Collocations are word pairs that naturally go together in English — mastering them is key to sounding native.
Why Native Speakers Say “Make a Decision” Not “Do a Decision”
Have you ever wondered why it is “make a decision” but “do your homework”? Why do we “take” a photo but “have” a conversation? These are collocations – natural word combinations that native speakers use instinctively but that feel completely arbitrary to learners.
Mastering collocations is one of the fastest ways to sound more natural in English. Here are 100 of the most common ones organized by type.
Make vs Do
This is one of the most important distinctions in English. Use make when you create, produce, or construct something. Use do when you perform, carry out, or accomplish an action.
make a decision / make an effort / make a mistake / make a phone call / make a plan / make a promise / make progress / make friends / make money
do homework / do the housework / do the laundry / do the shopping / do research / do business / do exercise / do the dishes / do nothing
Take vs Have
Use take for brief actions, captures, or single instances. Use have for experiences, states, and longer actions.
take a photo / take a shower / take a break / take a seat / take a step / take medicine / take notes / take control / take advantage
have a conversation / have a relationship / have an idea / have a problem / have lunch / have a feeling / have fun / have doubt
Break vs Make vs Do
break a promise / break the law / break a record / break news / break silence / break habit
makewaves / make assumptions / make arrangements / make arrangements / make an exception
Get vs Take vs Make
get a chance / get permission / get attention / get angry / get dressed / get started / get lost / get married / get divorced
take a risk / take responsibility / take action / take care / take place
make a contribution / make adjustments / make contact / make inquiries
Adjective + Noun Collocations
strong tea / heavy rain / deep sleep / severe pain / minor injury
fast food / junk food / fresh air / public opinion / higher education
close friends / big issue / common sense / grave concern / serious damage
Verb + Preposition Combinations
believe in / belong to / depend on / differ from / hope for
listen to / look after / look forward to / look into
point out / rely on / result in / suffer from
Word Partnership Patterns
Deadly vs Lethal vs Fatal
All three mean “causing death,” but collocate differently:
pure water / pure gold / pure coincidence / pure joy
clean energy / clean record / clean sweep / come clean
clear evidence / clear sky / clear explanation / clear your mind
Why Collocations Matter
Using the wrong collocation is one of the most noticeable signs of non-native speech. Even if your grammar is perfect, saying “do a decision” instead of “make a decision” immediately marks you as a learner.
Conversely, using correct collocations instantly makes your English sound more natural and fluent. Native speakers rarely think about collocations – they are stored as chunks in the brain, not assembled word by word.
How to Learn Collocations
Read extensively – your brain naturally picks up collocations from context.
Keep a collocation notebook – write phrases, not single words.
Use corpus tools like COCA or Lingoscope to check which words naturally collocate.
Practice in speaking – force yourself to use the correct collocation, even if it feels uncomfortable.
Learn chunks, not words – “take a photo” is one chunk to learn, not four separate words.
Practice English vocabulary and collocations at your CEFR level with our free reading app.
