Finding and working on collocations in texts ENGLISH COLLOCATIONS IN USE (ADVANCED)

ENGLISH COLLOCATIONS IN USE (ADVANCED)

UNIT 4

Finding and working on collocations in texts

A

Finding collocations You can expand your collocation vocabulary by training yourself to notice collocations whenever you read. Note the collocations in these three examples of texts from different sources – a newspaper feature, a film review and a website for London tourists. LOCAL SPOTLIGHT As a newly qualified teacher at a comprehensive school in Wiltshire, every day Joe faces the challenge of gaining the respect of a class of 15-year-olds. Joe, 26, admits it is a tough challenge but thinks he is winning the battle. Joe, who teaches English and media studies, and coaches a school football team, will qualify fully in July, pending the results1 of his lesson assessments. With this milestone passed2, and the increased financial stability it will bring, Joe will turn his thoughts to buying his first home. 1 (formal) as long as he achieves successful results 2 major life event behind him The Interpreter óóóó STARRING Nicole Kidman Sean Penn She has a gift for languages, which brings her to the UN. She wants to make a difference. She is idealistic in that single-minded, dedicated manner associated with freedom fighters. Silvia (Nicole Kidman) remains an enigma. When Tobin Keller (Sean Penn) begins to investigate her, he is faced with a blank sheet. She is beautiful, blonde, lissom and lithe. She lives alone, has no lover, rides a Vespa throughout New York and works all day, providing simultaneous translation for delegates. She has an odd accent, which, like everything else about her, is difficult to pin down3. 3 hard to fix or place Covent Garden’s buskers and jugglers provide no-cost entertainment in a car free setting, and you’ve always got the chance of being plucked from the crowd to help out with a trick. Don’t underestimate the value of London’s public transport as a source of fun, either. The #11 double-decker from Victoria, for instance, will trundle you past the Houses of Parliament, Trafalgar Square and the Strand on its way to St Paul’s Cathedral for a modest sum. The driverless Docklands Light Railway is another guaranteed source of amusement – grab a seat at the front of the train and pretend to be the driver, then take a boat back to the centre of town from Greenwich. Remember you will also hear collocations in conversations, lectures, songs and films. Try to get into the habit of recording any interesting collocations that you notice.

B

Recording collocations When working on collocations in a text, use your dictionary to find more relating to one or both parts of the original collocation. You can record strong collocations in collocation forks:

EXERCISES

4.1	Complete each sentence using a collocation from A. 1 Tania has always had a ________________________ so I’m not surprised she wants to study Chinese at university. 2 At high tide the sea covers the causeway and the only way to get to the island is to _________________. 3 It’s very crowded in this café. You ________________________ and I’ll get our drinks. 4 Once my exams are over I’ll ________________________ planning a holiday. 5 Far more people these days manage to ________________________ against cancer. 6 Most politicians say they enter politics because they want to ________________________. 7 Try not to ________________________ having good friends. Ultimately, friendship is far more important than work. 8 He’s got the job – ________________________ a successful in ________________________ his driving test tomorrow. 9 Although they lack experience, ________________________ doctors are often very enthusiastic and passionate about their work.
4.2	Complete the collocations. The first letters are given to help you. Use a dictionary such as the Cambridge Online Dictionary if necessary
4.3	Check these expressions (a) in a good dictionary and (b) using a search engine. Which two are collocations and which two are not? 1 learn by head 2 learn by heart 3 lose a chance 4 miss a chance
4.4	Answer these questions. 1 Name three milestones in your life that you have already passed. 2 Are you already fully qualified? If so, as what? If not, when will you be? 3 What are some typical sources of income? 4 What is the toughest challenge you have ever faced? 5 What qualities would be needed by someone providing simultaneous translation? 6 What are some examples of things that have sentimental value for you?
4.5	Here is one student’s plan for work on collocations. Complete the gaps, using a dictionary if necessary. Then tick the ideas you can use yourself. • (1) _______________ an effort to notice collocations in any English text I read. • (2) _______________ hold of a good dictionary to check other collocations for words that I want to learn. • Write down at least three collocations for each new word I want to (3) _______________ to memory. • Look back over old homework to see where I have (4) _______________ mistakes with collocations and (5) _______________ my best to (6) _______________ those mistakes in future. • (7) _______________ a point of using good collocations when I have to write or speak in English. • Read and listen to as much English as (8) _______________ because that will expose me to natural collocations. • Every week revise the collocations I have (9) _______________ a note of in my vocabulary fi le.

ANSWER KEY

4.1 1 gift for languages               6 make a difference 2 take a boat                        7 underestimate the value of 3 grab a seat                         8 pending; result 4 turn my thoughts to           9 newly qualified 5 win the battle 4.2 to jump at the chance / pass up the chance / get the chance / stand a chance / be in with a chance to face a challenge / to pose a challenge / a direct challenge / to rise to the challenge / a serious challenge 4.3 The correct collocations are learn by heart and miss a chance. 4.4 Author’s answers: 1 Three milestones in my life that I have already passed include graduating from university, getting my first job and getting married. 2 I am fully qualified as a teacher. 3 Typical sources of income are wages or salaries, income from investments, rental income and business profits. 4 Possibly the toughest challenge I have ever faced was completing my doctoral thesis in time. 5 Someone providing simultaneous translation needs to be bilingual and to have excellent powers of concentration. 6 Personal letters, photos and old diaries have sentimental value for me. 4.5 1 Make            6 avoid 2 Get                7 Make 3 commit             8 possible 4 made                9 made 5 do Ideally you would tick all the ideas, as they are all good ways of improving your knowledge and use of collocations.