Collocations

Collocations refer to groups of words that frequently appear together in a language. They are combinations of words that sound natural to native speakers because they've been repeatedly observed together. Understanding collocations is crucial for achieving fluency and natural-sounding speech and writing. They contribute significantly to a text's coherence and ease of understanding. collocations are not just grammatically correct; they are also semantically and pragmatically appropriate in a given context. Incorrect use of collocations can lead to misunderstandings or sound unnatural, even if the individual words are used correctly. This can involve verbs and nouns (e.g., 'make a decision'), adjectives and nouns (e.g., 'strong tea'), adverbs and adjectives (e.g., 'highly skilled') or verbs and adverbs (e.g., 'strongly disagree'). They can also be multi-word units, or idioms. Mastering collocations enhances vocabulary, improves communication skills, and provides a deeper understanding of a language’s nuances.

Collocations meaning with examples

• She decided to **make a decision** after carefully weighing all the options. The phrase 'make a decision' is a common collocation, where 'make' works best with 'decision' instead of 'take' or 'do.' Attempting to use an alternative can sound unnatural or even convey a different meaning altogether. She deliberated and made her choice; the weight of her decision was overwhelming.
• The chef used **strong tea** to create a delicious marinade. The collocation 'strong tea' is a more natural fit than alternatives such as 'powerful tea'. The tea's strength directly impacted the flavor; the chef adjusted it meticulously. He aimed to make the marinade robust and tasty, with an essence of strong black tea.
• The consultant was **highly skilled** in project management. Using 'highly' with 'skilled' reflects proficiency and advanced abilities. The consultant's training and experience were evident; her performance was consistently impressive. Her expertise and professional management were exceptional; she had a high-performance history.
• They **strongly disagree** with the proposed policy change. Here, 'strongly' is used to emphasize the intensity of the disagreement. The opposition was vehement, and their stance clear; a compromise looked improbable. Their conviction against it was obvious; any attempt to influence their choice would be a challenge.