Collocations Flashcards
(37 cards)
make a decision, break the silence, take responsibility, catch a cold
• make a decision = choose something after thinking (“She made a decision quickly.”)
• break the silence = start talking after quiet (“He broke the silence with a joke.”)
• take responsibility = admit or accept duty (“He took responsibility for the mistake.”)
• catch a cold = become ill (“She caught a cold after the rain.”)
pay attention, make progress, save time, commit a crime
• pay attention = focus carefully (“Please pay attention to the speaker.”)
• make progress = improve or move forward (“You’re making good progress in maths.”)
• save time = avoid wasting time (“Using a timer helps save time.”)
• commit a crime = do something illegal (“He was arrested for committing a crime.”)
utter silence, heavy rain, strong wind, deeply sorry
• utter silence = total quiet (“There was utter silence after the speech.”)
• heavy rain = strong rainfall (“The heavy rain flooded the streets.”)
• strong wind = powerful breeze (“The strong wind knocked down trees.”)
• deeply sorry = very apologetic (“She was deeply sorry for being rude.”)
Which phrase is correct?
A. make a progress B. take a decision C. make a decision D. do a decision
make a decision = correct. Trap: others are false but sound close.
Choose the best collocation:
A. catch a flu B. catch a cold C. grab a cold D. have a cold
catch a cold = correct. GL loves this trap. ‘Catch’ is the tested verb here.
Which is correct?
A. pay attention B. give attention C. do attention D. hold attention
pay attention = correct. Trap: common mix-up with ‘give’.
What’s the correct phrase?
A. make progress B. do progress C. go progress D. bring progress
make progress = correct. Trap: kids often try ‘do’ or ‘go’.
Choose the right collocation:
A. strong rain B. hard rain C. heavy rain D. deep rain
heavy rain = correct. Trap: ‘strong’ is a false collocation GL uses often.
Which phrase is used in formal English?
A. do a crime B. break a crime C. commit a crime D. make a crime
commit a crime = correct. Trap: ‘make’ and ‘do’ are common errors here.
Which collocation fits best?
A. utterly silence B. utter silence C. complete silence D. silent utter
utter silence = correct. Trap: mixing adverb/adjective pairs.
What phrase means ‘really apologetic’?
A. strongly sorry B. deeply sorry C. very sorry D. heavy sorry
deeply sorry = correct. Trap: strong or heavy don’t pair with emotions here.
tell a lie, tell the truth, make an effort, do your homework
• tell a lie = say something false (“He told a lie to avoid trouble.”)
• tell the truth = speak honestly (“Always tell the truth.”)
• make an effort = try hard (“She made a real effort to be kind.”)
• do your homework = complete schoolwork (“He did his homework after dinner.”)
make a mess, burst into tears, lose your temper, show respect
• make a mess = cause disorder (“They made a mess of the kitchen.”)
• burst into tears = suddenly start crying (“She burst into tears after the loss.”)
• lose your temper = get angry (“He lost his temper during the argument.”)
• show respect = act politely (“We should show respect to teachers.”)
express interest, vivid imagination, keen interest, sharp pain
• express interest = say you care or are curious (“She expressed interest in the topic.”)
• vivid imagination = creative and detailed ideas (“He has a vivid imagination.”)
• keen interest = strong attention or care (“She showed a keen interest in music.”)
• sharp pain = sudden or intense pain (“He felt a sharp pain in his side.”)
Which phrase is correct?
A. say a lie B. tell a lie C. make a lie D. speak a lie
tell a lie = correct. GL trap: all other options sound close but are incorrect.
What is the right collocation?
A. say the truth B. speak the truth C. tell the truth D. give the truth
tell the truth = correct. Trap: GL tests between ‘say’ and ‘tell’.
Which phrase is correct?
A. do an effort B. make an effort C. have an effort D. put an effort
make an effort = correct. Trap: students confuse ‘do’ and ‘make’.
Choose the correct phrase:
A. make your homework B. do your homework C. write your homework D. complete your homework
do your homework = correct. ‘Make’ is a common wrong answer in GL.
Which one is correct?
A. burst in tears B. fall into tears C. burst into tears D. drop into tears
burst into tears = correct. GL loves this idiomatic phrase.
Which phrase means ‘got angry’?
A. lose your temper B. miss your temper C. throw your temper D. blow your temper
lose your temper = correct. Trap: all others are realistic distractors.
Pick the correct collocation:
A. show respect B. give respect C. pay respect D. send respect
show respect = correct. GL sometimes pairs this with situations like talking to adults or teachers.
Which one is correct?
A. sharp pain B. strong pain C. big pain D. hard pain
sharp pain = correct. GL trap: ‘strong’ and ‘hard’ are tempting but wrong.
raise a question, draw a conclusion, reach a verdict, deliver a speech
• raise a question = bring up a topic or concern (“The article raised an important question.”)
• draw a conclusion = make a decision based on evidence (“We drew a conclusion after the experiment.”)
• reach a verdict = decide on a legal outcome (“The jury reached a verdict.”)
• deliver a speech = give a formal talk (“She delivered a speech at the event.”)
hold a grudge, bear responsibility, pose a threat, file a complaint
• hold a grudge = stay angry at someone for a long time (“He still holds a grudge over the argument.”)
• bear responsibility = formally take blame or duty (“They bore responsibility for the error.”)
• pose a threat = be dangerous to something (“Pollution poses a threat to nature.”)
• file a complaint = officially report a problem (“He filed a complaint with the company.”)
