Study page S10
cOllOcaTIONS with cOMMON VeRBS
do make have take give
the accounts an appointment an accident action advice to sb
business an argument for sth an argument a bath/shower (both sb an answer
a crossword an attempt a bath/shower (both esp. AmE) birth
a course in Spanish the bed esp. BrE) a bite sb a chance
damage a cake a break a break sb a choice
a deal a case for sth breakfast the bus credit to sb
a degree changes cancer a (phone) call a cry of pain
the dishes a choice a chance a chance an example
your duty a connection a chat (esp. BrE) a class sb a headache
an exam (esp. BrE) a contribution a cold control sb help
exercise a decision difficulty a course in Spanish sb a hug
an experiment dinner a drink a decision (BrE) sb an idea
the food for a party an effort a feeling a deep breath the impression that…
French at school a face fun a dislike to sb instructions
(esp. BrE) a film/movie a guess (BrE) an exam an insight into sth
good friends a heart attack French at school sb a kiss
your hair a guess a holiday (BrE)/ a guess (AmE) a lecture
‘Hamlet’ an impact vacation (AmE) a holiday (BrE)/ sb lessons
your homework an impression (= a an idea vacation (AmE) sb a lift (BrE)/
an impression (= an strong effect) an impact an interest in sth ride (AmE)
imitation of sb) a mark an interest the lead your opinion
your job a mess a look a look sb an order
judo a mistake a meeting medicine a party
lunch (= meet for money a party a nap a performance
lunch) a noise a plan notes sth a polish (esp. BrE)
60 miles per hour a note/notes a nap notice sb a present
an operation peace an operation a photo/picture priority to sth
Paris (= visit the a photocopy an opportunity a pill sth a pull
sights) your point patience a risk sb a push
research progress problems a sip sb a shock
the shopping (BrE)/ a promise a shock size 14 a sigh
some shopping a sketch a snack a swim (esp. AmE) a smile
a sketch a speech a swim sb’s temperature a speech
a test a statement time a walk some thought to sth
a tour a suggestion trouble an X-ray sb time (to do sth)
a translation a trip a welcome to sb
the washing (BrE)/ your will
the laundry
some work
1 Find the nouns in the lists for tasks and duties (for example do the dishes). Which verb is
the most often used? Which tasks are exceptions?
2 Find expressions in each column that can be substituted by a single verb.
(For example you can do damage to something or just damage something.) Which column
has the most?
3 Find expressions connected with the following:
speaking experiencing something producing something physical actions
using your hands,
your mind or your skill
make/give a speech have an accident make dinner have/take a bath
Can you see any patterns emerging? Are there any exceptions?
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S11 Study page
4 How many items can you find that collocate with more than one of the verbs
(for example you can have or take a break)?
5 Complete each of the following sentences using do, make, have, take or give (more than
one answer may be possible). If the noun in the example is not in the table above, look
for a similar noun. For example, fortune is not in the list but money is. You can check your
answers by looking up the entries for the nouns, but try to predict what the verbs will be
before you do this.
have/take a look at the engine
a Make sure you ___________ j I told her I’d run in the marathon—I’m not going
before you buy the car. to ___________ any promises like that again.
b After the interview I had to ___________ k She’s always ___________ an interest in current
a test. affairs.
c They always ___________ us a welcome when l She ___________ her fortune on the stock
we go there. market.
d I sometimes ___________ a nap in the afternoon m ___________ a picture of me and your dad
e Saturday’s my day for ___________ jobs around together.
the house. n The kids are ___________ a terrible racket.
f The housing committee will ___________ o Her singing ___________ an impression on me.
priority to the elderly. p ___________ the handle a twist and the door
g Let’s ___________ one more swim before we go should open.
back to the hotel. q I don’t know the answer, so I’ll _______ a guess.
h He ___________ a short laugh when he realized r How often do you have to _______ the
his mistake. medicine?
i The moment we met we ___________ a dislike s Everyone else was ___________ notes in the
to each other. lecture, but I had forgotten my pen.
t A TV company is visiting our school to _______ a
documentary about teaching!
6 Put each of the following adjectives into one of the sentences in exercise 5, before a noun
that it collocates with. If you want to check in the dictionary you will need to look up the
entries for the nouns.
close copious instant keen lasting odd rash sharp top warm wild
For example: Make sure you have a close look at the engine before you buy the car.
© Oxford University Press photocopiable
9780194317245 Collocs 2e Study [Link] 11 14/11/2008 [Link]
