What are Word Collocations?
Word collocations are combinations of two or more words that naturally occur together in English. Native speakers use these pairings automatically because they 'sound right,' even if they're not required by grammar.
Collocations are word combinations that habitually co-occur—'take a break,' 'light rain,' 'strong password'—learned as units because they're more natural than alternatives like 'make a break' or 'weak rain.'
- •make a decision
- •heavy traffic
- •tell the truth
- •sound advice
- •do a decision
- •strong traffic
- •speak the truth
- •correct advice
Step-by-step worked examples
Which collocation is correct: 'make a mistake' or 'do a mistake'?
'Make a mistake' is the natural collocation. 'Do a mistake' is grammatically possible but unnatural. Native speakers always say 'make a mistake.'
Fill in the collocation: 'reach a ____'
Answer: 'reach a decision' or 'reach an agreement' Other options like 'reach a choice' sound awkward. Native speakers use 'reach' with formal/binding outcomes.
Choose the natural collocation: 'strong/heavy rain'?
'Heavy rain' is the standard collocation. 'Strong rain' is grammatically possible but sounds odd. Collocations ignore logic—we learn them by exposure.
Flashcards
Quick quiz
Q1.Which is NOT a natural collocation?
Q2.Why are collocations hard to learn by grammar alone?
Q3.'_____ traffic' — what word fits?
Q4.What's the key to learning collocations?
The full card deck, worked steps and AI-tutor support for “What are Word Collocations?” are in Notek — study by hand before your exam.
Common mistakes
Thinking any grammatically correct word pair works. — Correct: English favors certain pairings (collocations) over others, even if both are grammatical.
Learning words in isolation. — Correct: Learn words in natural phrases and collocations.
Treating all word pairs as equally acceptable. — Correct: Native speakers have strong preferences—'make a decision,' not 'do a decision.'
Ignoring context when pairing words. — Correct: Collocations depend on context and usage—different for each word pair.
FAQ
What are word collocations?
Collocations are word pairs or groups that commonly occur together in natural English, like 'take a photo,' 'run a business,' or 'light sleep.'
How are collocations different from grammar?
Grammar rules tell you what's possible. Collocations tell you what sounds natural to native speakers—a much narrower set.
Do I need to memorize every collocation?
No. You absorb them through reading and listening. A collocation dictionary helps when you're unsure.
Is 'make a complaint' or 'do a complaint' correct?
'Make a complaint' is the natural collocation. 'Do a complaint' sounds odd, even though it's grammatically okay.