Collocations in English - Learn English Vocabulary

Summary

In this lesson from Oxford Online English, Kasia introduces collocations, explaining their importance in natural English speech. She highlights how certain word combinations, like 'heavy traffic' and 'make a mistake,' sound correct to native speakers, while others do not. The lesson covers various types of collocations, effective learning strategies, and memory techniques to retain them, such as using full sentences and grouping by topics. By focusing on collocations, learners can significantly enhance their vocabulary and fluency, ultimately improving their communication skills in English.

Takeaways

• 😀 Collocations are word combinations that naturally go together in English, crucial for fluent speech.
• 😀 Understanding collocations helps learners avoid common mistakes, such as saying 'hard traffic' instead of 'heavy traffic.'
• 😀 There are various types of collocations, including verb-noun, adjective-noun, adverb-adjective, and noun-noun combinations.
• 😀 Common English verbs like do, make, get, give, and have each have numerous associated collocations.
• 😀 Regular reading and listening to English materials are effective ways to learn and notice collocations.
• 😀 Using a dictionary can help find additional collocations for words you encounter.
• 😀 Memorizing collocations in full sentences aids in retention and understanding their context.
• 😀 Flashcard apps, such as Quizlet and Anki, can be utilized for regular review of collocations.
• 😀 Organizing collocations by topic can enhance learning and allow for practical application in writing.
• 😀 Focusing on collocations can significantly improve vocabulary usage without needing to learn entirely new words.

Q & A

What are collocations?

Collocations are combinations of words that naturally fit together in English, where some combinations are correct while others are not.

Why can't you say 'hard traffic'?

'Hard traffic' is not a common collocation in English. The correct term is 'heavy traffic,' which is widely accepted by native speakers.

How do collocations affect fluency in English?

Knowing and using the right collocations makes speech sound more natural and fluent, as they are commonly used by native speakers.

Can collocations be based on parts of speech other than verbs?

Yes, collocations can be formed from any part of speech, including adjective-noun, adverb-adjective, and noun-noun combinations.

What is an example of an adjective-noun collocation?

An example of an adjective-noun collocation is 'great achievement' or 'long journey.'

What should learners do to find and learn collocations effectively?

Learners should engage in regular reading and listening practice in English, paying close attention to collocations and noting them down.

How can you use a dictionary to learn more collocations?

You can look up words in a monolingual dictionary to discover additional collocations and their meanings.

What strategies can help with remembering collocations?

Effective strategies include learning collocations in full sentences, using flashcard apps for regular review, and grouping collocations by topic.

Why is it suggested to learn vocabulary from real-life sources?

Learning from real-life sources helps in understanding the context in which collocations are used, making them easier to remember and apply.

What is the key takeaway regarding vocabulary and collocations?

The key takeaway is that learning collocations enhances vocabulary usage significantly, allowing for more effective and varied expression without needing to memorize many new words.