What is Collocation? Common English Collocations | TalkDrill
Skip to main content
Popular:
IELTS Speaking
Interview Tips
Pronunciation
Daily Practice
Workplace English
Vocabulary
Glossary

Collocation

Definition
Words that frequently occur together in natural English, such as "make a decision" (not "do a decision") or "heavy rain" (not "strong rain").

In-Depth Explanation

Collocations are word combinations that sound "natural" to native speakers. Using correct collocations makes your English sound more fluent and natural. Types of collocations: - Verb + Noun: make a mistake, do homework, take a photo - Adjective + Noun: heavy traffic, strong coffee, fast food - Adverb + Adjective: highly unlikely, deeply concerned, perfectly clear - Verb + Adverb: speak fluently, work hard, sleep soundly Common errors: - "Do a mistake" ✗ → "Make a mistake" ✓ - "Strong rain" ✗ → "Heavy rain" ✓ - "Make homework" ✗ → "Do homework" ✓

Usage Examples

She made a decision to study abroad.

There was heavy traffic on the highway.

I need to take a break.


Frequently Asked Questions

Why are collocations important?

Collocations make your English sound natural. Even if "do a mistake" is grammatically correct, it sounds strange because native speakers always say "make a mistake."

How can I learn collocations effectively?

What is the difference between a collocation and an idiom?

Was this definition helpful?

Ready to Improve Your English Speaking?

Practice conversations with our AI speaking partner and get instant feedback on your pronunciation and fluency.

AI-powered conversations
Instant feedback
Track your progress
Practice Speaking

Use this term in a conversation with our AI speaking partner.

Start Practice

Back to Glossary