What are Collocations?

In English we don't make our homework, we do our homework. We don't do a mistake, we make a mistake. We don't make a party, we have a party. These are examples of collocations. Collocations are combinations of words which are usually used together.

Learning collocations will make your English sound more natural. For example, it sounds very strange to native speaker to hear make a shower instead of take or have a shower.

Take a look at these sentences and choose the correct collocations:

• 1) Can you ___ me a favour?
  
  do
  have
  make
  
  
• 2) Have you ___ lunch yet?
  
  done
  had
  taken
  
  
• 3) I don't drink alcohol. I don't like to ___ drunk.
  
  come
  get
  make
  
  
• 4) The service here is terrible. I want to ___ a complaint.
  
  have
  go
  make
  
  
• 5) It's time to ___ your decision.
  
  make
  do
  pay
  
  
• 6) I need to ___ some laundry tonight.
  
  do
  make
  take
  
  
• 7) We'll ___ a lot of time if we take a taxi.
  
  break
  save
  do
  
  
• 8) As long as you ___ your best, we will be happy.
  
  go
  do
  make
  
  
• 9) Please ___ attention during the lecture.
  
  pay
  keep
  take
  
  
• 10) I have something to tell you. Can you ___ a secret?
  
  keep
  save
  get