Collocations: Common Verb-Noun Pairs
Use natural verb-noun combinations confidently in writing and speaking, avoiding awkward phrases native speakers never say.
📖 Lesson
What You Will Learn
Collocations are word combinations that just "go together" — like how we say make a decision, not "do a decision." In this lesson, you'll master the most useful verb-noun pairs that appear constantly in real conversations and professional communication.
Explanation (with Real-Life Context)
Non-native speakers often choose grammatically correct words that sound unnatural. For example, "I did an effort" is technically possible, but native speakers say make an effort. These fixed partnerships exist because of how English evolved historically — not because of grammar rules.
Why does this matter? Using wrong collocations makes you sound like a textbook, even if you're fluent. In job interviews, emails, or everyday chat, the right collocations help you blend in instantly.
Examples (Natural Sentences from Daily Life)
Common verb-noun pairs you need:
- Make a decision — "We made a difficult decision to move to another city."
- Take responsibility — "Our manager finally took responsibility for the project's failure."
- Raise awareness — "The campaign raised awareness about mental health in schools."
- Break a promise — "He broke his promise and didn't show up to the meeting."
- Keep a secret — "Can you keep this secret? I'm getting promoted next month."
- Miss an opportunity — "Don't miss this opportunity — applications close tomorrow!"
- Reach a goal — "Our team reached our sales goal three weeks early."
- Waste time — "Stop wasting time scrolling! You have an exam."
Common Mistakes
❌ "I did a big effort" → ✅ "I made a big effort"
❌ "She took a decision quickly" → ✅ "She made a decision quickly"
❌ "We reached an agreement in the meeting" → ✅ "We reached an agreement" (this one is actually correct!)
❌ "Can you do me a favor?" → Actually, this IS natural English! (Not all verb-noun pairs follow patterns)
Quick Tips
• Keep a collocation notebook — Write verb-noun pairs with one example sentence each
• Notice patterns: make, take, and break are super common verbs in collocations
• Listen for them — Pay attention when watching English content; you'll start recognizing the natural combinations
• Don't over-think — Sometimes the logical verb doesn't work, and you just have to memorize it
🃏 Key Vocabulary — tap to flip
7 words✏️ Fill in the Blank
Type the missing word to complete each sentence.