What are collocations and why are they important?
- Catherine Jones
- Mar 21
- 3 min read
Updated: Mar 26
Which is correct? - 'Do a mistake' or 'make a mistake'? You probably know this one - it's 'make a mistake'.
Although your listener will probably understand both, 'make a mistake' is natural English while 'do a mistake' just sounds wrong (to a native speaker, anyway). 'make a mistake' is a verb noun collocation. Take a picture (not make a picture) is another.
What are collocations?
Collocations are words that simply 'go together well'.
They are frequently used together, so they sound natural.
They sound natural, so they are frequently used together.
... But where do they start? Who knows! That doesn't matter anyway - we just need to know them.
Collocations are common word pairings that native speakers use instinctively. Unfortunately, for non-native speakers they don't come naturally and you have to learn them. Note: if you translate word-for-word from your first language, there's a good chance you won't find the collocations that are natural.
Why are collocations important?
They make you sound more fluent
Instead of pausing to think about every word, you’ll start using natural word combinations automatically. They start to roll off the tongue which is a wonderful feeling when you're speaking a second language.
They improve your listening and reading skills
Native speakers use collocations all the time. Recognising them helps you understand faster without translating.
They help you speak and write more accurately
When you use the right combinations, your sentences sound correct to native speakers.
They make learning English easier
Instead of memorising single words, learn words in groups. It’s much more efficient!
What types of collocations are there?
1. Verb + Noun
These are some of the most common collocations in English, where a verb is naturally paired with a noun:
Make a decision, take a break, do homework
2. Adjective + Noun
Some adjectives always go with certain nouns:
Strong coffee, heavy rain, deep sleep
3. Noun + Noun
Some nouns naturally pair together:
Traffic jam, credit card, baby shower
4. Adverb + Adjective
Adverbs often pair with specific adjectives:
Highly recommended, deeply disappointed, completely different
5. Verb + Adverb
Some verbs are frequently used with certain adverbs:
Strongly suggest, barely understand, seriously consider
6. Preposition + Noun/Verb
Certain words are always used with specific prepositions:
In trouble, at risk, on time
So, how should you learn them?
The best way to learn collocations is to focus on patterns, not just individual words. Here are some effective strategies:
Learn collocations in context – Read books, watch TV shows, and listen to native speakers to notice how words naturally fit together.
Keep a collocations journal – Note down useful phrases when you hear or read them.
Group words by category – Learning collocations in themes (e.g. travel, work, daily routines) can make them more meaningful.
Use them actively – Try writing sentences or speaking using new collocations to make them stick.
Practise with quizzes and exercises – Testing yourself helps reinforce what you’ve learned.
This month, I’m helping you build your confidence with verb + noun collocations. Here are some examples:
Get → get in trouble, get ready, get cold, get dark
Make → make a mistake, make an effort, make money
Take → take a picture, take a risk, take notes
Do → do your best, do business, do research
Have → have fun, have a break, have a conversation
Go → go crazy, go missing, go home
Come → come prepared, come true, come first
Say → say sorry, say a prayer, say hello
Tell → tell the truth, tell a story, tell a joke
Pay → pay attention, pay a fine, pay respect
Keep → keep a secret, keep calm, keep in touch
Save → save time, save money, save energy
These are just a few examples, but learning the most common collocations will transform your English.
Make your English sound more natural today! Get a FREE verb + noun collocations reference guide
To help you master collocations, I’ve created a downloadable reference guide with common verb-noun collocations. It’s a quick, easy guide to help you learn and use them correctly.
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