What are Verb Collocations?
Verb collocations are combinations of verbs and nouns that naturally go together in English. They sound natural to native speakers because they're used constantly. Learning them improves your fluency.
Verb collocations are verb-noun pairs that go together naturally, like 'make a decision', 'take action', or 'break the ice'.
- •make a decision
- •take action
- •break the ice
- •keep a promise
- •do a decision
- •bring action
- •break silence
- •hold a promise
Step-by-step worked examples
"I need to ___ a decision about my career."
The collocation is 'make a decision'. Full sentence: "I need to make a decision about my career." Why: 'make' naturally pairs with 'decision'; you create or form a decision.
"She always ___ her promises to her friends."
The collocation is 'keep a promise'. Full sentence: "She always keeps her promises to her friends." Why: 'keep' means to maintain or honor; it's the natural verb.
"Let's ___ the ice and introduce ourselves."
The collocation is 'break the ice'. Full sentence: "Let's break the ice and introduce ourselves." Why: 'break the ice' is an idiom meaning to start conversation in an awkward situation.
Flashcards
Quick quiz
Q1."I ___ a big mistake when I forgot her birthday."
Q2."He ___ full responsibility for the project."
Q3."The team ____ steady progress toward the goal."
Q4."I need to ____ a decision before Friday."
The full card deck, worked steps and AI-tutor support for “What are Verb Collocations?” are in Notek — study by hand before your exam.
Common mistakes
do a decision — Correct: make a decision (we create/form decisions, not do them)
make action — Correct: take action (we initiate or undertake action, not make it)
hold a promise — Correct: keep a promise (we maintain/honor promises, not hold them)
bring a chance — Correct: take a chance (we seize or grasp chances, not bring them)
FAQ
What is a verb collocation?
A verb collocation is a verb-noun pairing that native speakers naturally use together, like 'make a decision' or 'take action'. These combinations sound right because they're conventional.
Why are verb collocations important?
They help you sound more natural and fluent. Using the correct collocations shows native-like command of English and avoids phrases that sound awkward or foreign.
How many verb collocations should I learn?
Start with 20–30 common ones (make, take, break, keep, give, have, etc.). These 10–15 verbs pair with many nouns, so learning their main combinations gives huge fluency gains.
Can I figure out the 'right' collocation from logic?
Not always. Collocations are cultural conventions; you can't deduce them from grammar rules alone. Learning them from exposure or a collocation dictionary is most effective.