In this lesson students use the Oxford Collocation Dictionary to learn some common collocations.

 

Intro Activity

Give students a copy of the following email which contains numerous incorrect collocations. Ask students to determine what is wrong with the email.

To: john.smith@megacorp.com From: john.johnson@megacorp.com Subject:  bonusesUnfortunately, we weren’t able to make a consensus about whether to provide a bonus at the end of the year. Three people did presentations about various proposals but it seems like none of them made much interest. Several people presented their concerns about not having achieved a decision on this issue. As soon as the big conference room gets available we’re going to meet again to discuss about solutions. Most people are here already, but because of the strong traffic some haven’t arrived yet. Let’s hope we can do an agreement later today.

 

Oxford Collocation Dictionary

Explain that the email contains incorrect collocations. Explain that a collocation is a pair or group of words that normally go together. Show your students the Oxford Collocation Dictionary. Demonstrate how they can use this tool to find correct collocations. Using the Oxford Collocations Dictionary, have students revise the email. Then, go over their answers. They should end up with something like the following:

To: john.smith@megacorp.com From: john.johnson@megacorp.com Subject:  bonusesUnfortunately, we weren’t able to make reach a consensus about whether to provide give/award a bonus at the end of the year. Three people did made presentations about various proposals but it seems like none of them made generated much interest. Several people presented  voiced/expressed their concerns about not having achieved reached/made a decision on this issue. As soon as the big conference room gets becomes available we’re going to meet again to discuss about solutions. Most people are here already, but because of the strong heavy traffic some haven’t arrived yet. Let’s hope we can do reach an agreement later today.

 

Additional Practice

Have students use the Oxford Collocation Dictionary to correct the following collocations.

1. put attention
2. large problem
3. large mistake
4. make a test
5. very awake
6. enter the car
7. strong rain
8. capture their attention
11. became bankrupt
12. related with
13. smile to
14. presented her concerns
15. completely brilliant
16. make research
17. greatly qualified
18. reject the invitation
19. make an investigation
20. in thorough detail
21. crash with
22. similar than
23. near to
24. get missing
25. exceptionally aware
26. do a presentation
27. gaining interest
28. budget reductions

 

Potential Answers

1. put pay attention
2. large big problem
3. large big mistake
4. make take a test
5. very wide awake
6. enter get in the car
7. strong heavy rain
8.  capture get their attention
11. became went bankrupt
12. related with to
13. smile to at
14. presented voiced her concerns
15. completely absolutely brilliant
16. make do research
17. greatly highly qualified
18. reject turn down the invitation
19. make conduct an investigation
20. in thorough great detail
21. crash with into
22. similar than to
23. near to
24. get go missing
25. exceptionally  fully aware
26. do make a presentation
27. gaining generate interest
28. budget reductions cuts

For more collocations practice see:

Collocations exercises
Advanced collocations exercises