Vocabulary • Word Combinations
English Collocations Guide
Master 90+ natural word combinations used by native speakers
Last updated: March 2026 • 6 categories • With example sentences
What Are Collocations?
Collocations are words that frequently appear together in natural English. They aren't fixed grammar rules, but conventional word combinations that native speakers use automatically. For example, we say heavy rain not strong rain, and make a decision not do a decision.
90+Collocations
6Categories
100%With Examples
Verb + Noun (20)
These collocations involve a common verb paired with a noun. Mastering these will help you sound more natural.
| Collocation | Example Sentence |
|---|---|
make a decision | "I need to make a decision about my future." |
take a risk | "Starting a business always involves taking a risk." |
do your homework | "Please do your homework before you watch TV." |
give advice | "Could you give me some advice?" |
break a promise | "It's important not to break a promise." |
catch a cold | "Wear a jacket, or you might catch a cold." |
save time | "Taking the highway will save us time." |
make progress | "The students are making progress in their English studies." |
take a break | "Let's take a break and get some coffee." |
pay attention | "Please pay attention to the instructions." |
make an effort | "You need to make an effort to improve your grades." |
take notes | "I always take notes during lectures." |
lose weight | "She wants to lose weight before the wedding." |
gain experience | "Internships help you gain experience in your field." |
raise awareness | "The campaign aims to raise awareness about climate change." |
meet a deadline | "We worked overtime to meet the deadline." |
make a mistake | "Everyone makes mistakes; it's how we learn." |
run a business | "She runs a successful business from home." |
keep a secret | "Can you keep a secret?" |
make an appointment | "I need to make an appointment with the dentist." |
Adjective + Noun (18)
These collocations consist of an adjective that is typically used to describe a particular noun.
| Collocation | Example Sentence |
|---|---|
heavy rain | "We cancelled the picnic because of the heavy rain." |
strong coffee | "I need a strong coffee to wake up this morning." |
deep sleep | "He was in a deep sleep and didn't hear the alarm." |
high-paying job | "She is looking for a high-paying job in finance." |
rich vocabulary | "Reading books is a great way to build a rich vocabulary." |
common knowledge | "It is common knowledge that the Earth is round." |
fast food | "Eating too much fast food is unhealthy." |
close friend | "She shared the news with her close friends first." |
hard work | "Success requires hard work and dedication." |
bright future | "The young graduate has a bright future ahead." |
broad daylight | "The robbery occurred in broad daylight." |
key factor | "Education is a key factor in economic development." |
golden opportunity | "This scholarship is a golden opportunity for students." |
fatal mistake | "Ignoring safety protocols could be a fatal mistake." |
heated debate | "The proposal sparked a heated debate in parliament." |
vicious cycle | "Poverty often creates a vicious cycle that's hard to escape." |
burning desire | "He has a burning desire to become a doctor." |
harsh criticism | "The film received harsh criticism from reviewers." |
Adverb + Adjective (16)
In these collocations, an adverb is used to intensify or modify an adjective.
| Collocation | Example Sentence |
|---|---|
deeply concerned | "She was deeply concerned about her exam results." |
bitterly disappointed | "He was bitterly disappointed when he didn't get the job." |
highly successful | "Her new book was highly successful." |
painfully shy | "As a child, I was painfully shy." |
fully aware | "I am fully aware of the consequences." |
utterly ridiculous | "His excuse for being late was utterly ridiculous." |
perfectly clear | "Let me make this perfectly clear: we will not tolerate cheating." |
seriously injured | "Three people were seriously injured in the accident." |
highly unlikely | "It is highly unlikely that he will agree to that." |
absolutely essential | "A valid passport is absolutely essential for travel." |
wildly popular | "The new app became wildly popular overnight." |
genuinely surprised | "I was genuinely surprised by the announcement." |
blissfully unaware | "She was blissfully unaware of the danger." |
mildly annoyed | "He seemed mildly annoyed by the interruption." |
fiercely competitive | "The job market is fiercely competitive these days." |
distinctly different | "The two approaches are distinctly different." |
Verb + Adverb (12)
These collocations pair verbs with adverbs that naturally modify them.
| Collocation | Example Sentence |
|---|---|
strongly recommend | "I strongly recommend this restaurant." |
firmly believe | "I firmly believe in equal opportunities." |
totally agree | "I totally agree with your point of view." |
flatly refuse | "She flatly refused to answer any questions." |
badly need | "This house badly needs renovation." |
deeply regret | "We deeply regret any inconvenience caused." |
hardly know | "I hardly know her; we've only met once." |
sincerely apologize | "I sincerely apologize for the delay." |
eagerly await | "Fans eagerly await the sequel." |
bitterly complain | "Customers bitterly complained about the service." |
vaguely remember | "I vaguely remember meeting him years ago." |
categorically deny | "The company categorically denied the allegations." |
Noun + Noun (12)
These collocations combine two nouns that commonly appear together.
| Collocation | Example Sentence |
|---|---|
traffic jam | "We got stuck in a traffic jam for two hours." |
blood pressure | "High blood pressure can lead to heart disease." |
carbon footprint | "We should all try to reduce our carbon footprint." |
job satisfaction | "Job satisfaction is more important than salary to some people." |
brain drain | "Many countries suffer from brain drain as talented people emigrate." |
generation gap | "The generation gap makes communication difficult." |
rush hour | "Avoid driving during rush hour if possible." |
safety measures | "The company implemented new safety measures." |
side effects | "This medication may cause side effects." |
climate change | "Climate change is the greatest challenge of our time." |
human rights | "Everyone deserves basic human rights." |
role model | "Parents should be role models for their children." |
Preposition Collocations (12)
These collocations involve specific prepositions that follow certain words.
| Collocation | Example Sentence |
|---|---|
good at | "She is very good at mathematics." |
interested in | "I'm interested in learning about history." |
afraid of | "Many children are afraid of the dark." |
responsible for | "Who is responsible for this mess?" |
different from | "British English is different from American English." |
married to | "She has been married to him for ten years." |
famous for | "Paris is famous for the Eiffel Tower." |
worried about | "I'm worried about the upcoming exam." |
capable of | "She is capable of achieving great things." |
proud of | "I'm so proud of my daughter's achievements." |
similar to | "Your idea is similar to what I was thinking." |
based on | "The movie is based on a true story." |
How to Learn Collocations Effectively
✅ Best Strategies
- • Learn in chunks - Don't memorize individual words; learn the whole collocation
- • Read extensively - Notice collocations in context while reading
- • Keep a collocations notebook - Group new collocations by verb or topic
- • Practice with sentences - Write your own sentences using new collocations
⚠️ Common Mistakes
- • ✗ do a decision → ✓ make a decision
- • ✗ strong rain → ✓ heavy rain
- • ✗ big mistake → ✓ big/serious mistake (both work!)
- • ✗ make homework → ✓ do homework
Frequently Asked Questions
What are collocations?▼
Collocations are words that naturally go together in English. They're conventional combinations that native speakers use. For example, "make a decision" not "do a decision."
What's the difference between "make" and "do" collocations?▼
"Make" is typically used with creating/producing (make a decision, make progress). "Do" is used with actions/tasks (do homework, do the dishes). There are exceptions, so memorize common combinations.
Why are collocations important for IELTS/TOEFL?▼
Using correct collocations demonstrates advanced vocabulary range. Examiners look for natural word combinations. Incorrect collocations can lower your score even if your meaning is understood.