Practice
Verb collocations
Sign in to saveYou can understand every word in a sentence and still make it sound unusual. English speakers usually say make a decision, not do a decision. Those familiar word partnerships are collocations.
Recognize common verb and noun collocations, then choose a natural pairing that fits the meaning and situation.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
Please pay attention to the safety instructions. /pliːz peɪ əˈtenʃən tə ðə ˈseɪfti ɪnˈstrʌkʃənz/
The short answer
Learn common combinations as complete phrases, such as make a decision, take a break, and pay attention. Do not choose a verb only because it has a similar meaning in your first language.
We need to make a decision before Friday.
Why it works: Make is the usual verb with decision in this meaning.
4 more examples
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Please pay attention to the safety instructions.
Pay attention means listen or look carefully at something.
Not this:Please
give your attentionto the safety instructions. What changes: Give your attention is possible, but pay attention is the usual everyday instruction. -
I need to take a short break after this call.
Take is the usual verb when you stop an activity for a short rest.
Not this:I need to
have a short breakafter this call. What changes: Have a break is also common, especially in British English. -
The team made progress on the new schedule.
Make progress describes moving forward with a task or skill.
Not this:The team
showed progresson the new schedule. What changes: Show progress can describe visible results, while make progress focuses on the work moving forward. -
She gave me useful advice about the interview.
Give is the usual verb when someone offers advice to another person.
Not this:She
offered me useful adviceabout the interview. What changes: Offer advice is also natural and emphasizes the act of making the advice available.
Read the full guide
First, identify the noun that carries the main idea. Then learn the verb that English normally uses with it. A dictionary can show the meaning of each word, but examples and repeated listening help you remember the pair.
Learn word pairs together
When you meet a useful noun, ask which verb often appears with it. Learn the pair as one item in your notes. This helps you avoid translating one word at a time.
We need to make a decision before Friday.
English commonly uses make with decision. The words make and decision work as a familiar pair here.
You and a colleague must choose a meeting time. Which phrase can you use?
You can say: "We need to make a decision today."
Use pay attention for careful focus
Use pay attention when you want someone to focus carefully on information, a person, or an activity. It often appears in instructions and classroom language.
Please pay attention to the safety instructions.
Pay attention to is the usual everyday pattern. Follow attention with to before the thing you need to focus on.
Tell a learner to focus carefully on the final question.
Say: "Please pay attention to the final question."
Use take a break for a short rest
Take a break means stop what you are doing for a short time. You can use it for work, study, exercise, or a long journey.
I need to take a short break after this call.
Have a break is also common, especially in British English. Both phrases describe a short rest.
Your group has worked for two hours. Suggest a short rest.
You can say: "Let's take a short break."
Use make progress for improvement
Use make progress when a person or group moves forward with a skill, plan, or task. The progress may be slow, but the phrase shows that something is improving.
The team made progress on the new schedule.
Make progress describes movement forward. You can add an area after on, such as progress on a report or progress on pronunciation.
Describe your improvement in listening this month.
For example: "I have made progress with listening this month."
Collect collocations from real context
A list is more useful when it includes a sentence and a situation. Write down who used the phrase and why. Then make one new sentence of your own with the same pair.
She gave me useful advice about the interview.
Give advice is a common everyday pair. Offer advice is also natural when you want to stress that someone made help available.
A friend helps you prepare for an interview. Write one sentence with give advice.
For example: "My friend gave me advice before the interview."
Before you go
Remember this
Learn verb collocations as pairs: make a decision, pay attention, take a break, make progress, and give advice. Keep the pair together when you take notes, and collect examples that show when and how people use it.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "Verb collocations"
What is a verb collocation?
A verb collocation is a verb and noun that English speakers often use together. For example, make a decision is a familiar pair for choosing between options. Learning the pair together helps you choose words more naturally.
We need to make a decision before Friday.
Why is do a decision unusual in English?
Do and make can have similar meanings in some situations, but English usually uses make with decision. Say make a decision. Another useful pair is make progress when work or learning moves forward.
We need to reach a decision before Friday.
Do I always have to use one exact verb with a noun?
No. Collocations are strong preferences, but more than one phrase can sometimes be correct. For a short rest, take a break and have a break are both natural. The situation and variety of English can affect which phrase sounds most familiar.
Please pay attention to the safety instructions.
How can I remember verb collocations?
Record the full phrase with a short example, not the noun alone. For instance, write pay attention to the safety instructions and make a new sentence with the same pattern. Reading and listening for repeated pairs will help them become familiar.
Please give your attention to the safety instructions.
Can I use collocations in formal writing?
Yes. Collocations are useful in both conversation and writing, but some choices are more formal than others. Make a decision is common in everyday English, while reach a decision can suit a formal report. Choose a phrase that fits the reader and purpose.
I need to take a short break after this call.