more precisely.
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