English Collocations in Use Intermediate

by Michael McCarthy , Felicity O'Dell

• ISBN13: 9780521603782
• ISBN10: 0521603781
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-10-17
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

A good knowledge of collocations (typical word combinations) is essential for fluent and natural-sounding English. Using collocations will improve your style of written and spoken English, and knowledge of collocations is often tested in examinations such as Cambridge FCE, CAE, CPE and IELTS. Learning correct word combinations will also help you avoid common learner errors. English Collocations in Use presents and practises hundreds of collocations in typical contexts. It is ideal for students at good intermediate level and above. Using collocations will improve your style of written and spoken English: - Instead of 'a big amount', say 'a substantial amount' - Instead of 'think about the options', say 'consider the options' Using collocations will make your English sound more natural: - Instead of 'get ill', say 'fall ill' - Instead of 'a big fine', say 'a heavy fine' Using collocations will help you avoid common learner errors: - Instead of 'do a choice', say 'make a choice' - Instead of 'make your homework', say 'do your homework'

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements	3	(1)
To the student (and the teacher)	4	(122)
Learning about collocations
What is a collocation?
Finding, recording and learning collocations
Using your dictionary
Types of collocation
Register
Grammatical aspects of collocations
Intensifying adverbs
highly unlikely, utterly ridiculous, strongly object
Everyday verbs 1
make a mistake, do your best, do damage
Everyday verbs 2
go bald, become extinct, fall ill
Everyday verbs 3
have fun, take action, pay a compliment
Special aspects of collocation
Synonyms and confusable words 1
close a meeting, antique furniture, only child
Synonyms and confusable words 2
gain power, achieve your goals, defeat an opponent
Metaphor
sunny smile, ideas flow, heated discussion
Topics: Travel and the environment
Weather
strong wind, blanket of fog, river bursts its banks
Travel
tiring journey, aisle seat, family-run hotel
Countryside
surrounding countryside, well worth seeing
Towns and cities
lined with shops, sprawling city, volume of traffic
Topics: People and relationships
People: character and behaviour
have a vivid imagination, lose your patience
People: physical appearance
slender waist, immaculately groomed
Families
distant cousin, expecting a baby, stable home
Relationships
casual acquaintance, love at first sight
Feelings and emotions
lasting happiness, worried sick, emotional wreck
Topics: Leisure and lifestyle
Houses, flats and rooms
move into a flat, spacious living room
Eating and drinking
nourishing meal, spoil your appetite, dying of hunger
Films and books
film critic, go on the stage, renew a library book
Music
give a performance, go on tour, strum a guitar
Sport
go snowboarding, take a penalty
Health and illness
catch a cold, vigorous exercise, be taken ill
Topics: Work and study
Computers
forward a message, e-mail bounces
Study and learning
do research, attend a lecture, first draft
Work
high-powered job, hand in your notice
Business
set up a business, launch a product, rival company
Academic writing 1: giving opinions
key factor, challenge a theory, carry out research
Academic writing 2: structuring an argument
make reference to, argue convincingly, research suggests
Topics: Society and institutions
Laws and punishments
break the law, bend the rules, fair trial
Crime
hardened criminal, juvenile crime, tackle crime
News
hit the headlines, hold talks, take hostage
Money
squander money, price soars, go cheap
War and peace
war breaks out, restore order, call a truce
Global problems
irreparable damage, eradicate poverty, earthquake hits
Basic concepts
Time
save time, ungodly hours, from dawn till dusk
Sound
break the silence, excessive noise, almighty bang
Distance and size
within commuting distance, painfully thin
Colour and light
bright colour, beam of light, shed some light on
Texture
choppy sea, soft pillow, ice melts
Taste and smell
fragrant perfume, have a taste, smell danger
Number and frequency
significant number, come to a total of, rare species
Movement and speed
prompt payment, painfully slow, lose your balance
Change
make an adjustment, break a habit, change the subject
Ways of speaking
brief chat, raise a subject, drop a hint
Ways of walking
pace up and down, wander aimlessly, faltering steps
Functions
Starting and finishing
promising start, bring something to an end
Talking about success and failure
make a breakthrough, fail miserably
Talking about cause and effect
cause alarm, adverse effects, have a major impact
Remembering and sensing
vaguely remember, blot out a memory, have a feeling
Agreeing and disagreeing
settle a dispute, agree to differ, heated argument
Talking about beliefs and opinions
firmly believe, colour someone's judgement
Deciding and choosing
arrive at a decision, have second thoughts, tough choice
Claiming and denying
make the point that, contradictory evidence
Liking and disliking
have a liking, state a preference, take offence
Praising and criticising
offer your congratulations, speak highly of
Key	126	(33)
Index	159