Strong, fixed and weak collocations ENGLISH COLLOCATIONS IN USE (ADVANCED)

ENGLISH COLLOCATIONS IN USE (ADVANCED)

UNIT 2

Strong, fixed and weak collocations

A	Strong collocations A strong collocation is one in which the words are very closely associated with each other. For example, the adjective mitigating almost always collocates with circumstances or factors; it rarely collocates with any other word. Although she was found guilty, the jury felt there were mitigating circumstances. [factors or circumstances that lessen the blame] Here are some other examples of strong collocations. collocation comment Inclement weather was expected. (very formal) = unpleasant weather Inclement collocates almost exclusively with weather. She has auburn hair. Auburn collocates only with words connected with hair (e.g. curls, tresses, locks). I felt deliriously happy. = extremely happy Strongly associated with happy. Not used with glad, content, sad, etc. The chairperson adjourned the meeting. = have a pause or rest during a meeting/trial Adjourn is very strongly associated with meeting and trial.
B	Fixed collocations Fixed collocations are collocations so strong that they cannot be changed in any way. For example, you can say I was walking to and fro (meaning I was walking in one direction and then in the opposite direction, a repeated number of times). No other words can replace to or fro or and in this collocation. It is completely fixed. The meaning of some fixed collocations cannot be guessed from the individual words. These collocations are called idioms and are focused on in the book English Idioms in Use.
C	Weak collocations Weak collocations are made up of words that collocate with a wide range of other words. For example, you can say you are in broad agreement with someone [generally in agreement with them]. However, broad can also be used with a number of other words – a broad avenue, a broad smile, broad shoulders, a broad accent [a strong accent], a broad hint [a strong hint] and so on. These are weak collocations, in the sense that broad collocates with a broad range of different nouns. Strong collocations and weak collocations form a continuum, with stronger ones at one end and weaker ones at the other. Most collocations lie somewhere between the two. For example, the (formal) adjective picturesque collocates with village, location and town, and so appears near the middle of the continuum.
D	Types of collocations in this book The collocations in this book are all frequently used in modern English. We used a corpus (a database of language) to check this. We have also selected the collocations which will be useful to you as an advanced learner. We pay most attention to those that are not predictable. A broad avenue, for example, would be predicted by any student who knows broad and avenue. However, the use of broad to mean strong as in a broad accent is more difficult to predict.

EXERCISES

2.1	Complete the collocations using the words in the box. You will need to use some words more than once. adjourn auburn broad deliriously inclement mitigating picturesque 1 a ________________ accent 2 in ________________ agreement 3 ________________ circumstances 4 ________________ factors 5________________  hair 6________________  happy 7 a ________________ smile 8 a ________________ location 9 a ________________ meeting 10 a ________________ town 11 a ________________ trial 12 ________________ weather
2.2	Rewrite each sentence using a collocation from 2.1. 1 Melissa has quite a strong Scottish accent. 2 Bad weather led to the cancellation of the President’s garden party. 3 We were all very happy when we heard we’d won the award. 4 Their new home was in a very pretty location. 5 Because there were circumstances that made the theft less serious, the judge let him off with a warning. 6 I think we should stop the meeting now and continue it tomorrow. 7 She had a big smile on her face when she arrived. 8 She has lovely reddish-brown hair. 9 I think we’re generally in agreement as to what should be done.
2.3	Think of as many collocations as you can for each word. Then look in a dictionary such as the Cambridge Online Dictionary for other suitable words. Write W (weak) or S (strong) next to each group depending on how many words you found. 1 extremely ___________________________________________________________. 2 ___________________________________________________________an effort 3 cancel___________________________________________________________ 4 deliver___________________________________________________________ 5 ___________________________________________________________a living 6 ___________________________________________________________a meeting 7 ___________________________________________________________feature 8 engage___________________________________________________________ 9 bright___________________________________________________________
2.4	How useful do you think the collocations you have worked on in 2.2 and 2.3 are for you personally? Choose which collocations are most important to you and make sentences with them. Over to you Choose an English-language text that you have worked on recently. Underline five collocations in it. Are these collocations weak, strong or fixed?

ANSWER KEY

2.1 1 a broad accent                          7 a broad smile 2 in broad agreement                   8 a picturesque location 3 mitigating circumstances          9 adjourn a meeting 4 mitigating factors                     10 a picturesque town 5 auburn hair                               11 adjourn a trial 6 deliriously happy                     12 inclement weather 2.2 1 Melissa has quite a broad Scottish accent. 2 Inclement weather led to the cancellation of the President’s garden party. 3 We were all deliriously happy when we heard we’d won the award. 4 Their new home was in a very picturesque location. 5 Because there were mitigating circumstances, the judge let him off with a warning. 6 I think we should adjourn the meeting till/until tomorrow. 7 She had a broad smile on her face when she arrived. 8 She has lovely auburn hair. 9 I think we’re in broad agreement as to what should be done. 2.3 2.4 Possible example sentences: I felt deliriously happy when I passed all my exams. I must make an effort to learn more collocations. It’s difficult nowadays to make a living as a small shopkeeper. We had to cancel the match because of the rain. Follow-up Ask your teacher to check your answers if you are not confident about them.