1. I am wearing t-shirt, 2. I am using t-shirt3. I am putting on t-shirt4. I am using a microscope to look at small creatures.1. The doctor investigated the patient2. The doctor examined the patient

COLLOCATIONS(WORD PARTNERS)

What is collocation?• Collocation refers to words that are frequently used

together, for example which prepositions are used with particular verbs, or which verbs and nouns are used together.

• For instance, in English the verb perform is used with operation, but not with discussion:

a. The doctor performed the operation.

b. *The committee performed a discussion.

instead we say:

The committee held/had a discussion

perform is used with (collocates with) operation, and hold and have collocates with discussion.

Next …

• High collocates with probability, but not with chance:

a high probability but a good chance• do collocates with damage, duty, and wrong,

but not with trouble, noise, and excuse:

do a lot of damage make trouble

do one’s duty make a lot of noise

do wrong make an excuse

Next …

• I missed the bus. (or I didn’t catch the bus; but not I lost the bus.)

• A serious illness• She committed a crime. (not she did a crime)• Rescuers did everything humanly possible to

save the people trapped in the building. (everything a person is able to do)

Verb + Noun• START

Start the car (turn on the engine)

start a family (have your first child)• TELL

tell a story tell a joke tell the truth • GET

get on a bus

get off (leave a bus, train, aircraft or boat)

get in(to) a car

get out (of) a car • MISS

Miss a person (be unhappy because that person is not there)

Miss a class (when you don’t come to a class)

Next …• CATCH

We can catch the bus at the corner. (get on the bus)

How did you catch that cold? (get that cold)

Catch the ball and throw it the Sue• BREAK

Many people break the law at some point in their life

Politician often break their promise.• WEAR

She is wearing t-shirt (not she is using t-shirt)

ADJECTIVE + NOUN• A soft drink A soft voice (≠ a loud voice)• Strong coffee (≠ weak coffee)

a strong/heavy accent (≠ a slight accent)

I can’t understand his English because he has such a strong accent.• Hard work (hard physically or mentally)

A great success (very successful)

It was hard work organizing the conference, but I think it was a great success.

• Heavy traffic ( a lot of cars on the road)

Heavy rain (raining a lot)

A heavy smoker

There’s always heavy traffic during rush hour.

I used to be a heavy smoker.

The plane could not take off because of heavy rain

NEXT …

• A sunny day, a narrow escape, broad shoulder, fresh fruit, a steep hill, a large size, wide range, vast majority.

• The fast train NOT The quick trainFast food NOT quick food

• A quick shower NOT A fast showerA quick meal NOT A fast meal

ADVERB + ADJECTIVE• I was terribly/awfully sorry to hear about your

accident.• It’s highly unlikely he’ll come now (I’m almost

sure he will not come)• She was bitterly disappointed when she didn’t

get the job.