8.1. Collocations

11 COLLOCATIONS

1. to achieve success : lograr el éxito
ej. Anne achieved success by graduating from Stanford with honors

2. bitterly disappointed :  amargamente decepcionado
ej. Jennifer was bitterly disappointed when she was not acceptet at Yale

3. booming economy : economía en auge (exitosa...)

4. brand awareness :conocimiento de la marca
ej. A.F.C concentrated its marketing on brand awareness

5. break a leg : expresión para desear buena suerte "good luck"
ej. Before Claudia gave her speech, her boss told her to "break a leg"

6. to break a promise : romper una promesa
ej. Julie broke a promise to take her baby sister skating on Saturday

7. to break a record : romper un récord
ej. Ahmed broke the record for time to run  the 100 meter  dash

8. to break someone's heart : romperle el corazón a alguien
ej. Lola broke Ian's heart when she went to the dance with Jared instead

9. to break the ice : romper el hielo
ej. Our boss always break the ice by talking  to clients about his children

10. to break the law : violar la ley
ej. The accountant broke the law by transferring company funds into his own  bank account

11. Pursuit of happiness * : búsqueda de la felicidad
ej. The pursuit of happiness is the right that you have to live your life in a way that brings you joy




QUESTION (ABOUT 11.)
* Could you explain what the difference is among these three words upon using them as nouns?
in pursuit of happiness
in search of happiness
in quest of happiness

ANSWER:

'Pursuit' has a connotation of chasing down something, for example, the police might be in pursuit of a fugitive.

A 'quest' has the connotation of an epic story.

A 'search' is the least strong of the three, and the most 'general' sounding, i.e. it could be applied to most situations. You could be 'searching' for your car keys, but you wouldn't be 'in pursuit of' or 'on a quest for' them unless you were making a joke.

I would say, in terms of strength, they could be ranked:

1. Quest (strongest)
2. Pursuit
3. Search (least strong)

Fuente:  150 Useful Collocations, Idioms, and Phrasal Verbs. H. E. Colby

8. Collocations. Exercises

1	He spoke English with a ........ French accent.
			average
			careless
			widespread
			pronounced
			chronic
2	His new novel has met with ........ acclaim.
			careless
			dreadful
			great
			pronounced
			wholehearted
3	We need to make sure that there is enough ........ accommodation to house all the delegates.
			careless
			dreadful
			yellow
			luxury
			wholehearted
4	He gave us a ........ account of all that you had achieved over there.
			ready
			yellow
			careless
			luxury
			glowing
5	Could you please give me an ........ account?
			itemised
			dreadful
			great
			luxury
			glowing
6	We need to crack down hard on the ........ abuse of drugs.
			average
			outright
			widespread
			frenetic
			careless
7	He was able to predict what was going to happen with ........ accuracy.
			itemised
			uncanny
			careless
			luxury
			glowing
8	They've made some highly ........ accusations about us.
			itemised
			uncanny
			damaging
			luxury
			glowing
9	We need to find a new site with ........ access to the European motorway network.
			ready
			outright
			widespread
			pronounced
			wholehearted
10	This will probably be the ........ achievement of her career.
			itemised
			uncanny
			damaging
			crowning
			glowing
11	I did all the groundwork on this project but he only gave me a ........ acknowledgement in his report.
			itemised
			uncanny
			damaging
			crowning
			grudging
12	I don't know him very well. He's just a ........ acquaintance.
			casual
			uncanny
			damaging
			crowning
			grudging
13	We're fighting for the ........ abolition of the death penalty.
			average
			outright
			decisive
			frenetic
			chronic
14	I'm afraid he was involved in a ........ accident.
			ready
			dreadful
			widespread
			pronounced
			wholehearted
15	He invited me around to see his ........ acquisition, a new BMW.
			casual
			latest
			damaging
			crowning
			grudging
16	We need to take some ........ action before it is too late.
			casual
			latest
			decisive
			crowning
			grudging
17	He wasn't particularly good. He was of about ........ ability.
			average
			latest
			decisive
			frenetic
			chronic
18	I don't think we can succeed without the ........ acceptance of the unions.
			average
			polite
			careless
			pronounced
			wholehearted
19	There always a lot of ........ activity going on but nothing much seems to get done!
			careless
			latest
			yellow
			frenetic
			grudging
20	I'm afraid her husband has got a ........ addiction to gambling.
			careless
			latest
			decisive
			frenetic
			chronic

