English Collocation Guide: 48 Essential Collocations by Verb
Collocations are natural word combinations that native speakers use automatically. Unlike grammar rules, you cannot guess them — you have to learn them as chunks. The classic learner trap is "make vs do": both mean "perform", yet you make a decision but do homework. Search below or filter by base verb.
48 collocations · 6 verbs
"make a decision"
decide formally
"She made a decision to quit her job."
"make progress"
move forward; improve
"The students are making great progress this term."
"make a mistake"
do something wrong
"Everyone makes mistakes when learning a language."
"make sense"
be logical or understandable
"Does this explanation make sense to you?"
"make an effort"
try hard
"You need to make more of an effort to arrive on time."
"make a difference"
have a significant effect
"One good teacher can make a real difference in a child's life."
"make a suggestion"
propose an idea
"Could I make a suggestion about the meeting agenda?"
"make an appointment"
schedule a meeting or visit
"I need to make an appointment with the dentist."
"do homework"
complete school assignments at home
"Have you done your homework yet?"
"do research"
investigate or study a topic systematically
"She spent three years doing research on climate change."
"do business"
trade or conduct commercial activities
"Our company does business in over 40 countries."
"do damage"
cause harm or destruction
"The storm did serious damage to the coastline."
"do a favour"
help someone by doing something for them
"Could you do me a favour and watch my bag?"
"do exercise"
engage in physical activity
"The doctor said I should do more exercise."
"do well"
succeed or perform at a good level
"She did really well in the interview."
"do the dishes"
wash the plates and cups after eating
"It's your turn to do the dishes tonight."
"have a meeting"
attend or hold a formal discussion
"We have a meeting with the client on Thursday."
"have fun"
enjoy yourself
"Did you have fun at the party last night?"
"have experience"
possess knowledge or skill from past events
"She has extensive experience working abroad."
"have a break"
stop working and rest for a short time
"Let's have a break and get some coffee."
"have a conversation"
talk with someone
"I had a really interesting conversation with my neighbour."
"have trouble"
face difficulties or problems
"I'm having trouble understanding this grammar rule."
"have a look"
examine or observe something
"Can you have a look at this report before I send it?"
"have an impact"
produce a noticeable effect
"Social media has had a huge impact on modern communication."
"take a break"
stop an activity temporarily to rest
"You've been working for hours — take a break!"
"take action"
do something to address a situation
"The government needs to take action on pollution immediately."
"take notes"
write down key information while listening
"Remember to take notes during the lecture."
"take responsibility"
accept that you are accountable for something
"A good leader takes responsibility for their team's mistakes."
"take a risk"
do something that might have a bad outcome
"Starting a new business always involves taking a risk."
"take part"
participate in an activity or event
"Over 200 students took part in the competition."
"take advice"
accept and follow guidance given by someone
"I decided to take my doctor's advice and rest for a week."
"take time"
require or use a period of time
"Learning to speak fluently takes a lot of time and patience."
"get better"
improve or recover from illness
"I hope you get better soon!"
"get married"
enter into a marriage
"They got married in a small ceremony by the sea."
"get lost"
become unable to find your way
"We got lost on our way to the hotel."
"get permission"
receive authorisation to do something
"You need to get permission from the manager first."
"get dressed"
put on your clothes
"I get dressed and have breakfast every morning at 7."
"get a job"
successfully obtain employment
"After months of searching, she finally got a job."
"get ready"
prepare yourself for something
"Get ready — the taxi will be here in ten minutes."
"get angry"
become annoyed or furious
"He got really angry when he heard the news."
"give advice"
offer guidance or recommendations
"A good mentor gives advice without making you feel judged."
"give a speech"
deliver a formal talk to an audience
"She gave a powerful speech at the graduation ceremony."
"give permission"
allow someone to do something
"The school gave permission for the students to leave early."
"give up"
stop trying; abandon an effort
"Don't give up — you're almost there!"
"give a presentation"
deliver information formally to a group
"He gave an excellent presentation on renewable energy."
"give a chance"
allow an opportunity
"Please give me another chance to prove myself."
"give support"
help or encourage someone
"Her family gave her a lot of support during the difficult time."
"give an example"
provide a specific instance to illustrate a point
"Could you give an example of what you mean?"
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a collocation in English?
A collocation is a pair or group of words that frequently appear together and sound natural to native speakers. For example, "make a decision" is correct, but "do a decision" sounds wrong — even though both verbs mean "perform an action". Collocations are governed by usage, not strict grammar rules.
Why is learning collocations important for fluency?
Fluent speakers process language in chunks, not word by word. When you know that "take responsibility" and "give advice" are fixed chunks, you produce them instantly without constructing each phrase from scratch. This chunk-based processing is the key difference between advanced learners and native-level speakers.
What is the difference between MAKE and DO collocations?
"Make" typically refers to creating or producing something (make a decision, make progress, make a mistake), while "do" refers to performing activities or tasks (do homework, do research, do damage). There is no logical rule — you must learn these as fixed collocations. However, grouping them side by side, as in this guide, helps you remember the contrast.
How many collocations do I need to know?
The Oxford Collocations Dictionary lists over 150,000 collocations. But research suggests that knowing the 500–1,000 most frequent collocations — especially those built around the 10 most common verbs — accounts for the vast majority of natural-sounding English. Start with the six verbs in this guide: make, do, have, take, get, and give.
What is the best way to practise collocations?
The most effective approach is encountering collocations repeatedly in context — through listening to real spoken English such as podcasts, films, and conversations at your level. When you hear "make a decision" naturally 5–10 times, it becomes stored as a single unit in your memory. Drilling lists has much less impact than massive comprehensible input exposure.
The fastest way to internalise collocations is hearing them in real English conversations.
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