Collocations are an integral part of mastering English. They consist of words that are frequently used together and sound natural to native speakers. While learning vocabulary and grammar is crucial, understanding and using collocations can significantly improve your fluency and make your speech and writing more natural.
In this comprehensive guide, we will dive into 500 essential collocations in English, categorized by common verbs, nouns, adjectives, and more. These collocations will not only help you understand how words are commonly paired but also provide you with a solid foundation for sounding more fluent and confident in your English communication.
What Are Collocations?
Collocations are combinations of words that are often used together. These combinations sound natural and are regularly used by native speakers. They might be made up of two or more words that fit together in a certain way. For example:
“Make a decision”—I”t’s common to say “make a decision,” not “do a decision.”
“Have a shower”—It” sounds natural to say “have a shower” instead of “take a shower,” although both are grammatically correct.
Using collocations correctly can make your English sound more fluent and idiomatic. In this guide, we will provide a list of 500 collocations, divided into categories, and offer practical examples to demonstrate their correct usage.
Common Collocations in English
Here, we’ll explore collocations grouped by their usage with common verbs, adjectives, and nouns. Each section will include a variety of practical examples so you can easily see how these combinations are used in everyday language.
Collocations with Verbs
Verbs are often the backbone of collocations, and knowing which verbs pair naturally with specific nouns or adjectives can enhance your speech.
Come
Come up with an idea
Come to a conclusion
Come across as polite
Come into view
Come to terms with something
Come to a decision
Get
Get a job
Get married
Get in touch with someone
Get the impression
Get lost
Get rid of
Do
Do business
Do the dishes
Do your homework
Do the laundry
Do a favor
Do research
Take
Take a break
Take a shower
Take part in something
Take a chance
Take a look
Take care of
Make
Make a decision
Make a mistake
Make a phone call
Make friends
Make progress
Make plans
Collocations with Adjectives
Adjectives in collocations provide important details about the nouns they modify. Knowing the right adjective to pair with nouns or verbs helps make your language more precise and dynamic.
Heavy
Heavy rain
Heavy traffic
Heavy workload
Heavy heart
Heavy responsibility
Strong
Strong argument
Strong coffee
Strong bond
Strong personality
Strong influence
Close
Close friends
Close call
Close family
Close relationship
Close attention
High
High demand
High expectations
High standard
High speed
High price
Deep
Deep conversation
Deep knowledge
Deep sleep
Deep love
Deep thought
Collocations with Nouns
Collocations with nouns help us convey meaning efficiently by pairing the right adjectives, verbs, and prepositions with nouns.
Time
Spend time
Kill time
Make time
Take your time
Waste time
Save time
Money
Save money
Earn money
Spend money
Waste money
Invest money
Borrow money
Problem
Solve a problem
Face a problem
Raise a problem
Deal with a problem
Identify a problem
Address a problem
Opinion
Form an opinion
Express an opinion
Change your opinion
Strong opinion
Public opinion
Personal opinion
Idea
Come up with an idea
Share an idea
Think of an idea
Creative idea
Great idea
Bright idea
Collocations with Prepositions
Prepositions are also a crucial part of collocations. Certain verbs, adjectives, and nouns combine naturally with prepositions to create more accurate meaning.
In
In charge of
In the mood
In trouble
In time
In love
In debt
On
On time
On the phone
On the way
On purpose
On fire
On hold
At
At risk
At the same time
At work
At ease
At war
At odds
With
With ease
With a smile
With confidence
With love,
With care
With the help of
By
By accident
By chance
By mistake
By email
By train
By law
Collocations with Adverbs
Adverbs modify verbs and adjectives, often influencing the tone of a sentence. Understanding common adverb collocations can help you sound more natural.
Really
Really important
Really hard
Really good
Really tired
Really excited
Very
Very happy
Very useful
Very close
Very busy
Very careful
Quite
Quite easy
Quite difficult
Quite exciting
Quite common
Quite tired
Totally
Totally agree
Totally different
Totally wrong
Totally sure
Totally fine
Collocations with Common Phrases
Some collocations take the form of common phrases that are used in everyday conversation.
Make sure
Make sure to call
Make sure you arrive early
Make sure everything is ready
Take advantage
Take advantage of the opportunity
Take advantage of the situation
Take advantage of a deal
Come across
Come across as friendly
Come across as rude
Come across as sincere
Get along
Get along with someone
Get along well
Get along fine
Collocations with Complex Verbs
Verbs often combine with specific nouns or adjectives to form phrases that convey specific meanings. Understanding and using these advanced verb collocations can make your speech and writing more sophisticated.
Take
Take a stand
Take into account
Take for granted
Take into consideration
Take a back seat
Take charge of
Bring
Bring to light
Bring about change
Bring someone to justice
Bring a lawsuit
Bring in revenue
Bring out the best in
Come
Come to terms with
Come to grips with
Come under scrutiny
Come to the conclusion
Come to a halt
Come into play
Give
Give someone a hand
Give priority to
Give someone a break
Give the green light
Give rise to
Give someone a warning
Adjectives in Business Collocations
In the business world, certain adjectives combine with nouns to form collocations that are used frequently. These collocations can make you sound more professional in meetings and reports.
