Common collocations in English. Collocations are the words that are most often used together. Here is a collection of collocations that are used in daily conversation. This is because a collocation is so often used in English speech and writing, so mastering the use of them is essential for you to be able to speak and write in a way that is both commonly understood, and grammatically correct.
What is a collocation?
Collocations are simple enough things to understand, and they’ll actually benefit you a great deal when you start to use them yourself.
This is important, because while there are other words available that certainly make sense, collocations are the words that are most often used together.
- There are different types of collocations though, so we’ll take a look at some examples of these to better understand what a collocation really is.
- Some typical collocation examples are “pay attention”, “fast food”, “make an effort”, and “powerful engine”.
- Collocations make it easier to avoid overused or ambiguous words like “very”, “nice”, or “beautiful”, by using a pair of words that fits the context better and has a more precise meaning.
- Using collocations will help your English sound naturally like a native speaker.
Common collocations examples with take, get, do, make, go…
- He had intended to take a holiday in New York.
- He wanted to see if he could get a job with us.
- My goals were to go back to school and get a degree.
- I’ll take a look at the website and let you know what I think.
- He was beginning to get angry.
- Couldn’t you do a favor and leave me alone?
- She should make a right choice.
- Could you do a report for me?
- I might take a lesson from you.
- We are to make a contract for a supply of raw silk with the company.
- I like to do homework.
- We need to make a deal for this project.
- The company is about to go bankrupt.
Examples of collocations with Prepositions at, in, on, to, with…
- I congratulate you on your new job!
- I insist on Peter’s studying every day for two hours.
- I feel very proud to be a part of the team.
- People are scared to use the buses late at night.
- It’s nice to know you.
- You are blessed with many talents.
- Don’t be careless with your ATM card.
- The fall in retail sales is directly connected with the decline in employment.
How to Learn Collocations?
Collocations are important if you want to show yourself off to be somebody who truly understands the use of the English language in a way that is common.
You’ll see that certain words are combined in certain ways more often than others, so by copying them you will become used to the words that simply ‘sound right’ when put together and realize when words will ‘sound wrong’, so that you don’t use them anymore.
Common collocations in English
- Have time
- Have a lecture
- Take a taxi
- Have an argument
- Make an offer
- Have a snack
- Pay interest
- Make trouble
- Say something
- Take a message
- Make a recovery
- Catch a glimpse
- Make a list
- Come to an agreement
- Have a good time
- Save yourself the trouble
- Go online
- Make plans
- Do damage
- Do your makeup
- Do the shopping
- Take advice
- Take turns
- Get a letter
- Have a think
- Do harm
- Have a meal
- Catch someone’s eye
- Break the rules
- Get together
- Make furniture
- Keep score
- Have no education
- Save lives
- Come to an end
- Get pregnant
- Have a lisp
- Do homework
- Come into view
- Get started
- Take a call
- Make a sales call
- Have a break
- Have a nightmare
- Take a while/ a minute/ five minutes
- Get lost
- Take temperature
- Have some sugar
- Have an experience
- Make progress
- Come to a decision
1000 English collocations PDF
- Have a competition
- Break-even
- Have a career/ goal
- Break the mold
- Have a sandwich
- Have a headache
- Take a break
- Take action
- Keep a secret
- Say no more
- Make sense
- Take about place
- Take notice
- Get stuck in a traffic jam
- Take a photo
- Do exercise
- Ask a question
- Save time
- Take prisoner
- Pay attention
- Have a scrub
- Get a/the right
- Have a plan
- Do sums
- Save someone a seat
- Have work
- Have an accident
- Make a break with somebody
- Make a sound
- Go bald
- Get angry
- Have a goal
- Have a touch
- Make a remark
- Make a joke
- Make sure
- Take pride in
- Get getting dark
- Make room
- Keep an appointment
- Come to terms with
- Have a relationship
- Take exercise
- Pay by credit card
- Go mad/angry
- Have an idea
- Have a party/concert
- Have a bad temper
- Get drunk
- Have a doubt
- Take a bite
- Make a tea
- Have a lie-down
- Have faith
- Do the minimum
- Make a cup of tea
- Make an objection
- Ask a favor
- Have a temperature
- Get fired
- Have a bad fall
- Make a pass at
- Get changed (change clothes)
The most common collocations in English PDF
- Get cool
- Get wet
- Have a dispute
- Break a window
- Have a quarrel
- Have a game
- Keep a diary
- Go sailing
- Make friends
- Get out of breath
- Take advantage
- Make your bed
- Have a busy day
- Do your nails
- Make a suggestion
- Make a discovery
- Go blind
- Do well
- Go crazy
- Make fun of someone
- Take a shower (have)
- Make an agreement
- Get home (arrive)
- Break free
- Come late
- Make up your mind
- Make an appointment
- Do something wrong
- Make a bundle
- Make an impression
- Make a mess
- Go to war
- Take your time
- Take hostage
- Do gymnastics
- Get good/top/bad marks
- Make a habit
- Pay cash
- Have a fight
- Have a laugh
- Take a picture
- Say a word
1000+ Common collocations in English PDF
- Get a shock
- Get a joke
- Come under attack
- Go to the beach
- Hungary
