English Collocations: Learn Words That Go Together
Learn useful combinations such as make a decision, do homework and heavy rain, then use them in sentences that fit your life.
You know the words make and decision, but do you know that they often belong together? Learning “make a decision” gives you a useful expression you can put straight into a sentence: “We need to make a decision today.”
A collocation is a combination of words that commonly occurs together. “Heavy rain,” “do homework” and “pay attention” are familiar examples. Grammar alone does not tell you which combination people normally choose, so learn the phrase along with its meaning.
Save a useful phrase, an example sentence and a note about when you would use it. Instead of recording only decision, record make a decision. Then change the subject or time: “She made a decision yesterday.”
Why separate words are not always enough
You might translate a familiar expression word by word and choose a verb that sounds unusual in English. A listener may still understand you, but the usual combination is easier to recognise. In everyday English, “make a mistake” is a natural choice; “do a mistake” is not the usual expression.
This does not mean that every noun has only one possible partner. You can make a decision or reach a decision. Take a decision is also used, especially in British English. The aim is to learn useful combinations in their contexts, not to turn every alternative into an error.
Three patterns to notice
Verb + noun
“Take a break.” The verb belongs with a noun phrase. Keep the article where you need it: take a break.
Adjective + noun
“Heavy rain.” The adjective gives information about the noun. “A heavy bag” uses the same adjective with a different meaning.
Adverb + adjective
“Fully prepared.” The adverb modifies the adjective: “We were fully prepared for the meeting.”
Keep the grammar around the phrase
Some useful patterns need a preposition: “pay attention to the instructions.” Record enough of the pattern to use it correctly.
You will find other patterns too. These labels help you notice the relationship between words; you do not need to classify every phrase before you use it.
Twelve useful collocations with examples
Start with expressions that fit your life. The examples below use everyday situations so you can replace the details with your own.
Make a decision
“We need to make a decision about the venue.”
Choose between options.
Make a mistake
“I made a mistake in the address.”
Use made when you describe a finished past event.
Make progress
“I'm making progress with my listening.”
Progress is normally uncountable here: do not add a before it.
Do homework
“I do my homework after dinner.”
Use homework without a plural -s in this meaning.
Do research
“We're doing research on local transport.”
You can also say “conduct research” in a more formal context.
Take a break
“Let's take a short break.”
You can add an adjective inside the noun phrase.
Take a photo
“Could you take a photo of us?”
The camera action is usually take in everyday English.
Pay attention
“Please pay attention to the safety instructions.”
Keep to before the thing you should notice.
Keep a promise
“She kept her promise to call.”
The phrase means doing what you said you would do.
Heavy rain
“Heavy rain delayed the match.”
This is a common way to describe a lot of rain.
Strong coffee
“I prefer strong coffee.”
Here strong describes the strength of the drink.
Fully prepared
“We were fully prepared for the presentation.”
The phrase describes being completely ready.
Make and do: use examples instead of one perfect rule
Make often appears with things you create or produce, and do often appears with activities. That can be a helpful starting point, but it does not predict every phrase. Learn “make an effort” and “do your best” as combinations rather than forcing them into a rule.
Keep a small set of related phrases. For study, you might choose do homework, make progress and take a break. For a project, you might choose do research, make a decision and meet a deadline. Say each phrase in a complete sentence so you practise its grammar as well as its words.
“This week, our group is doing research for a presentation. We're making progress, but we still need to make a decision about the final example. We'll take a break after lunch and then practise together.”
This is an original example, not a script you need to memorise. Replace the project with something you actually do.
How to check a combination
Look up the important word
Use a learner's dictionary. If you are unsure about a verb with decision, start with the entry for decision.
Read the whole example
Notice the verb, article, preposition and situation. Check whether the phrase is formal, informal or associated with a variety of English.
Write a sentence that fits your meaning
Compare your sentence with the pattern. If you need confirmation, check another dictionary example or ask a teacher about that particular context.
A single search result does not show that a phrase is common or appropriate everywhere. Some unusual combinations appear in jokes, poetry, technical writing or a different meaning. When you are learning everyday English, dictionary examples give you a useful place to start.
Store a phrase you can actually retrieve
Phrase: make a decision
Meaning: choose what to do
My example: “I need to make a decision about my course.”
Recall prompt: “I need to ___ a decision.”
Cover the phrase and answer the prompt. Then make a new sentence without looking. On another day, try the phrase in a different context or tense. Choose a small set you can use rather than copying a long list you never practise.
For a longer review routine, use our seven-day vocabulary review plan. If you already recognise the phrase but cannot say it quickly, try one of the thinking-in-English exercises.
Common mistakes to watch for
- “I did a mistake.” Use “I made a mistake” for the everyday expression.
- “We made some research.” Use “We did some research.” Conducted research is another, more formal option.
- “I'm making a progress.” Use “I'm making progress.” Progress is normally uncountable in this meaning.
- “Pay attention on this example.” Use “Pay attention to this example.” Keep the preposition in your phrase note.
- “Every word has one correct partner.” Context matters. “Strong coffee” and “hot coffee” are both natural, but describe different qualities.
Useful combinations to keep in your notes
Save a phrase, not just a verb
Make a decision and do homework keep the word partnership visible. Reach a decision is another natural option; take a decision also occurs, especially in British English.
Include the next word when it helps
Pay attention to the instructions includes to as part of the useful pattern. Heavy rain and making progress provide other everyday combinations to remember together.
Check meaning as well as frequency
Strong coffee describes strength; hot coffee describes temperature. Both combinations can be natural, so a familiar pairing is not always the only possible one.
Choose a phrase for the meaning you need
Collocations and idioms
The terms can overlap. Collocation describes words that commonly occur together. Idiom describes an expression whose meaning is not fully predictable from its individual words. “Take a photo” is a straightforward combination; “spill the beans” can mean reveal a secret.
A manageable personal phrase set
Start with a few that solve a real communication need. Add more when you can recall and use the current set. There is no required daily number.
Different combinations for different meanings
A word can have several natural partners, and the meaning or variety of English can affect the choice. Check examples in the context you want to use.
Further reading
See Cambridge Dictionary's explanation of collocation and its guide to common verb-and-noun combinations. The practice sentences on this page are original examples.
Build a collection of useful phrases
Use Word Chunks to practise expressions in context, then save the combinations you want to use with your own example sentences.
