Lesson 9: What Are Collocations & Why They Matter?

Collocations are combinations of words that frequently appear together and sound natural to native speakers. They are a key aspect of fluency and play a significant role in achieving a high band score in the IELTS exam. This lesson will explain what collocations are, why they matter, and how you can use them effectively in Writing and Speaking.

1. What Are Collocations?

Collocations are pairs or groups of words that are commonly used together in a way that sounds correct to native speakers. They are not random; they follow specific patterns based on usage and convention.

Examples of Collocations

  • Verb + Noun: Make a decision, take a break, do homework
  • Adjective + Noun: Strong coffee, heavy rain, bright idea
  • Adverb + Adjective: Highly effective, deeply concerned, utterly ridiculous
  • Noun + Noun: Traffic jam, phone call, business meeting

2. Why Do Collocations Matter in IELTS?

Using collocations correctly can significantly improve your performance in the IELTS exam for the following reasons:

  1. Lexical Resource: Collocations demonstrate your ability to use a wide range of vocabulary naturally and accurately.
  2. Fluency and Coherence: They make your speech and writing sound more fluent and coherent.
  3. Accuracy: Using the right collocations reduces errors in word choice and improves your overall language accuracy.
  4. Band Score Boost: Proper use of collocations can help you achieve a higher band score in Lexical Resource (Writing and Speaking).

3. Types of Collocations

Here are some common types of collocations and examples:

a. Verb + Noun Collocations

  • Make a decision (not do a decision)
  • Take a photo (not make a photo)
  • Do homework (not make homework)

b. Adjective + Noun Collocations

  • Strong coffee (not powerful coffee)
  • Heavy rain (not strong rain)
  • Bright idea (not shiny idea)

c. Adverb + Adjective Collocations

  • Highly effective (not very effective)
  • Deeply concerned (not very concerned)
  • Utterly ridiculous (not completely ridiculous)

d. Noun + Noun Collocations

  • Traffic jam (not traffic block)
  • Phone call (not phone ring)
  • Business meeting (not business discussion)

4. How to Learn Collocations

a. Read Extensively

Reading books, articles, and essays exposes you to natural collocations used in context.

b. Use a Collocation Dictionary

A collocation dictionary (e.g., Oxford Collocations Dictionary) provides lists of words that commonly go together.

c. Practice with Exercises

Complete collocation exercises and quizzes to reinforce your learning.

d. Keep a Collocation Notebook

Write down new collocations you encounter and practice using them in sentences.

e. Listen to Native Speakers

Pay attention to how native speakers use collocations in conversations, podcasts, and videos.

5. Common Collocation Mistakes in IELTS

a. Incorrect Verb + Noun Combinations

  • Incorrect: Do a decision
  • Correct: Make a decision

b. Overusing Basic Words

  • Incorrect: Very important
  • Correct: Extremely important or Crucial

c. Mixing Up Similar Collocations

  • Incorrect: Make a break
  • Correct: Take a break

6. Practice Activities

Activity 1: Match the Collocations

Match the words on the left with their correct collocations on the right:

  1. Make a. A decision
  2. Take b. A photo
  3. Do c. Homework

Answer Key:

  1. a, 2. b, 3. c

Activity 2: Fill in the Blanks

Complete the sentences with the correct collocations:

  1. She needs to __________ a decision about her future career.
  2. The __________ rain caused flooding in the city.
  3. He was __________ concerned about the environmental issues.

Answer Key:

  1. Make
  2. Heavy
  3. Deeply

Activity 3: Rewrite the Sentence

Rewrite the following sentences using appropriate collocations:

  1. He did a big mistake in the project.
  2. The teacher gave us some advices about the exam.
  3. We had a very strong discussion in the meeting.

Possible Answers:

  1. He made a big mistake in the project.
  2. The teacher gave us some advice about the exam.
  3. We had a highly productive discussion in the meeting.

Activity 4: Speaking Practice

Choose a common IELTS topic (e.g., education, environment, technology) and practice answering questions using collocations. For example:

  • Question: How important is education in your country?
  • Answer: Education plays a crucial role in my country, and many people make significant efforts to pursue higher studies.

7. Tips for Using Collocations Effectively

  1. Learn in Context: Study collocations in sentences or paragraphs, not in isolation.
  2. Practice Regularly: Use collocations in your daily writing and speaking practice.
  3. Avoid Direct Translation: Collocations may not translate directly from your native language.
  4. Focus on Common Collocations: Prioritize learning collocations that are frequently used in IELTS topics.
  5. Get Feedback: Ask a teacher or native speaker to review your use of collocations.

By mastering collocations, you can enhance your vocabulary, improve your fluency, and achieve a higher band score in the IELTS exam. Practice regularly and incorporate collocations into your writing and speaking tasks!