Collocation

In this article, we are going to talk about the problems that non-native speakers may have with English vocabulary use - in particular with the appropriate combinations of words. This is an aspect of language called collocation. An example of collocation that many learners of English may be familiar with is the different adjectives that are used to describe a good-looking man and a good-looking woman. We talk of a beautiful woman and of a handsome man, but rarely of a beautiful man or a handsome woman.

(It is quite possible, in fact, to describe a woman as handsome. However, this implies that she is not beautiful at all in the traditional sense of female beauty, but rather that she is mature in age, has large features and certain strength of character. Similarly, a man could be described as beautiful, but this would usually imply that he had feminine features. Calling a man pretty is most often done perjoratively to suggest effeminacy.)

In another familiar example of collocation, we talk of high mountains and tall trees, but not usually of tall mountains and high trees. Similarly a man can be tall but never high, whereas a ceiling can only be high, not tall. A window can be both tall and high, but a tall window is not the same as a high window. We get old and tired, but we go bald or grey. We get sick but we fall ill. A big house, a large house and a great house have the same meaning, but a great man is not the same as a big man or a large man. You can make a big mistake or a great mistake, but you cannot make a large mistake. You can be a little sad but not a little happy. We say very pleased and very tiny, but we do not say very delighted or very huge. And so on - there are endless examples of this kind of difficulty.

The problem for the learner of English is that there are no collocation rules that can be learned. The native English speaker intuitively makes the correct collocation, based on a lifetime’s experience of hearing and reading the words in set combinations. The non-native speaker has a more limited experience and may frequently collocate words in a way that sounds odd to the native speaker.

Collocation, thus, is a way in which some words are often used together, and sound natural together. This also refers to restrictions on how words may be used together, such as which verbs and nouns can be used together, and which prepositions and verbs can be used together. 

For Example: We often say heavy rain, or light rain, instead of strong rain or mild rain, heavy goes well with rain, whereas strong does not. There are many cases in English when it is difficult to know which words go well with the word you want to use, because there are no clear rules. Some words just sound right together, while others do not.  On the other hand, other combinations may be unnatural and just sound "wrong". Look at these examples:

 

Natural English...	Unnatural English...
the fast train fast food	the quick train quick food
a quick shower a quick meal	a fast shower a fast meal

 

Collocations are in effect partly or fully fixed expressions that become established through repeated context-dependent use. Such terms as 'crystal clear', 'middle management', 'nuclear family', and 'cosmetic surgery' are examples of collocated pairs of words.

The "father" of collocation is usually considered to be J.R. Firth, a British linguist. It was he that first used the term "collocation" in its linguistic sense.

       “You shall know a word by the company it keeps.”

                                                J R Firth (British linguist, 1890-1960)

An easy way to remember the meaning of collocation: think of "col-" or "co-" (together) and "location" (place) = place together, locate together, go together

• collocate (verb): place side by side or in relation
• collocation (noun): the action of placing things side by side or in position
• colocate/co-locate (verb): share a location or facility with someone or something

Types of Collocation

There are several different types of collocation made from combinations of verb, noun, adjective etc. Some of the most common types are:

• Adverb + Adjective: completely satisfied (NOT downright satisfied)
• Adjective + Noun: excruciating pain (NOT excruciating joy)
• Noun + Noun: a surge of anger (NOT a rush of anger)
• Noun + Verb: lions roar (NOT lions shout)
• Verb + Noun: commit suicide (NOT undertake suicide)
• Verb + Prepositional Phrase: burst into tears (NOT blow up in tears)
• