2.2 Collocations
What Are Collocations?
Collocations are word combinations that sound natural together in English. They are not always logical—you simply have to learn them through exposure and practice.
Examples:
✅ Correct: Make a decision
❌ Incorrect: Do a decision
✅ Correct: Heavy rain
❌ Incorrect: Strong rain
Why Collocations Matter for IELTS
- Lexical Resource (Writing & Speaking)
- Examiners assess whether you use natural word pairings.
- Weak: “Technology has a big effect on life.”
- Strong: “Technology has a profound impact on modern life.”
- Listening & Reading Comprehension
- Recognizing collocations helps you predict answers (e.g., if you hear “carry out,” expect “research” or “study”).
- Fluency & Natural Sounding English
- Native speakers use collocations automatically. Using them correctly makes your English smoother.
How to Learn Collocations
1. Read High-Quality English
- IELTS Reading passages
- News articles (BBC, The Guardian)
- Academic journals
2. Keep a Collocation Notebook
Example Entry:
- Verb + Noun: “Solve a problem” (not “decide a problem”)
- Adjective + Noun: “Bitterly cold” (not “very cold”)
3. Use a Collocation Dictionary
- Oxford Collocations Dictionary (free online)
- “English Collocations in Use” (Cambridge)