I think, …
When one door closes, …




… another one is slammed in your face.
When the going gets tough, …




… the tough get going – right out the
nearest exit.
When life hands you lemon, …




  … be careful what you drink.
Collocations
What is a COLLOCATION?


 A COLLOCATION is a bundle of words.


 It is better to learn the “bundle of words”
  instead of just the word by itself.
What is a COLLOCATION?


 A collocation is two or more words that often
  go together. These combinations just sound
  "right" to native English speakers, who use
  them all the time. On the other hand, other
  combinations may be unnatural and just
  sound "wrong".
What is a COLLOCATION?
Why learn collocations?

 Your language will be more natural and more
  easily understood.
 You will have alternative and richer ways of
  expressing yourself.
 It is easier for our brains to remember and use
  language in chunks or blocks rather than as
  single words.
What is a “bundle of words”


 MAKE is an often used word. But WHEN can
 you use it.
MAKE bundles


 MAKE a profit
 MAKE money
 MAKE a telephone call
 MAKE a mess
Learn the “bundle”


 It is more useful to learn the bundle than just
  the single vocabulary item.

 DO the cooking
 DO your homework
 DO the housework
Learning prepositions in a
bundle

 Prepositions like IN, ON, TO, AGAINST are
  very difficult to use correctly. It will be easier
  if you learn them together with NOUN or a
  VERB.
Verbs with a PREPOSITION


 DISCRIMINATE is a verb you will be using a
  lot this summer. When you use this word,
  don’t forget the preposition AGAINST.
 People DISCRIMINATE AGAINST African
  Americans.
Some other common VERB +
PREPOSITION bundles
 REFUSE TO
 He REFUSED TO answer the questions.
 REASON FOR
 What is his REASON FOR being late.
 ADAPT TO
 We must ADAPT TO change.
VERB + NOUN bundles

 TAKE A VACATION
 PLACE AN ORDER
 PLAY A GAME
 RAISE A QUESTION
 RAISE AN OBJECTION
ADJECTIVE + NOUN

           The Adjective LIGHT

 LIGHT RAIN
 LIGHT BEER
 LIGHT WORKLOAD
 LIGHT JACKET
ADVERB + VERB

 COMPLETELY FORGOT
 COMPLETELY RUINED
 COMPLETELY MISUNDERSTOOD
 COMPLETELY BROKEN
 COMPLETELY COVERED
ADVERB ADJECTIVE

 TOTALLY AWESOME
 TOTALLY WRONG
 TOTALLY DIFFERENT
 TOTALLY ARTIFICIAL
 TOTALLY HAPPY
NOUN + NOUN

 A BUSINESS DEAL
 A BUSINESS PARTNER
 A BUSINESS LETTER
 A BUSINESS SUIT
Some common collocations

 Take
   take a break    take an exam
   take a chance   take notes
   take a look     take someone's place
   take a rest
   take a seat
   take a taxi
Some common collocations

 Break
   break a habit           break the law
   break a leg             break the news to
                                someone
   break a promise         break the ice
   break a record          break the rules
   break a window
   break someone's heart
Some common collocations

 Catch
   catch a ball              catch fire
   catch a bus               catch the flu
   catch a chill             catch a thief
   catch a cold
   catch sight of
   catch someone's attention
   catch someone's eye
Some common collocations

 Pay
   pay a fine             pay the bill
   pay attention          pay the price
   pay by credit card     pay your respects
   pay cash
   pay interest
   pay someone a compliment
   pay someone a visit
Some common collocations
 Time
   bang on time          past few weeks
   dead on time          right on time
   early 12th century    run out of time
   free time             save time
   from dawn till dusk   spare time
   great deal of time    spend some time
   late 20th century     take your time
   make time for         time goes by
   next few days         waste time
Some common collocations
 Business English
   annual turnover          draw a conclusion
   bear in mind             lay off staff
   break off negotiations   go bankrupt
   cease trading            make a loss
   chair a meeting          make a profit
   close a deal             market forces
   close a meeting          sales figures
   come to the point        take on staff
   dismiss an offer
Some common collocations
 Classifiers
   a ball of string
   a bar of chocolate
   a bottle of water
   a bunch of carrots
   a cube of sugar
   a pack of cards
   a pad of paper
Exercises