Solución: 1d, 2c, 3d, 4e, 5a, 6c, 7b, 8c, 9a, 10d, 11e,12a,13b,14b,15b,16c,17a,18e,19d,20e.

http://www.better-english.com/strongcollocation/collocations.htm

2	1 I'm an ______ admirer of your work. ardent triumphant stale considerable cast-iron This new process is a ______ advance in technology.
			ardent
			significant
			stale
			considerable
			cast-iron
3	He knows the interviewer already and that will give him an ______ advantage over me.
			ardent
			significant
			unfair
			considerable
			cast-iron
4	I wouldn't upset him. He can be a ______ adversary.
			ardent
			significant
			unfair
			dangerous
			cast-iron
5	He gave me some ______ advice and I took it.
			ardent
			significant
			unfair
			dangerous
			blunt
6	We know very little about this. We need to bring in an ______ adviser to help us.
			outside
			significant
			unfair
			dangerous
			blunt
7	I don't like this at all. It's a really ______ affair.
			outside
			ugly
			unfair
			dangerous
			blunt
8	It's not a very challenging job. I only have to deal with ______ affairs.
			outside
			ugly
			everyday
			dangerous
			blunt
9	They don't always agree but I think there is a bond of ______ affection between them.
			outside
			ugly
			everyday
			deep
			blunt
10	It seems no time at all since I started work and here I am at ______ age.
			outside
			ugly
			everyday
			deep
			retirement
11	That type of behaviour was possible in a ______ age but we are more tightly regulated these days.
			bygone
			ugly
			everyday
			deep
			retirement
12	I don't trust him. I think he has a ______ agenda.
			bygone
			hidden
			everyday
			deep
			retirement
13	We cannot tolerate this sort of ______ aggression from a competitor in one of our key markets.
			bygone
			hidden
			naked
			deep
			retirement
14	We have a ______ agreement with them and we must respect it.
			bygone
			hidden
			naked
			binding
			retirement
15	I think they must be providing them with some kind of ______ aid. But I don't know what.
			bygone
			hidden
			naked
			binding
			covert
16	I agree with the ______ aims of what you are trying to do but not with some of the details.
			broad
			hidden
			naked
			binding
			covert
17	I'm sure he's got the job. He's walking around with a ______ air.
			broad
			triumphant
			naked
			binding
			covert
18	You need to open the windows and get rid of the ______ air in here.
			broad
			triumphant
			stale
			binding
			covert
19	The problems in Tokyo have caused ______ alarm on Wall Street.
			broad
			triumphant
			stale
			considerable
			covert
20	He definitely wasn't there. He has a ______ alibi.
			broad
			triumphant
			stale
			considerable
			cast-iron

 Solución: 1a,2b,3c,4d,5e,6a,7b,8c,9d,10e,11a,12b,13c,14d,15e,16a,17b,18c,19d,20e.

