Collocations and fixed expressions are essential components of natural, fluent English. Understanding and using these word combinations correctly can significantly improve your language proficiency and help you achieve a higher score in the ЕГЭ English exam. This guide will help you master collocations and fixed expressions for more effective communication in English.
Collocations are words that naturally occur together in a language, creating natural-sounding word combinations that native speakers use instinctively. Fixed expressions, on the other hand, are established phrases or sentences with specific meanings that cannot be deduced from their individual components. Both are crucial for achieving fluency and authenticity in English. In the ЕГЭ English exam, knowledge of collocations and fixed expressions is tested in various sections, including reading comprehension, use of English, and writing. Understanding these language elements helps you recognize natural language patterns, improve your vocabulary precision, and express ideas more effectively. This guide will explore different types of collocations and fixed expressions, provide common examples, and offer strategies for learning and using them correctly.
Collocations are words that naturally occur together in a language. They are combinations of words that sound "right" to native speakers because they are commonly used together. Using the correct collocations makes your English sound more natural and fluent.
These are combinations of verbs and nouns that commonly go together.
Examples:
These are combinations of adjectives and nouns that commonly go together.
Examples:
These are combinations of adverbs and adjectives that commonly go together.
Examples:
These are combinations of verbs and adverbs that commonly go together.
Examples:
These are combinations of nouns that commonly go together, often forming compound nouns.
Examples:
These are combinations of nouns and prepositions that commonly go together.
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These are combinations of verbs and prepositions that commonly go together, often forming phrasal verbs.
Examples:
| Verb | Noun | Example |
|---|---|---|
| take | a course | She's taking a course in computer programming. |
| do | research | He's doing research for his thesis. |
| attend | a lecture | I attended a lecture on climate change yesterday. |
| pass | an exam | She passed all her exams with high grades. |
| get | a degree | He got his degree in economics last year. |
| Verb | Noun | Example |
|---|---|---|
| run | a business | She runs a successful business from home. |
| make | a profit | The company made a profit for the first time in three years. |
| submit | a report | You need to submit your report by Friday. |
| attend | a meeting | I have to attend a meeting this afternoon. |
| launch | a product | They're launching a new product next month. |
| Verb | Noun | Example |
|---|---|---|
| book | a flight | I need to book a flight to London. |
| catch | a train | We caught the last train home. |
| go on | a trip | They went on a trip to Italy last summer. |
| stay at | a hotel | We stayed at a five-star hotel in Paris. |
| miss | a connection | I missed my connection in Frankfurt. |
| Verb | Noun | Example |
|---|---|---|
| catch | a cold | I caught a cold last week. |
| come down with | the flu | She came down with the flu and had to stay in bed. |
| take | medicine | Remember to take your medicine after meals. |
| make | an appointment | I need to make an appointment with the dentist. |
| keep | fit | He keeps fit by jogging every morning. |
Collocations often differ between languages. A word-for-word translation from your native language may not produce the correct collocation in English. For example, in Russian, you might say "делать фотографию" (to make a photo), but in English, the correct collocation is "to take a photo."
Fixed expressions are established phrases or sentences with specific meanings that cannot be changed or modified. They include idioms, proverbs, sayings, and other set phrases that are used as single units.
These are expressions consisting of two words joined by a conjunction (usually "and" or "or"), where the order is fixed.
Examples:
These are fixed expressions that begin with a preposition.
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These are expressions that compare one thing to another using "as" or "like".
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These are fixed expressions used in specific social situations.
Examples:
These are fixed expressions that express a general truth or piece of advice.
Examples:
| Expression | Example |
|---|---|
| I couldn't agree more. | "The service at this restaurant is excellent." "I couldn't agree more." |
| That's exactly what I think. | "We should invest more in renewable energy." "That's exactly what I think." |
| You took the words right out of my mouth. | "This movie is a waste of time." "You took the words right out of my mouth." |
| I'm with you on that. | "We need to change our strategy." "I'm with you on that." |
| That's a good point. | "We should consider the environmental impact." "That's a good point." |
| Expression | Example |
|---|---|
| I'm afraid I disagree. | "We should cancel the project." "I'm afraid I disagree." |
| I see your point, but... | "We need to cut costs." "I see your point, but we also need to maintain quality." |
| I'm not so sure about that. | "This is the best solution." "I'm not so sure about that." |
| That's not how I see it. | "The problem is with the marketing." "That's not how I see it." |
| I beg to differ. | "This is the only way forward." "I beg to differ." |
| Expression | Example |
|---|---|
| How about...? | "How about going to the cinema tonight?" |
| Why don't we...? | "Why don't we try the new restaurant?" |
| Let's... | "Let's meet at 7 o'clock." |
| What do you say to...? | "What do you say to a cup of coffee?" |
| It might be a good idea to... | "It might be a good idea to book in advance." |
| Expression | Example |
|---|---|
| In my opinion... | "In my opinion, the book is better than the film." |
| As far as I'm concerned... | "As far as I'm concerned, the decision is correct." |
| From my point of view... | "From my point of view, we should wait and see." |
| If you ask me... | "If you ask me, it's a waste of money." |
| I'd say that... | "I'd say that we need more time to consider this." |
Fixed expressions should be learned and used as complete units. Changing the words or structure can change the meaning or make the expression sound unnatural. For example, "break a leg" is a fixed expression wishing someone good luck (especially before a performance). If you say "break an arm" or "break your leg," it would not carry the same idiomatic meaning.
Choose the correct verb to complete each collocation.
Answers:
1. Could you do me a favor? ("do a favor" is the correct collocation)
2. I need to make an appointment with the doctor. ("make an appointment" is the correct collocation)
3. She took a deep breath before diving into the pool. ("take a breath" is the correct collocation)
4. They made a decision to move to another city. ("make a decision" is the correct collocation)
5. I made a mistake in my calculations. ("make a mistake" is the correct collocation)
Choose the correct adjective to complete each collocation.
Answers:
1. We had a deep discussion about the project. ("deep discussion" is the correct collocation)
2. She has a strong interest in classical music. ("strong interest" is the correct collocation)
3. There was heavy traffic on the highway this morning. ("heavy traffic" is the correct collocation)
4. He made a quick recovery after the operation. ("quick recovery" is the correct collocation)
5. They offer a wide range of products. ("wide range" is the correct collocation)
Complete each fixed expression with the missing word.
Answers:
1. It's raining cats and dogs. (This is a fixed expression meaning it's raining heavily.)
2. Time flies when you're having fun. (This is a fixed expression meaning time seems to pass quickly when you're enjoying yourself.)
3. Actions speak louder than words. (This is a proverb meaning what people do is more important than what they say.)
4. Better late than never. (This is a proverb meaning it's better to do something late than not at all.)
5. Don't put all your eggs in one basket. (This is a proverb advising against risking everything on a single venture.)
Match each expression with its function.
Functions: a) Making a suggestion, b) Expressing disagreement, c) Expressing agreement, d) Expressing sympathy, e) Expressing opinion
Answers:
1. I couldn't agree more. - c) Expressing agreement
2. I'm afraid I disagree. - b) Expressing disagreement
3. How about going to the cinema? - a) Making a suggestion
4. In my opinion, the book is better than the film. - e) Expressing opinion
5. I'm sorry to hear that. - d) Expressing sympathy
In the ЕГЭ English exam, you may encounter tasks requiring you to:
Pay attention to collocations and fixed expressions when reading English texts, and make a habit of noting them down for future reference. This will help you recognize and use them correctly in the exam.