Collocations

  • 3.
  • 5.
    When one doorcloses, … … another one is slammed in your face.
  • 6.
    When the goinggets tough, … … the tough get going – right out the nearest exit.
  • 7.
    When life handsyou lemon, … … be careful what you drink.
  • 9.
  • 10.
    What is aCOLLOCATION?  A COLLOCATION is a bundle of words.  It is better to learn the “bundle of words” instead of just the word by itself.
  • 11.
    What is aCOLLOCATION?  A collocation is two or more words that often go together. These combinations just sound "right" to native English speakers, who use them all the time. On the other hand, other combinations may be unnatural and just sound "wrong".
  • 12.
    What is aCOLLOCATION?
  • 13.
    Why learn collocations? Your language will be more natural and more easily understood.  You will have alternative and richer ways of expressing yourself.  It is easier for our brains to remember and use language in chunks or blocks rather than as single words.
  • 14.
    What is a“bundle of words”  MAKE is an often used word. But WHEN can you use it.
  • 15.
    MAKE bundles  MAKEa profit  MAKE money  MAKE a telephone call  MAKE a mess
  • 16.
    Learn the “bundle” It is more useful to learn the bundle than just the single vocabulary item.  DO the cooking  DO your homework  DO the housework
  • 17.
    Learning prepositions ina bundle  Prepositions like IN, ON, TO, AGAINST are very difficult to use correctly. It will be easier if you learn them together with NOUN or a VERB.
  • 18.
    Verbs with aPREPOSITION  DISCRIMINATE is a verb you will be using a lot this summer. When you use this word, don’t forget the preposition AGAINST.  People DISCRIMINATE AGAINST African Americans.
  • 19.
    Some other commonVERB + PREPOSITION bundles  REFUSE TO  He REFUSED TO answer the questions.  REASON FOR  What is his REASON FOR being late.  ADAPT TO  We must ADAPT TO change.
  • 20.
    VERB + NOUNbundles  TAKE A VACATION  PLACE AN ORDER  PLAY A GAME  RAISE A QUESTION  RAISE AN OBJECTION
  • 21.
    ADJECTIVE + NOUN The Adjective LIGHT  LIGHT RAIN  LIGHT BEER  LIGHT WORKLOAD  LIGHT JACKET
  • 22.
    ADVERB + VERB COMPLETELY FORGOT  COMPLETELY RUINED  COMPLETELY MISUNDERSTOOD  COMPLETELY BROKEN  COMPLETELY COVERED
  • 23.
    ADVERB ADJECTIVE  TOTALLYAWESOME  TOTALLY WRONG  TOTALLY DIFFERENT  TOTALLY ARTIFICIAL  TOTALLY HAPPY
  • 24.
    NOUN + NOUN A BUSINESS DEAL  A BUSINESS PARTNER  A BUSINESS LETTER  A BUSINESS SUIT
  • 25.
    Some common collocations Take take a break take an exam take a chance take notes take a look take someone's place take a rest take a seat take a taxi
  • 26.
    Some common collocations Break break a habit break the law break a leg break the news to someone break a promise break the ice break a record break the rules break a window break someone's heart
  • 27.
    Some common collocations Catch catch a ball catch fire catch a bus catch the flu catch a chill catch a thief catch a cold catch sight of catch someone's attention catch someone's eye
  • 28.
    Some common collocations Pay pay a fine pay the bill pay attention pay the price pay by credit card pay your respects pay cash pay interest pay someone a compliment pay someone a visit
  • 29.
    Some common collocations Time bang on time past few weeks dead on time right on time early 12th century run out of time free time save time from dawn till dusk spare time great deal of time spend some time late 20th century take your time make time for time goes by next few days waste time
  • 30.
    Some common collocations Business English annual turnover draw a conclusion bear in mind lay off staff break off negotiations go bankrupt cease trading make a loss chair a meeting make a profit close a deal market forces close a meeting sales figures come to the point take on staff dismiss an offer
  • 31.
    Some common collocations Classifiers a ball of string a bar of chocolate a bottle of water a bunch of carrots a cube of sugar a pack of cards a pad of paper
  • 32.