Use Collocations to Speak English More Naturally
Collocations are an essential part of learning a new language and can greatly improve the naturalness of your English. A collocation is a group of words that are commonly used together and have become inseparable in everyday language. These collocations are based on real-life usage and can help you to sound more like a native speaker.
One example of a collocation is the phrase "fast food." While the phrase "quick food" technically means the same thing, it sounds incorrect to a native English speaker. This is because "fast food" is a commonly used collocation, while "quick food" is not. By learning and using collocations, you can improve the naturalness and fluency of your English.
There are many different types of collocations, including adjective-noun, noun-verb, and verb-adverb pairs. For example, "strong coffee," "make progress," and "drive carefully" are all collocations. By learning and using these common combinations of words, you can improve the accuracy and fluency of your English.
Learning collocations can be challenging, as they often go against the rules of grammar. For example, the collocation "make progress" does not follow the normal pattern of verb-object. However, native English speakers use this collocation frequently, and it sounds much more natural than saying "progress is made."
Here are some examples of common business collocations:
detailed information
straight answer
irreparable damage
wreak havoc
quick glance
attainable goal
stiff competition
meet criteria
attract investors
growing concern
vaguely familiar
sales figures
vast majority
do business
fully appreciate
deeply regret
mutually beneficial
wise choice
market leader
straight answer
go bankrupt
build trust
unsolicited advice
join forces
build trust
There are many resources available for learning collocations, including dictionaries and language learning websites.
These are some of my favorite resources for learning collocations:
It's also helpful to pay attention to how native speakers use collocations in everyday language, and try to incorporate them into your own speech and writing.
With practice and exposure, you can easily improve your use of collocations and take your English to the next level.