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1	We need to carry out a detailed ______ of the project before we go any further.
			amount
			analysis
			alarm
			alternative
			ambition
2	The news of the merger and the threat of job losses has caused considerable ______ among the work force.
			allusion
			allowance
			alarm
			applause
			application
3	If we let the unions decide everything, there will be complete ______ . It just won't work.
			amount
			analysis
			anarchy
			alternative
			ambition
4	I think he had been very unhappy for some time. He suddenly exploded with pent-up ______ and was completely out of control.
			amount
			analysis
			anarchy
			anger
			ambition
5	David has a different way of looking at the world. He always sees things from an unusual ______ .
			amount
			analysis
			anarchy
			anger
			angle
6	Deborah and Simon can't stand each other. There is deep ______ between them.
			animosity
			analysis
			anarchy
			anger
			angle
7	Everybody knows already but there will be a formal ______ later this morning.
			animosity
			announcement
			anarchy
			anger
			angle
8	I don't know what she earns exactly but I do know it is a vast ______.
			amount
			allowance
			alarm
			alternative
			ambition
9	In the factory, men are getting paid more than women and we need to do away with this ______.
			animosity
			announcement
			anomaly
			anger
			angle
10	I expect you to give me a straight ______ to this.
			animosity
			announcement
			anomaly
			answer
			angle
11	In costing this, I think we need to make generous ______ for the probable delays in getting planning permission.
			allusion
			allowance
			appetite
			applause
			application
12	I think we should look round for a feasible ______ .
			allusion
			allowance
			alarm
			alternative
			application
13	I think you need to make a full ______ to her for your sexist behaviour.
			animosity
			announcement
			anomaly
			answer
			apology
14	He made an emotional ______ to keep his job but he'd made too many mistakes and I had to let him go.
			appeal
			announcement
			anomaly
			answer
			apology
15	We didn't think she would come and so we were delighted when she put in an unexpected ______ at our party.
			appeal
			appearance
			anomaly
			answer
			apology
16	He seems to be devoured by overwhelming ______ .
			allusion
			allowance
			alarm
			alternative
			ambition
17	Microhard seem to have a healthy ______ for taking over innovative companies.
			appeal
			appearance
			appetite
			answer
			apology
18	In his speech he made a flattering ______ to your work.
			allusion
			appearance
			appetite
			applause
			application
19	The announcement was made to deafening ______ .
			appeal
			appearance
			appetite
			applause
			apology
20	If you want the job, you're going to have to put in a formal ______ .
			appeal
			appearance
			appetite
			applause
			application

8. Collocations

What is a collocation?

A collocation is two or more words that often go together. These combinations just sound "right" to native English speakers, who use them all the time. On the other hand, other combinations may be unnatural and just sound "wrong". Look at these examples:

natural English...	unnatural English...
the fast train fast food	the quick train quick food
a quick shower a quick meal	a fast shower a fast meal

Why learn collocations?

• Your language will be more natural and more easily understood.
• You will have alternative and richer ways of expressing yourself.
• It is easier for our brains to remember and use language in chunks or blocks rather than as single words.

How to learn collocations

• Be aware of collocations, and try to recognize them when you see or hear them.
• Treat collocations as single blocks of language. Think of them as individual blocks or chunks, and learn strongly support, not strongly + support.
• When you learn a new word, write down other words that collocate with it (remember rightly, remember distinctly, remember vaguely, remember vividly).
• Read as much as possible. Reading is an excellent way to learn vocabulary and collocations in context and naturally.
• Revise what you learn regularly. Practise using new collocations in context as soon as possible after learning them.
• Learn collocations in groups that work for you. You could learn them by topic (time, number, weather, money, family) or by a particular word (take action, take a chance, take an exam).
• You can find information on collocations in any good learner's dictionary. And you can also find specialized dictionaries of collocations.

Types of collocation

There are several different types of collocation made from combinations of verb, noun, adjective etc. Some of the most common types are:

• adverb + adjective: completely satisfied (NOT downright satisfied)
• adjective + noun: excruciating pain (NOT excruciating joy)
• noun + noun: a surge of anger (NOT a rush of anger)
• noun + verb: lions roar (NOT lions shout)
• verb + noun: commit suicide (NOT undertake suicide)
• verb + expression with preposition: burst into tears (NOT blow up in tears)
• verb + adverb: wave frantically (NOT wave feverishly)

There are several different types of collocation. Collocations can be adjective + adverb, noun + noun, verb + noun and so on. Below you can see seven main types of collocation in sample sentences.
1. adverb + adjective

• Invading that country was an utterly stupid thing to do.
• We entered a richly decorated room.
• Are you fully aware of the implications of your action?