Critical
Critical issue
Critical decision
Critical thinking
Critical analysis
Critical review
Critical point
Strategic
Strategic plan
Strategic decision
Strategic advantage
Strategic goals
Strategic move
Strategic partnership
Major
Major challenge
Major breakthrough
Major role
Major change
Major influence
Major development
Operational
Operational efficiency
Operational cost
Operational issues
Operational management
Operational success
Operational strategy
Significant
Significant impact
Significant change
Significant improvement
Significant contribution
Significant increase
Significant opportunity
Collocations with Technology and Science
As technology and science evolve, new collocations appear to reflect new concepts and innovations. Here are some of the most common collocations related to these fields.
Advanced
Advanced technology
Advanced research
Advanced level
Advanced techniques
Advanced features
Advanced methods
Innovative
Innovative approach
Innovative solutions
Innovative technology
Innovative design
Innovative strategy
Innovative product
Cutting-edge
Cutting-edge technology
Cutting-edge research
Cutting-edge development
Cutting-edge solutions
Cutting-edge tools
Cutting-edge equipment
Groundbreaking
Groundbreaking discovery
Groundbreaking research
Groundbreaking technology
Groundbreaking innovation
Groundbreaking study
Groundbreaking development
Collocations with Phrasal Verbs
Phrasal verbs are common in English, and many of them are part of collocations. These combinations are informal and commonly used in spoken English.
Get
Get away with
Get along with
Get over something
Get through something
Get out of hand
Get back to
Break
Break down
Break up
Break in
Break off
Break into
Break through
Set
Set up
Set aside
Set off
Set back
Set up shop
Set out to
Look
Look after
Look forward to
Look into
Look out for
Look up to
Look up
Take
Take off
Take on
Take up
Take in
Take over
Take after
Collocations with Food and Drink
The way we talk about food and drink often involves specific collocations in English that reflect natural English usage. Knowing these can help you sound more like a native speaker when discussing meals or recipes.
Eat
Eat breakfast
Eat dinner
Eat out
Eat healthy
Eat snacks
Eat quickly
Drink
Drink water
Drink tea
Drink alcohol
Drink coffee
Drink juice
Drink responsibly
Cook
Cook dinner
Cook breakfast
Cook a meal
Cook from scratch
Cook slowly
Cook up a storm
Taste
Taste delicious
Taste sweet
Taste sour
Taste good
Taste bad
Taste fresh
Serve
Serve food
Serve drinks
Serve dessert
Serve at a party
Serve with a smile
Collocations with Travel and Places
When discussing travel, there are many common collocations in English that describe actions and situations you may encounter. These combinations make it easier to express travel plans, locations, and experiences.
Go
Go abroad
Go on vacation
Go sightseeing
Go on a trip
Go hiking
Go for a walk
Visit
Visit a place
Visit a friend
Visit a country
Visit a museum
Visit family
Arrive
Arrive at the airport
Arrive at the station
Arrive early
Arrive on time
Arrive safely
Stay
Stay in a hotel
Stay with friends
Stay at home
Stay for a week
Stay overnight
Book
Book a flight
Book a hotel room
Book a tour
Book a ticket
Book a table
Collocations with Technology and Media
In today’s digital world, technology and media play a large role in our everyday conversations. Whether you’re discussing your favorite apps, social media habits, or your computer, knowing the right collocations is key.
Use
Use a computer
Use an app
Use the internet
Use social media
Use a phone
Watch
Watch TV
Watch a movie
Watch a show
Watch the news
Watch online videos
Send
Send an email
Send a message
Send a photo
Send a tweet
Send a text
Download
Download an app
Download music
Download a file
Download a game
Post
Post a photo
Post on social media
Post a comment
Post a status update
Post a video
Collocations with Health and Fitness
When it comes to health, fitness, and well-being, collocations in English are frequently used to describe activities, states, and advice. Using the correct combinations will allow you to sound more natural and knowledgeable in these contexts.
Exercise
Exercise regularly
Exercise at the gym
Exercise outdoors
Exercise to stay fit
Exercise for health
Lose
Lose weight
Lose your balance
Lose control
Lose motivation
Stay
Stay fit
Stay healthy
Stay active
Stay in shape
Take
Take medication
Take vitamins
Take a break
Take a deep breath
Take care of your health
Feel
Feel tired
Feel sick
Feel better
Feel good
Feel healthy
Collocations with Business and Work
In the world of business and work, there are many collocations in English related to tasks, meetings, and professional conduct. Mastering these collocations will help you sound professional and confident in a workplace setting.
Do
Do business
Do a deal
Do a job
Do work
Do a presentation
Make
Make a profit
Make a deal
Make a decision
Make progress
Make money
Have
Have a meeting
Have a conference
Have a conversation
Have a deadline
Have a job interview
Take
Take charge
Take responsibility
Take the lead
Take a break
Take action
Meet
Meet a client
Meet deadlines
Meet expectations
Meet a target
Meet colleagues
Conclusion On collocations in English
Mastering collocations in English is a surefire way to sound more natural and fluent in both spoken and written communication. By familiarizing yourself with these essential word combinations, you will improve not only your vocabulary but also your overall comprehension and confidence.
As you continue to expand your knowledge of collocations, practice using them in real conversations and written exercises. The more you use them, the more seamlessly they will become a part of your everyday language. Start applying these 500 essential collocations today, and you’ll notice a significant improvement in your English skills.