Collocation Sok

8/13/2019 Collocation Sok

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Noticing and Recording Collocations

Lingua Inglese

2013/2014


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What is a collocation?

Two or more words that commonly occur together

(Phrases that sound right, or natural)

For example, verb+noun, adjective+noun, noun+noun,noun+preposition+noun combinations.

Collocations are a major key to fluency.


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Examples

You CAN say but NOT

do homework make homeworklong legs lengthy legs

cause problems cause solutions

provide care provide harm


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Find the difference

Collocation? to make a choice

Compounds? post office

Idioms? pass the buck


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Fixed and open collocations

So collocations are fixed, or very strong, for exampletake a photo, where no word other than takecollocates with photo to give the same meaning.Some collocations are more open, where severaldifferent words may be used to give a similar meaning,for example keep to / stick to the rules.


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Here are some more examples of collocations:

1. You must make an effort and study for your exams(NOT do an effort)

2. Did youwatch TV last night? (NOT look at TV)

3. There are some ancient monuments nearby. (NOTantique monuments)

4. I madea few mistakes.(NOT I did a few mistakes)


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Why learn collocations?Learning collocations is a good idea because they can:

a) give you the most natural way to say something: smokingis strictly forbidden is more natural than smoking isstrongly forbidden.

b) give you alternative ways of saying something, which maybe more expressive or more precise: instead of repeating Itwas very cold and very dark,we can say It was bitterly cold

and pitch dark.c) improve your style in writing: instead of saying a big meal

you can say a substantial meal.


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Finding collocationsThere are two main ways in which you can findcollocations.

1. You can train yourself to notice them wheneveryou read or listen to anything in English.


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Look at the collocations that are worth learning

from this short text in English.

After giving Mark a lift to the airport, Cathy madeher way home. What an exciting life he led! At timesCathy felt desperately jealousof him. She spent hertime doing little more than taking care ofhim andthe children. Now her sister was getting divorced andwould doubtless be making demands on her too.Cathy had promised to give her sister a call as soon asshe got home but she decided to run herself a bathfirst. She had a sharp pain in her side and hoped thata hot bath might ease the pain.


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2.You can find them in any good learner'sdictionary.

For example, if you look up the word sharpyou willfind some of these collocations:

a sharp pain a sharp contrast/difference/distinction

a sharp rise/increase/drop


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Recording collocationsThe best way to record a collocation is in a phrase or asentence showing how it is used.

For example: I don't have access to that kind of secretinformation.

Or: Jim gave me a very useful piece of advice.


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Activity 1

Find 11 collocations in this textMy friend Beth is desperately worried about her son atthe moment. He wants to enroll on a course of somesort but just cantmake a decision about what to study.I gave Beth a ring and we had a long chat about it lastnight. She said hed like to study for a degree but isafraid he wont meet the requirements for universityentry. Beth thinks he should do a course in

Management because hed like to set up his ownbusiness in the future. I agreed that that would be awise choice.


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Activity 1 (key)My friend Beth is desperately worried about her sonat the moment. He wants to enroll on a course ofsome sort but just cantmake a decisionabout whatto study. I gaveBeth a ring and we had a long chatabout it last night. She said hed like to study for adegree but is afraid hewontmeet the requirementsfor university entry. Beth thinks he should do acourse in Management because hedlike to set up hisown businessin the future. I agreed that that wouldbe a wise choice.


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Types of Collocations

1. Adjectives + nouns

2. Nouns + verbs3. Noun + noun

4. Verbs +expressions with prepositions

5. Verbs + adverbs

6. Adverbs + adjectives


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Adjectives + nounsWe had a brief chat about the exams

but didn't have time to discuss them

properly.

Unemployment is a major problemfor the government at the moment.

Improving the health service is anotherkey issue for government.


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Nouns + VerbsThe economy boomed in the 1990s. [the

economy was very strong]

The companyhas grownand now employs50 more people than last year.

The companyhas expandedand now has

branches in most major cities.The two companies merged in 2003 and

now form one very large corporation.


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Noun+NounThere are a lot of collocations with the pattern

a ... of ...

As Sam read the lies about him, he felt a surge ofanger. [literary: a sudden angry feeling]

Every parent feels a sense of pridewhen their childdoes well or wins something.

I felt a pang of nostalgiawhen I saw the old photosof the village where I grew up.


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Verbs + expressions with prepositionsSome verbs collocate with particular prepositional

expressions:

As Jack went on stage to receive his gold medal for thejudo competition you could see his parents swellingwith pride. [looking extremely proud]

I was filled with horrorwhen I read the newspaper

report of the explosion.When she spilt juice on her new skirt the little girl burst

into tears. [suddenly started crying]


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Verbs + AdverbsSome verbs have particular adverbs which regularlycollocate with them:

He placedthe beautiful vase gentlyon the windowledge.

'I love you and want to marry you,' Derekwhispered

softlyto Marsha.She smiled proudly as she looked at the photos of her

new grandson.


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Adverbs + Adjectives

They are happily married.

I am fully aware that there are serious problems.

Harry was blissfully unaware that he was in danger.

[Harry had no idea at all, often used about somethingunpleasant]

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