Using Collocations to Improve Vocabulary

Have you ever wondered why some sentences just do not sound correct, despite using correct sentence structure and grammar?

Have a look at this sentence: I used money on shopping.

In this sentence, replacing “used money” with “spent money” will make the sentence correct-I spent money on shopping.

What is a collocation?

Collocation refers to a group of two or more words that commonly go together. Some common examples of collocations are: do homework, make a bed, take a risk, give someone advice, throw a party, and save time.

Why are collocations important?

Collocations are one of the most important tools for improving vocabulary. Using strong collocations makes your writing and speech fluent by providing the much-needed grasp on the correct use of language.

How to learn collocations?

No language can be learned in a vacuum, and the same is true for collocations. The best way to learn a new word is to learn it in combination with other words, called “chunks” of language. For example, when learning vocabulary related to banking, it might be a good idea to learn expressions such as open an account, key in the PIN, land a deal, deposit a check, rather than learning single isolated words.

How many types of collocations are there?

There are several types of collocations depending on the combination such as verbs, nouns, adjectives, etc. Some of the common collocations are verbs and nouns, adverbs and adjectives, nouns and nouns, adjectives and nouns, and verbs and prepositions.

Have a look at these sentences using “interest” in different combinations of words:

He is deeply interested in politics. (adverb+interest)

I get along well with Rupi as we share many interests. (verb+interest)

Timothy is interested in pursuing post-graduation. (interest+preposition)

To conclude, understanding collocations help in improving fluency as they are the words that often go together.