- Make a decision
- Have a smell
- Have no fear
- Have a passion for
- Make noise
- Go abroad
- Take notes
- Come right back
- Have a good
- Say for certain/sure
- Have a cold
- Make a difference
- Take a risk
- Do research
- Say yes/no
- Get a tan
- Get old
- Get one’s hair cut
- Get a call
- Take care of
- Have a look
- Have an ice-cream
- Make a reservation
- Have a hard time
- Get a degree/ a diploma
- Save money
- Do the paperwork
- Catch someone Red-Handed
- Do better
- Make a deal
- Have a conversation/chat
- Ask if/ whether
- Break wind
- Have a problem
- Do a deal
- Have a meeting
- Take someone’s temperature
- Break a bone/ your arm
- Have a snooze
- Have a talk
- Come prepared
- Ask for directions
- Make a point
- Have a workout
- Have rest
- Have a rest
- Keep calm
- Pay a visit
- Take ages
- Have a chat
- Have an opportunity
- Make and
- Out of fashion
- Come early
- Do a favor
- Come to life
- Make a dress
- Go on a picnic
- Have a nap
- Come complete with
- Break a promise
- Make peace
- Keep a promise
- Have an excuse
- Have a chance
- Have a holiday
- Have a massage
- Take place
- Say a few words
- Make an effort
- Take part
- Break the silence
- Come close
- Do the ironing
- Make an excuse
- Make a contract
- Pay one’s respects
- Do the cooking
- Take a step
- Go smoothly
- Get permission
- Take time of
- Take a lesson
- Come up with
- Keep in touch
- Have sex
- Have a haircut
- Make a bed
- Have an event
- Catch a chill
- Come to a realization
- Have a lesson
- Take care
- Get a chance
- Catch a bus/ a train
- Catch your breath
- Have self-esteem
- Take a bow
- Have patience
- Break loose
- Do something right
- Have trouble
- Ask about
- Make an allusion
- Make an arrangement
- Make ends meet
- Go bad
- Catch a cold
- Make a statement
- Make love
- Do laundry
- Take a nap
- Do the dishes
- Come last
- Have room
- Have skills
- Get ready for
- Ask after somebody
- Take a chance
- Pay a fine
- Say good morning/afternoon
- Make arrangements
- Have a taste
- Come clean about
- Have a go
- Catch a thief
- Make a threat
- Get worried
- Get Hungry
- Get dark
- Have a dance
- Break one’s fall
- Have a business trip
- Get enthusiastic
- Make coffee
- Have a bath
- Get upset
- Catch the flu
- Do a reply-overseas
- Go quiet
- Have sympathy
- Get sleep
- Make a living
- Do the housework
- Make war
- Have a limp
- Get the sack
- Do business
- Take an exam
- Make a prediction
- Make food
- Get the message
- Take a decision (make)
- Have breakfast/lunch/dinmakeupa course
- Come first
- Have a ride
- Make an appearance
- Take a test
- Have a jog
- Have a word
- Catch a ball
- Get into trouble
- Save something
- Take a look
- Take charge
- Make time
- Catch a whiff
- Have a drink
- Take a seat
- Make changes
- Have a glass of wine
- Get a job
- Come on time
- Keep records
- Have a shower
- Have an interview
- Make-believe
- Break new ground
- Have a dream
- Take a class
- Have a listen
- Make a call
- Break a record
- Make an attempt
List of collocations
- Have a safe journey
- Save one’s strength
- Save energy
- Do a good
- Say sorry
- Have a depression
- Pay someone a visit
- Have a swim
- Have a day off
- Go missing
- Make a fortune
- Have a walk
- Have a discussion
- Have success
- Go bankrupt
- Get a cold
- Have access (to)
- Make a fuss
- Take time
- Take medicine
- Have a wish
- Catch (on) fire
- Do anything
- Pay a bill
- Go astray
- Keep control
- Take to court
- Get a splitting headache
- Have an exam
- Ask for advice
- Get hot
- Take a rest
- Make a cake
- Make a phone call
- Have the chance (to)
- Makeup
- Break someone’s heart
- Make a sandwich
- Have a wash
- Do the right thing
- Get nowhere
- Make a rude gesture
- Come to a stop
- Go finishing
- Get divorced
- Ask permission
- Have something to eat
- Break a code
- Take an opportunity
- Break a habit
- Have a try
- Make breakfast/lunch/dinner
- Make a promise
- Get dressed/ undressed
- Do nothing
- Go insane (idiom)
- Break the news to someone
1000+ Common collocations in English PDF
- Do the math
- Break a leg
- Keep someone’s place
- Go out of business
- Go on a date
- Have an appointment with
- Do experiments
- Do the washing up
- Have a stretch
- Have a cup of tea/ coffee
- Do badly
- Make a fire
- Make an exception
- Break ground
- Do the cleaning
- Make a note (of)
- Get frightened
- Affect (on)
- Break news
- Catch sight of
- Make the bed
- Do your best
- Have an energy bar
- Save space
- Do crosswords
- Have a birthday
- Have a right
- Have a confrontation
- Have a bite
- Take up space
- Do work
- Keep your balance
- Get a ticket
- Have a backache
- Catch someone’s attention
- Say nothing
- Break a law
- Make a complaint
- Make an observation
- Have a fit
- Make a salad
- Make a fool of yourself
- The maximum
- Have soul
- Ask for something
- Have a stroke
- Make a speech
- Come to a compromise
- Have difficulty
- Make a choice
- Have a feeling
- Take a number
- Have fun
- Have a shave
- Get married
- Pay someone a compliment
- Have a drill
- Keep the change
- Have a run
- Save someone’s life
- Make one’s bow
- Get the impression
- Do your duty
- Make a presentation
- Make tracks
- Get a clue
- Get the ticket (buy)
- Have a moment
- Make a mistake
- Get tired
- Break the ice
- Make one’s way back
- Say hello
- Make a takeover bid
- Break the spell
- Keep quiet
- Save electricity
- Make a move
- Break the bank
- Make a snack
- Say goodbye
- Get to sleep
- Have a baby
- Catch you, Latter
- Make contact
- Have a salad
- Have food
- Come to a hungry on
- Make a confession
INFO-GRAPHICS