Word Collocation

A collocation is two or more words which often go together.

Natural English Unnatural English

fast food quick food

a quick shower a fast shower

(Tip: when you learn a new word, write down other words that collocate with it)

Eg.: make + the bed/ time/breakfast/friends/fun/a joke/money

Exercise

Both options make sense. Underline the one which forms a common collocation

1. Many small houses and huts were (flooded away / washed away) when the river bursts its banks.

2. Poor farming methods are responsible for soil (devaluation / erosion )in many areas of Saharan African.

3. During the earthquake, many people were( buried / covered )alive.

4. The forest fire left a wide area of the mountainside blackened and (ablaze / smouldering).

5. Villagers are hoping for rain this month after nearly a year of (dry weather / drought.)

6. Before the hurricane struck, many people were (evacuated /shifted) to higher ground.

7. Thousands of children in the famine-striken area are suffering from (malnutrition / undernourishment).

10. Heavy snow has fallen in the mountains and many villages have been (blocked out / cut off) for the past two days.

11. The Aids (epidemic / plague) is having serious effects in some countries.

12. Many small islands in the Indian Ocean are threatened by rising sea (waters / levels).