Collocations

• Verb-noun collocation refers to the correct way of matching verbs and nouns in fixed expressions. Apart from a few general guidelines, most verb-noun collocations are based on usage rather than rules. • Do is used when talking about actions in general and it is typically used with everyday activities ending with -ing as in do the shopping or do the washing up; sports done in a gym as in do aerobics or do karate;

activities involving work or a task to complete.

• Make is used when there is a practical result of the action or when it means to produce or manufacture as in make a cake or make dinner (the result of cooking). • Have is normally used when the activity involves food or drink intake as in have breakfast or have some tea. • Take often substitutes have when the expressions are used in American English (see expressions with an asterisk *), but it is also found in many other fixed collocations.

DO

(sb) a favour a (good) job an exercise an experiment an operation (on) a test (or: take) a course good / harm one’s duty one’s best one’s homework business (some) practice (some) research something the chores the dishes the housework the laundry well (in a subject) badly (in a subject)

MAKE

a change a choice a complaint a decision a difference a discovery a fuss a journey a list a living a mess a mistake / error a move a noise a phone call a plan a profit / a loss a promise a reservation a suggestion a try (or: give) a wish amends an apology an application an appointment an attempt an effort an exception an excuse an investment a speech (or: give) arrangements contact (with sb) fun of sb friends (with) notes (or: take) progress / headway money one’s bed peace / war / love sense / sure

HAVE

an argument a bath * a break * a chat a cigarette a dream an experience a great time / fun a holiday / trip an interview a look * a nap / some rest * a party (or: throw) a seat * a shower * a swim a trip * a vacation * a walk * a word with sb in common

TAKE

a bow a break a breath a day off an exam (or: sit) a message an opportunity a photo / picture a risk a step a taxi (or: get) action advantage (of) care of sb charge notice part (in) place pride in sth revenge turns

• Get may have several meanings according to what follows the verb: it can mean the same as become, or it can means receive / take / obtain or arrive in a place. GET = become (reflexive function) GET = obtain / take / receive GET = reach / contact get ready / started / dressed get engaged / married / divorced get late / dark get lost get worried / angry / upset get a job get a shock / the impression get permission get fired / the sack get a good mark get home get here get there get to the station get in touch (with) • Some phrases may take different verbs and mean different things:

Impression ➝ you can make a good or bad impression on someone when you first meet them, but you do an impression when you imitate one’s gestures and voice. • Time ➝ You have time if you aren’t busy, but you make time for something or someone if you voluntarily find time to do something; if something takes time it means it lasts for some time; if you take your time it means you can do things without any haste; finally, you do time when you are in prison for a period. • Chance ➝ you have a chance when something unexpectedly good happens to you, but you take a chance when you take advantage of the opportunity given and you miss the chance if you don’t. • Mind ➝ You decide to do something when you make up your mind, but you can change your mind about it.

Other common verb-noun collocations

• Pay ➝ pay a visit / pay a call on (= visit) / pay attention / pay a compliment / pay your respect • Come ➝ come to an agreement / a decision / an end / a standstill – come true – come alive • Catch ➝ catch fire / catch a cold / (the) flu – catch someone’s attention – catch a bus – catch sight of • Achieve ➝ achieve a goal / achieve a dream / achieve success / achieve a result • Call ➝ call in sick (not go to work) – call a meeting / an election – call a strike • Miscellanous ➝ break a rule / a promise / e record – cast a spell – commit suicide – drive sb crazy – fall asleep / in love with – give it a try / a go - go on a trip / skiing / mad - hold office / a meeting / hands – join a club / the army – lay the table / an egg – light a fire – meet one’s needs – pack a suitcase – place an order – raise money / a family – score a goal / a point – set an alarm – start or kill an engine – wage a war

Verb-noun collocations that are easily confused

• You say goodbye / a prayer but you tell a lie / the truth / the time / the difference, you talk nonsense but you speak a language • You gain weight / access (to) / importance / strength / momentum / confidence / control, but you earn money / a reputation / respect and you win a prize / a competition / a war • You can waste time / money, but you miss a train / a lesson / the point / the chance and you lose weight / a game / a job / control / the way / your temper / confidence / touch (with) • You press a key but you push a button and you switch / turn on and off the light

Match the parts of the sentences on the right (1-6) to the ones on the left (a-f). 1 I’d like to make a a test the following day. 2 I suggest you take b a bow to thank the audience. 3 Cindy started crying because she’d had c well in a university exam. 4 At the end of the play the actors took d a deep breath and relax before the show. 5 This book will help you to learn how to do e an appointment with Doctor Robinson. 6 Josh was studying because he had to take f a nightmare.

Underline the correct verbs. 1 Excuse me can I make / do a phone call? I need to take / get in touch with my parents. 2 When I do / take these exercises I always do / make the same mistakes. 3 My son always makes / gets a fuss when I ask him to get / take care of his little brother. 4 Can I have / make a word with you? We need to do / make a few changes to our schedule. 5 My mother makes / takes a lot of noise when she makes / does the chores. 6 I take / do judo three times a week and I often take / make part in competitions at weekends.

First Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first using the word in brackets. You must use between 2 and 5 words. 1 There’s no hurry. Please don’t rush.(time) There’s no hurry. You can _________________. 2 My brother and I are completely different. (common) My brother and I _________________. 3 I said hello but she ignored me. (notice) I said hello but she _________________ of me. 4 He lost the job because he was always late. (sack) He _________________ because he was always late. 5 Has your sister decided yet? (mind) Has your sister _________________ yet? 6 Our trip to Singapore was great fun. (time) We _________________ on our trip to Singapore. 7 I wish my English were improving. (progress) I wish I _________________ my English. 8 He tried not to laugh when he saw the man. (effort) He _________________ laugh when he saw the man.

Read the definitions and write the correct verb-noun collocations from the box. You can use the verbs more than once.

catch do make pay take amends an impression a risk fire a journey sight of attention

1

2 3

Example: make a journey: go on a trip, travel. __________________: compensate someone after having caused injury or damage. __________________: start burning. __________________: focus on something that requires concentration

4

5

6

__________________: imitate someone’s voice and gestures __________________: do something that may have a negative effect or be dangerous __________________: get a glimpse of something

41 First You will hear a professor suggesting what to do to prepare for an exam. Complete the following notes with the missing words.

It will be easier for you to get (0) ready for your exam if you organise the work you have to (1) ____________ . When doing more than a course make a (2) ____________ to decide which subjects you’ll need to focus on first. (3) ____________ notes of your professors’ explanations will make it easier for you to learn the subject when you start studying it. You can also (4) ____________ some research on the Internet to improve your knowledge of a topic. You should do many (5) ____________ when you are studying for a written test and (6) ____________ a list of the main points if you are preparing for an oral test. Just relax on the day before (7) ____________ the last effort: you can (8) ____________ a walk or talk with a friend.

First Choose A, B, C or D to fill in the gaps. 1 The German company may _____________ control of a major Greek telecommunications company. 2 Don’t _____________ your time in class! Make notes, ask questions and try to use new words. 3 He __________ our respect by being consistent with the principles he taught us. 4 I hardly ever ___________ my temper but sometimes it’s really hard to keep calm with kids. 5 Too bad! We __________ the chance to win championship again! 6 After the diet I _________ 10 kilos so I had to buy new clothes. 7 I often _________ the impression he’s making fun of us. 8 You can’t live to work. You must ________ time for your family, too!

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 A gain A lose A won A miss A lose A got A get A take

B have B waste B took B lose B took B won B make B get

C make C miss C gained C waste C had C lost C do C make

D achieve D take D earned D leave D missed D wasted D give D do