Collocations Lists

On this page you can find a few short lists of collocations to give you more of an idea about them. Many good learner's dictionaries show collocations associated with specific words. There are also dictionaries of collocations, though these are more difficult to find.

Some common verbs

have have have have have have have have have have have a bath a drink a good time a haircut a holiday a problem a relationship a rest lunch sympathy do do do do do do do do do do do business nothing someone a favour the cooking the housework the shopping the washing up your best your hair your homework make make make make make make make make make make make a difference a mess a mistake a noise an effort furniture money progress room trouble

take take a break take a chance take a look take a rest take a seat take a taxi take an exam take notes take someone's place take someone's temperature pay pay pay pay pay pay pay pay pay pay pay a fine attention by credit card cash interest someone a compliment someone a visit the bill the price your respects come come close come complete with come direct

break break a habit break a leg break a promise break a record break a window break someone's heart break the ice break the law break the news to someone break the rules save electricity energy money one's strength someone a seat someone's life something to a disk space time yourself the trouble go go abroad go astray go bad

catch catch a ball catch a bus catch a chill catch a cold catch a thief catch fire catch sight of catch someone's attention catch someone's eye catch the flu keep a diary a promise a secret an appointment calm control in touch quiet someone's place the change get get a job get a shock get angry

save save save save save save save save save save

keep keep keep keep keep keep keep keep keep keep

come come come come come come come come come come come come come come come come come

early first into view last late on time prepared right back second to a compromise to a decision to an agreement to an end to a standstill to terms with to a total of under attack

go go go go go go go go go go go go go go go go go

bald bankrupt blind crazy dark deaf fishing mad missing on foot online out of business overseas quiet sailing to war yellow

get get get get get get get get get get get get get get get get get

divorced drunk frightened home lost married nowhere permission pregnant ready started the impression the message the sack upset wet worried

Miscellaneous
Time bang on time dead on time early 12th century free time from dawn till dusk great deal of time late 20th century make time for next few days past few weeks right on time run out of time save time spare time spend some time take your time tell someone the time time goes by time passes waste time Business English annual turnover bear in mind break off negotiations cease trading chair a meeting close a deal close a meeting come to the point dismiss an offer draw a conclusion draw your attention to launch a new product lay off staff go bankrupt go into partnership make a loss make a profit market forces sales figures take on staff a a a a a a a Classifiers ball of string bar of chocolate bottle of water bunch of carrots cube of sugar pack of cards pad of paper

Sample Collocations
There are several different types of collocation. Collocations can be adjective + adverb, noun + noun, verb + noun and so on. Below you can see seven main types of collocation in sample sentences. 1. adverb + adjective

Invading that country was an utterly stupid thing to do. We entered a richly decorated room. Are you fully aware of the implications of your action?

2. adjective + noun

The doctor ordered him to take regular exercise. The Titanic sank on its maiden voyage. He was writhing on the ground in excruciating pain.

3. noun + noun

Let's give Mr Jones a round of applause. The ceasefire agreement came into effect at 11am. I'd like to buy two bars of soap please.

4. noun + verb

The lion started to roar when it heard the dog barking. Snow was falling as our plane took off. The bomb went off when he started the car engine.

5. verb + noun

The prisoner was hanged for committing murder. I always try to do my homework in the morning, after making my bed. He has been asked to give a presentation about his work.

6. verb + expression with preposition

We had to return home because we had run out of money. At first her eyes filled with horror, and then she burst into tears. Their behaviour was enough to drive anybody to crime.

7. verb + adverb

She placed her keys gently on the table and sat down. Mary whispered softly in John's ear. I vaguely remember that it was growing dark when we left.