The English language is full of pitfalls for a lot of foreign students. “Make a promise“, Take out“, are among the thousands of collocations in daily use which sometimes cause confusion. This type of vocabulary can stimulate understanding and familiarity by discussing the meaning plus giving examples of typical usage. Collocation essentially provides enjoyment and derives greater understanding to every learner of the language.
Read these list of collocations below. Write your possible answers in the blank provided.
- 1. There are still a few details that need to be ironed out before the contract can be signed. (Answer: ____________)
- 2. Instead of idling away at home, your be looking for a job to make a living. (Answer: ______________)
- 3. It was almost a miracle that she managed to live through the ordeal. (Answer: _____________ )
- 4. We are facing a lot of difficulties, but we must press on until our task is completed. (Answer: __________)
- 5. Mrs. Jansen discovered to her horror, that her daughter had run up an enormous telephone bill. (Answer: __________ )
- 6. The political party promised to stamp out poverty in the country if it was elected power. (Answer: ___________ )
- 7. Recent evidence bears out the idea that students learn best in small groups. (Answer: _______)
- 8. I cannot give you a definite answer now. I need time to chew over your proposal. (Answer: _____)
- 9. The remote village was completely cut off from the outside world. ( Answer: ________)
- 10. The school officials were instructed to hush up the scandalous affair. (Answer: ________ )
- 11. The market price of oil got as low as $20 a barrel before it finally bottomed up. (Answer: _______)
- 12. Jerry was force to bow out of the competition after he came down with flu. ( Answer: _______)
Here are more examples:
Make
If you make up an amount, you will need to add to increase the value of something.
If you make up something, you will fabricate a story or invent it so that you can deceive someone.
If you make up time or hours, you add extra hours because you finished early or take some time off before.
If you make up a bed, you need to tidy up your blanket and pillows neatly on the bed.
Get
Get a cab
Get a bonus
Get a drink
Get an email
Get attention
Take
Take a meeting
Take a break
Take time
Take in
Take it
Take down
Can you see how a word can propagate another word? Collocations highlight the importance of how easy to expand your vocabulary when you know how to use it in the everyday conversations. It might sound challenging at first yet it will produce an eloquent and proficient level of your ability to speak English later on.
