Common Collocations List: Learning English can be easier when you know common collocations. Collocations are words that often go together, like “make a promise” or “catch a cold.” Knowing these word pairs helps you sound more natural and makes speaking and writing easier. This blog post will teach you some useful collocations. By learning them, you can improve your English step by step.
In this post, you will see example sentences for each collocation. These examples will show you how to use the words correctly. Reading these sentences will help you understand the meaning and remember how to use each collocation. Practice them, and you’ll notice your English getting better. So, let’s start learning these common collocations and take another step forward in your English journey!
9 – Common Collocations List in English
- Have
- Make
- Get
- Break
- Catch
- Do
- Come
- Save
- Pay
1. Have
Meaning: “Have” means to own or to hold something. For example, if you have a book, the book belongs to you. You can also have things like ideas, friends, or feelings.
- Have a rest
- She is tired and needs to have a rest.
- Let’s have a rest after the walk.
- I always have a rest in the afternoon.
- Have sympathy
- I have sympathy for people who are sick.
- We all had sympathy for her.
- He has sympathy for animals.
- Have lunch
- Let’s have lunch at noon.
- She always has lunch at school.
- We have lunch together every day.
- Have a good time
- We had a good time at the park.
- Have a good time at the party!
- She always has a good time with friends.
- Have a dream
- I had a strange dream last night.
- She has a big dream to travel.
- He always has dreams about flying.
- Have a feeling
- I have a feeling it will rain.
- She has a good feeling about today.
- He had a strange feeling last night.
- Have fun
- Let’s have fun at the beach.
- They had fun playing games.
- She always has fun with her friends.
- Have a relationship
- She has a good relationship with her mom.
- He has a close relationship with his sister.
- They have a nice relationship.
- Have a haircut
- I need to have a haircut soon.
- She has a haircut every month.
- He had a haircut yesterday.
- Have a bath
- I like to have a bath before bed.
- He had a hot bath after work.
- She always has a bath at night.
- Have a look at something
- Let’s have a look at the menu.
- She had a look at the book.
- Can you have a look at this? [common collocations list]
2. Make
Meaning: “Make” means to create or build something. For example, if you make a cake, you put ingredients together to create the cake. We can also make plans, make noise, or make decisions.
- Make trouble
- Don’t make trouble in class.
- She made trouble for her friend.
- He never wants to make trouble.
- Make furniture
- My dad can make furniture.
- She makes furniture at work.
- They make furniture from wood.
- Make a noise
- Don’t make a noise here.
- The kids made a loud noise.
- She doesn’t like to make noise.
- Make a mess
- The kids made a mess in the kitchen.
- Don’t make a mess in your room.
- He made a mess with his food.
- Make a point
- She made a good point.
- He always makes his point clear.
- I want to make a point about this.
- Make sense
- This story doesn’t make sense.
- Can you explain it so it makes sense?
- His idea makes sense.
- Make a promise
- She made a promise to help him.
- He made a promise to be on time.
- They made a promise together.
- Make progress
- She is making progress in English.
- He made progress in the project.
- We are making good progress.
- Make breakfast
- I make breakfast every morning.
- She made breakfast for everyone.
- He likes to make breakfast early.
- Make the bed
- I always make my bed.
- She made the bed neatly.
- Don’t forget to make your bed.
3. Get
Meaning: “Get” means to receive or to obtain something. For example, if you get a gift, someone gives it to you. We can also get things like information, jobs, or feelings.
- Get a job
- She wants to get a job soon.
- He got a job at the store.
- I need to get a new job.
- Get a life
- Go out and get a life!
- He needs to get a life outside work.
- She told him to get a life.
- Get divorced
- They got divorced last year.
- He doesn’t want to get divorced.
- Many people get divorced.
- Get permission
- He got permission to leave early.
- She got permission from her parents.
- They need permission to enter.
- Get started
- Let’s get started on the work.
- He got started right away.
- I can’t wait to get started.
- Get lost
- They got lost in the forest.
- He got lost on his way home.
- She often gets lost in new places.
- Get fired
- He got fired from his job.
- She is afraid of getting fired.
- They got fired for being late.
- Get home
- I get home at 6 p.m.
- She got home late last night.
- They always get home before dark.
- Get angry
- Don’t get angry at him.
- She got angry when he lied.
- They often get angry in traffic. [common collocations list]
4. Break
Meaning: “Break” means to damage or separate something into pieces. For example, if you break a glass, it might shatter into small pieces. We can also break rules or promises.
- Break a record
- She wants to break a record in running.
- He broke a record at the competition.
- They hope to break a new record.
- Break a leg
- She told him, “Break a leg!” before his show.
- “Break a leg!” they shouted to her.
- He said “Break a leg” to his friend on stage.
- Break the ice
- She told a joke to break the ice.
- Let’s play a game to break the ice.
- He tried to break the ice with a funny story.
- Break free
- She broke free from the ropes.
- He wants to break free from his fears.
- The bird broke free from the cage.
- Break a promise
- He broke his promise to her.
- She never wants to break a promise.
- They broke a promise to their friend.
- Break the law
- He got in trouble for breaking the law.
- She never breaks the law.
- They don’t want to break the law.
- Break the rules
- She broke the rules in class.
- He got in trouble for breaking the rules.
- They don’t like to break the rules.
- Break a neck
- Be careful, or you might break your neck!
- She was scared to break her neck.
- He told them not to break their neck.
- Break a glass
- He broke a glass by accident.
- She was sad she broke the glass.
- They heard the sound of a glass breaking.
5. Catch
Meaning: “Catch” means to hold or stop something that is moving. For example, if you catch a ball, you grab it with your hands. We can also catch things like a bus, a thief, or a cold.
