Collocations

Collocations are words that naturally go together. We say ⟦make a mistake⟧, not ⟦do a mistake⟧, and ⟦heavy rain⟧, not ⟦strong rain⟧. Other words may have the same meaning, but they sound wrong to English speakers, so learn collocations as pairs.

Key facts

• ⟦make⟧ is for creating or producing something: ⟦make a mistake⟧, ⟦make a noise⟧, ⟦make a cake⟧, ⟦make progress⟧, ⟦make a decision⟧, ⟦make a promise⟧.
• ⟦do⟧ is for tasks, jobs and work: ⟦do homework⟧, ⟦do the shopping⟧, ⟦do the washing-up⟧, ⟦do your best⟧, ⟦do someone a favour⟧.
• ⟦take⟧ and ⟦have⟧: ⟦take a photo⟧, ⟦take a taxi⟧, ⟦take a risk⟧, ⟦take part⟧; ⟦have breakfast⟧, ⟦have a good time⟧, ⟦have a cold⟧, ⟦have a dream⟧.
• Adjective + noun: ⟦heavy rain⟧, ⟦heavy traffic⟧, ⟦strong coffee⟧, ⟦a high price⟧, ⟦a close friend⟧, ⟦a serious injury⟧, ⟦fast asleep⟧.
• Verb + noun: ⟦pay attention⟧, ⟦tell the truth⟧, ⟦tell a lie⟧, ⟦say sorry⟧, ⟦keep a secret⟧, ⟦break a promise⟧, ⟦miss the bus⟧, ⟦catch a cold⟧.

Worked examples