2. adjective + noun

• The doctor ordered him to take regular exercise.
• The Titanic sank on its maiden voyage.
• He was writhing on the ground in excruciating pain.

3. noun + noun

• Let's give Mr Jones a round of applause.
• The ceasefire agreement came into effect at 11am.
• I'd like to buy two bars of soap please.

4. noun + verb

• The lion started to roar when it heard the dog barking.
• Snow was falling as our plane took off.
• The bomb went off when he started the car engine.

5. verb + noun

• The prisoner was hanged for committing murder.
• I always try to do my homework in the morning, after making my bed.
• He has been asked to give a presentation about his work.

6. verb + expression with preposition

• We had to return home because we had run out of money.
• At first her eyes filled with horror, and then she burst into tears.
• Their behaviour was enough to drive anybody to crime.

7. verb + adverb

• She placed her keys gently on the table and sat down.
• Mary whispered softly in John's ear.
• I vaguely remember that it was growing dark when we left.

Common Collocations

On this page you can find a few short lists of common collocations to give you more of an idea about them. Many good learner's dictionaries show collocations associated with specific words. There are also dictionaries of collocations, though these are more difficult to find.

Verb collocations

have	do	make
have a bath have a drink have a good time have a haircut have a holiday have a problem have a relationship have a rest have lunch have sympathy	do business do nothing do someone a favour do the cooking do the housework do the shopping do the washing up do your best do your hair do your homework	make a difference make a mess make a mistake make a noise make an effort make furniture make money make progress make room make trouble
take	break	catch
take a break take a chance take a look take a rest take a seat take a taxi take an exam take notes take someone's place take someone's temperature	break a habit break a leg break a promise break a record break a window break someone's heart break the ice break the law break the news to someone break the rules	catch a ball catch a bus catch a chill catch a cold catch a thief catch fire catch sight of catch someone's attention catch someone's eye catch the flu
pay	save	keep
pay a fine pay attention pay by credit card pay cash pay interest pay someone a compliment pay someone a visit pay the bill pay the price pay your respects	save electricity save energy save money save one's strength save someone a seat save someone's life save something to a disk save space save time save yourself the trouble	keep a diary keep a promise keep a secret keep an appointment keep calm keep control keep in touch keep quiet keep someone's place keep the change
come	go	get
come close come complete with come direct come early come first come into view come last come late come on time come prepared come right back come second come to a compromise come to a decision come to an agreement come to an end come to a standstill come to terms with come to a total of come under attack	go abroad go astray go bad go bald go bankrupt go blind go crazy go dark go deaf go fishing go mad go missing go on foot go online go out of business go overseas go quiet go sailing go to war go yellow	get a job get a shock get angry get divorced get drunk get frightened get home get lost get married get nowhere get permission get pregnant get ready get started get the impression get the message get the sack get upset get wet get worried

Miscellaneous collocations

Time	Business English	Classifiers
bang on time dead on time early 12th century free time from dawn till dusk great deal of time late 20th century make time for next few days past few weeks right on time run out of time save time spare time spend some time take your time tell someone the time time goes by time passes waste time	annual turnover bear in mind break off negotiations cease trading chair a meeting close a deal close a meeting come to the point dismiss an offer draw a conclusion draw your attention to launch a new product lay off staff go bankrupt go into partnership make a loss make a profit market forces sales figures take on staff	a ball of string a bar of chocolate a bottle of water a bunch of carrots a cube of sugar a pack of cards a pad of paper

Informacion: https://www.englishclub.com/vocabulary/collocations.htm

Diccionario de collocations:

http://oxforddictionary.so8848.com/