Collocations: What are they?

• A pair or group of words that are often used together.

• They sound natural to native speakers but can be difficult for others to guess.

Collocations: What are they?

• The root of the word is “locat” (with a long ā) from the Latin “locātus” for “place” or “position.”

• The prefix is “co-” which (like “com-”) means “together” or “with.”

Collocations: Why Learn Them?

• It will make your English sound more natural and less distracting.

• You will be understood if you say you did a mistake, but it will sound more natural if you say you made a mistake.

Collocations: Why Learn Them?

• It will It will give you alternative ways of saying something, which can be more expressive or precise.

• Example: A is more expressive than B.• A) “It was very cold and dark.”• B) “It was bitterly cold and pitch dark.”

Collocations

fast cars

fast food

quick cars

quick food

Collocations

fast cars

fast food

quick cars

quick food

quick glance

quick meal

quick bite (to eat)

fast glance

fast meal

fast bite (to eat)

Collocations

fast cars

fast food

quick cars

quick food

quick glance

quick meal

quick bite (to eat)

fast glance

fast meal

fast bite (to eat)

make a mistake do a mistake

strictly forbidden strongly forbidden

Combine these words to make 10 collocations

an effort ancient bitterly live heavy

cold dark engine forbidden snow

valid music make pitch powerful

strictly TV passport watch monument

Answers:

• make an effort (not “do” or “have” an effort)

• ancient monument• bitterly cold• pitch dark• powerful engine• strictly forbidden• live music• watch TV (not “see” or “look” TV)

• heavy snow (not “big” snow)

• valid passport