English Grammar Lesson: Collocations
1. What Are Collocations?
Definition: Collocations are combinations of words that are commonly used together in English. These word pairs or groups are often used naturally by native speakers and can sound more fluent when used correctly.
Collocations are important for achieving natural and accurate language use. They often consist of a specific adjective-noun, noun-noun, verb-noun, or adverb-verb combinations.
2. Types of Collocations
Collocations can be categorized into several common types:
2.1 Adjective + Noun
Adjective-noun collocations involve an adjective modifying a noun.
Examples:
- Strong coffee: Coffee with a strong flavor.
- Heavy rain: Rain that falls heavily.
- Bright light: A light that is very bright.
2.2 Noun + Noun
Noun-noun collocations involve two nouns used together to describe a specific type of thing.
Examples:
- Book club: A group of people who read and discuss books.
- Traffic jam: A situation where traffic is heavily congested.
- Kitchen sink: The sink located in the kitchen.
2.3 Verb + Noun
Verb-noun collocations involve a verb used with a specific noun.
Examples:
- Make a decision: To decide something.
- Give a presentation: To present information to an audience.
- Break the news: To inform someone of important information.
2.4 Adverb + Verb
Adverb-verb collocations involve an adverb modifying a verb.
Examples:
- Quickly solve: To solve something quickly.
- Carefully examine: To examine something with care.
- Heavily invest: To invest a large amount of money.
3. Importance of Collocations
Using collocations correctly helps you sound more natural and fluent in English. It improves both written and spoken communication, making your language use more precise and idiomatic.
Collocations also help in avoiding awkward or unnatural phrases that can arise from direct translations or incorrect word combinations.