IELTS Collocation 3

A good essay consists of simple sentences, compound sentences and complex sentences. Such a response includes both sentences with collocations and those without them. A word of caution: by saying ‘use collocations in your essays’, I do not mean that you must use rare difficult words; collocations are the most-frequently appearing word pairs in good pieces of writing by expert writers. If you are a good reader, you will definitely be able to use them at will. There are several different types of collocation. Collocations can be: 1. adjective + noun 2. adverb + adjective 3. verb + noun 4. verb + expression with preposition 5. verb + adverb etc. Collocations with adjective + noun:

Incredible performance/tale/wealth/talent etc Stringent action/steps/guidelines/measures/punishment etc Unwanted consequences Dire consequences Inevitable consequence Utter failure Sheer ignorance Grave negligence Adequate resources Appropriate action/solution Workable solution Fruitful results Unexpected results/outcomes/consequences Adverse effect Unpardonable offence Punishable act Devastating effects/impact/consequence Invaluable contribution Unchallenging faith Unprecedented growth Undesirable results/consequences/effects Enviable growth Multifaceted career Ruthless crimes Cold-blooded murder Unending options Thoughtless acts Burgeoning price/demand Ever-growing trend

Trendy accessories/clothes High-end products/computers/gadgets/gizmos Relentless enthusiasm/zest/hard work/ spirit Uphill/Herculean task Innate abilities Acquired abilities Civilized societies/citizens/people Established customs/practices/organizations Tech-savvy generation Deplorable condition Inadequate facilities Exorbitant rates/prices Cold-blooded murder Hardcore criminals Aspiring singers/performers/sportsmen Demoralizing impact/effect Excruciating pain Unbearable poverty/heat Underprivileged people Handsome salaries/remuneration/rewards Unbridgeable gap/divide Immense courage/wealth Irreversible change/damage/trend Cultural degeneration Anti-social elements Toxic fumes/gases Excessive consumption Underrated film/person/society/field Tremendous amounts of time Substantial sums/amounts

Collocations with adverb + adjective:

Entirely different Physically challenged Utterly stupid Practically impossible Virtually everywhere Deeply motivated Richly decorated Fully aware Completely ignorant Meticulously calculated/planned Beautifully crafted/designed/planned Cleverly devised Totally confused Totally alien Heavily armed/guarded Perfectly arranged Thoroughly damaged Deeply attached Readily available Widely used Hideously bad Finely/perfectly/delicately balanced Extremely beneficial/dangerous/useful/important Heavily built Elegantly designed/crafted Highly recommended Deeply conservative Highly contagious/critical/controversial/acclaimed Hotly debated Seriously/badly/severely damaged Highly/quite delighted Sharply/strongly criticized Deeply distressed/depressed Highly/fully/well developed Completely/ entirely/ totally/ utterly/ significantly/ markedly/ subtly different Bitterly/ deeply/ terribly/ extremely disappointed Highly educated Badly affected Poorly designed Highly effective Highly enjoyable Perfectly fitting Heavily polluted Extremely/fairly/highly flexible

Utterly futile Perfectly genuine Totally harmless Perfectly healthy Widely held Seriously/ critically/ gravely/ terminally ill Utterly/ almost/ nearly/ practically/ seemingly/ virtually impossible Totally incompetent Actively/ deeply/ heavily involved Highly/ hardly likely Totally logical/illogical Entirely loyal Grossly/ highly/ seriously misleading Entirely/ painfully/ totally/ immediately/ fairly/ extremely/ perfectly obvious Deeply offended Bitterly/ completely/ diametrically opposed Completely overlooked Perfectly rational/reasonable Widely recognized Highly relevant Incredibly/extremely rich Completely/perfectly right Utterly ruthless Perfectly safe Totally/ hardly surprising Highly technical Seriously threatened Highly toxic Utterly/painfully tragic Highly trained Totally/highly/entirely unaccepted Seriously undermined Perfectly understandable Desperately unhappy Totally unjustified Completely untenable Highly valuable Highly volatile Terribly worried Highly significant Fairly/ quite/ broadly/ roughly/ remarkably/ strikingly similar Heavily/ densely/ highly/ thickly/ sparsely/ lightly/

thinly populated Highly/fully/ suitably/ well qualified

Collocations with verb + noun:

Take exercise Make mistake Commit crime Commit suicide Make a speech Give a presentation Draw salary Take exam Achieve target Curb global warming Gain weight Lose weight Set a record Break a record Hike price Exercise franchise Devote time Thwart a plan/an attempt Take/make a decision

Eradicate poverty Uproot social evils Aid the poor Amend law Devise a plan Worsen a situation Mitigate a problem Resolve an issue Replenish energy Delay a process Endanger life/ wild life Take action Invite danger Hamper the progress Overcome a difficulty Fix a problem Script success Make effort Oppose a suggestion/idea/plan

Cultivate good habits Spruce up the city Speed up a procedure Hurt somebody’s feelings Ensure safety Refute a theory/statement/claim/argument Instill courage/confidence Inculcate good manner Rectify a situation/one’s ways Belittle one’s skills/ability Exploit nature Cash in on an opportunity Spring to action Initiate a process/an action Prolong a decision Curtail one’s liberties

Collocations with verb + adverb Act accordingly Bleed profusely Act instantly Rise steeply Fail badly Spend lavishly Invest wisely etc