- Catch a thief
- The police caught the thief.
- He tried to catch a thief in the store.
- She saw the police catch a thief.
- Catch some rays
- She went to the beach to catch some rays.
- He likes to catch some rays in summer.
- They went outside to catch some rays.
- Catch a glimpse
- She caught a glimpse of her friend in the crowd.
- He caught a glimpse of the sunset.
- They wanted to catch a glimpse of the singer.
- Catch a ball
- He can catch a ball very well.
- She tried to catch the ball, but missed.
- They catch the ball and throw it back.
- Catch a cold
- She caught a cold after the rain.
- He always catches a cold in winter.
- They don’t want to catch a cold.
- Catch a chill
- She caught a chill from the cold wind.
- He caught a chill by staying outside.
- They caught a chill after swimming.
- Catch the flu
- He caught the flu last winter.
- She doesn’t want to catch the flu.
- They caught the flu from school.
- Catch one’s breath
- He stopped to catch his breath after running.
- She needed a moment to catch her breath.
- They paused to catch their breath on the hike.
- Catch someone’s eye
- The bright dress caught her eye.
- He caught her eye across the room.
- That ad always catches people’s eye. [common collocations list]
6. Do
Meaning: “Do” means to perform an action or activity. For example, if you do your homework, you complete it. We can also do things like work, exercises, or chores.
- Do your best
- He will do his best in the test.
- She always does her best at work.
- They will do their best to help.
- Do nothing
- He decided to do nothing on Saturday.
- She did nothing all day.
- They like to do nothing sometimes.
- Do harm
- Pollution can do harm to animals.
- He doesn’t want to do harm to anyone.
- They know smoking does harm.
- Do your hair
- She will do her hair before the party.
- He asked her to do his hair nicely.
- She likes to do her hair every morning.
- Do some work
- He needs to do some work at home.
- She did some work before dinner.
- They will do some work after school.
- Do someone a favour
- Can you do me a favour?
- He did her a favour by helping her.
- She always does favours for friends.
- Do something right
- She did something right by helping.
- He wants to do something right today.
- They did everything right in the game.
- Do something wrong
- He knew he did something wrong.
- She felt bad for doing something wrong.
- They realized they did something wrong.
- Do the dishes
- I do the dishes after dinner.
- He will do the dishes for her.
- She does the dishes every night.
7. Come
Meaning: “Come” means to move toward a place. For example, if you come to a party, you go there. We can also come on time, come late, or come first in a race.
- Come in first
- She came in first in the race.
- He wants to come in first next time.
- They cheered when he came in first.
- Come late
- He came late to the party.
- She doesn’t like to come late to work.
- They came late to the meeting.
- Come second
- She came second in the contest.
- He was happy to come second.
- They came second in the game.
- Come to an agreement
- They came to an agreement at last.
- She wants to come to an agreement.
- He hopes to come to an agreement soon.
- Come on time
- Please come on time to class.
- He always tries to come on time.
- She came on time for the show.
- Come close
- He came close to winning.
- She came close to the stage.
- They came close to the finish line.
- Come in last
- He was sad to come in last.
- She came in last in the race.
- They don’t want to come in last.
- Come into view
- The mountain came into view.
- She watched the city come into view.
- The lake came into view slowly.
- Come early
- He likes to come early to work.
- She came early to the party.
- They came early to get a good seat.
8. Save
Meaning: “Save” means to keep something for later or to protect it. For example, if you save money, you don’t spend it. We can also save time, space, or someone’s life.
- Save time
- He took the bus to save time.
- She saved time by cooking quickly.
- They want to save time on the trip.
- Save space
- She folded her clothes to save space.
- They need to save space in the room.
- He organized to save space.
- Save money
- He wants to save money for a trip.
- She saved money by shopping less.
- They saved money all year.
- Save someone’s life
- The doctor saved her life.
- He wants to save someone’s life.
- She saved his life with medicine.
- Save one’s strength
- She saved her strength for the race.
- He tries to save his strength.
- They saved their strength for the game.
- Save something to a disk
- He saved the file to a disk.
- She saved her work to a disk.
- They save their projects to a disk.
- Save someone a seat
- He saved her a seat in class.
- She saved him a seat at the game.
- They saved a seat for their friend.
- Save energy
- He turns off lights to save energy.
- She saved energy by walking.
- They want to save energy at home.
- Save electricity
- Turn off lights to save electricity.
- She saved electricity by unplugging things.
- They try to save electricity at night.
9. Pay
Meaning: “Pay” means to give money in exchange for something. For example, if you pay for food, you give money to buy it. We can also pay attention, pay a fine, or pay a compliment. [common collocations list]
- Pay attention
- He paid attention in class.
- She always pays attention to her teacher.
- They paid attention to the lesson.
- Pay interest
- He pays interest on his loan.
- She doesn’t like to pay interest.
- They pay interest every month.
- Pay a fine
- He had to pay a fine.
- She paid a fine for parking.
- They paid a fine at the bank.
- Pay a visit
- She paid a visit to her friend.
- He wants to pay a visit to his grandma.
- They paid a visit to the museum.
- Pay a compliment
- She paid him a nice compliment.
- He likes to pay compliments.
- They paid her a compliment.
- Pay the price
- He paid the price for his mistakes.
- She knows she will pay the price.
- They don’t want to pay the price.
- Pay someone a visit
- She will pay him a visit tomorrow.
- He wants to pay her a visit.
- They plan to pay them a visit soon.
- Pay wages
- He pays wages every Friday.
- She pays wages to the workers.
- They paid the wages on time.
- Pay by credit card
- She paid by credit card at the store.
- He likes to pay by credit card.
- They paid by credit card for the tickets.
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