Five Collocations That Make Your English Sound Natural
Native speakers say “heavy rain”, not “strong rain”. Learn words in pairs and your English will sound more natural.
A collocation is a group of words that naturally go together. English speakers say heavy rain and make a decision. They don’t say strong rain or do a decision, even though you would be understood. Choosing the right partner word is one of the quickest ways to sound more natural.
1. Make or do?
| make | do |
|---|---|
| make a decision | do homework |
| make a mistake | do the dishes |
| make progress | do your best |
| make an effort | do research |
Make is often about creating or producing something, and do is often about tasks and activities. That is only a tendency, so learn the phrases as whole units.
2. Heavy or strong?
- heavy: heavy rain, heavy traffic, a heavy smoker
- strong: strong coffee, strong wind, a strong accent
3. Take a…
take a break, take a photo, take a chance, take your time
4. Pay attention
We pay attention, not give it. Other natural partners: pay a compliment, pay a visit.
5. Fast or quick?
- fast describes speed: a fast car, a fast train, fast internet
- quick describes something that takes a short time: a quick look, a quick question, a quick shower
- Some pairs are fixed: fast food
How to learn collocations
- Learn chunks, not single words. When you meet decision, write down make a decision.
- Notice them when you read. Highlight verb + noun pairs in articles and stories.
- Use a learner’s dictionary. Good ones list the common partners of each word.
- Use them. Write one sentence about your own life for each new chunk.
Tip: when a phrase feels odd, check it. Translating word for word from your first language is the most common source of unnatural collocations.