What Are Collocations and Why Are They Important?

Collocations are like word friends. Certain words prefer to be together. When you use these natural combinations, your English sounds correct and fluent.

• Using collocations makes your English sound more natural, like a native speaker.
• They help you understand and express ideas more clearly.
• For the B2 First (FCE) exam, knowing collocations is vital for the Use of English paper, especially for tasks like multiple-choice cloze and key word transformations.
• Learning them expands your vocabulary in a practical way.

Common Types of Collocations

Collocations come in many forms. Here are some of the most common types you will encounter at B2 level:

• Verb + Noun: A verb and a noun that frequently appear together. For example, “make a mistake” или “take a break”.
• Adjective + Noun: An adjective that describes a specific noun. For instance, “heavy traffic” или “strong accent”.
• Adverb + Adjective: An adverb that intensifies or modifies an adjective. For example, “fully aware” или “perfectly normal”.
• Noun + Noun: Two nouns that often go together to form a common phrase. For example, “a round of applause” или “a sense of humour”.
• Verb + Adverb: A verb followed by an adverb that describes how the action is performed. For example, “speak fluently” или “drive carefully”.

Verb Collocations: Do, Make, Have, Keep, Break, Spend, Taste

Many common verbs combine with specific nouns to create collocations. It is important to learn these as fixed phrases.

• Do: Мы используем do for activities, tasks, or general actions. For example, “do homework”, “do business”, “do a favour”. Also, for speed or distance, like “My car does 200 kph.”
• Make: Мы используем make for creating, producing, or causing something. For example, “make a decision”, “make a noise”, “make a fortune”.
• Have: Мы используем have for experiences, meals, or relationships. For example, “have a holiday”, “have lunch”, “have a good time”.
• Keep: This verb often means to continue or to hold. For example, “keep a secret”, “keep a promise”, “keep awake”.
• Break: This verb often means to not follow a rule or agreement. For example, “break a promise”, “break the law”.
• Spend: Мы используем spend for time or money. For example, “spend time”, “spend money”, “spend a fortune”.
• Taste: This verb refers to the flavour of food or drink. For example, “This ice cream tastes good.”

Adverb-Adjective Collocations

These collocations use an adverb to give more information about an adjective. They add intensity or precision.

• Perfectly: Often used with adjectives like “normal”, “acceptable”, “hideous”. Например, “The house was a perfectly hideous pink colour.”
• Highly: Used with adjectives like “recommended”, “unlikely”, “successful”. Например, “This restaurant is highly recommended.”
• Completely: Used with adjectives like “different”, “satisfied”, “wrong”. Например, “I am completely satisfied with the service.”
• Bitterly: Often used with negative adjectives related to feelings, like “disappointed”, “cold”. Например, “She was bitterly disappointed by the news.”

Примеры

• My father's new car can do 200 kph.
• I don't like people who break their promises.
• We're having a holiday in South America this year.
• Maximo made a fortune from computer software.
• The music from the festival kept me awake for ages last night.
• This ice cream tastes really good.
• Liliana spends too much time at her friend's house.
• It's perfectly normal to feel nervous before an exam.

Практика

Распространенные ошибки у носителей испанского языка

Spanish speakers often make mistakes with collocations by translating directly from Spanish. This can lead to unnatural-sounding English.

• Do против. Make: This is a very common area for errors.
  • Неправильно: I need to do a decision.
  • Правильно: I need to make a decision. (Spanish: tomar una decisión)
  • Неправильно: Can you make me a favour?
  • Правильно: Can you do me a favour? (Spanish: hacer un favor)
• Ask против. Make a question:
  • Неправильно: I want to make a question.
  • Правильно: I want to ask a question. (Spanish: hacer una pregunta)
• Adjective + Noun combinations:
  • Неправильно: I like strong tea. (Meaning: tea with a lot of sugar or milk, not necessarily strong in flavour)
  • Правильно: I like strong coffee. (Meaning: coffee with intense flavour) / I like black coffee. (If referring to coffee without milk)
  • Неправильно: Heavy wind.
  • Правильно: Strong wind. (Spanish: viento fuerte)

Часто задаваемые вопросы

What is the easiest way to learn collocations?

The easiest way is to learn words in phrases, not individually. When you learn a new noun, always try to find a verb or adjective that commonly goes with it. For example, don't just learn “rain”; learn “heavy rain” или “light rain”. Read a lot and pay attention to how words are used together.

Are collocations important for the B2 First (FCE) exam?

Yes, collocations are very important for the B2 First (FCE) exam. You will find them in the Use of English paper, especially in Part 1 (Multiple-choice cloze) and Part 4 (Key word transformations). Knowing common collocations helps you choose the correct word and transform sentences accurately, showing a higher level of English proficiency.

Can I just translate collocations from my native language?

No, direct translation is usually a bad idea for collocations. Words that go together in Spanish might not go together in English. For example, in Spanish you “take a decision” (tomar una decisión), but in English, you “make a decision”. Always learn the English collocation as a complete unit.

How can I practice collocations effectively?

Practice by reading English texts, listening to podcasts, and watching movies. Pay attention to how words combine. Keep a notebook for new collocations you find. Try to use them in your speaking and writing. Online exercises and flashcards can also be very helpful.

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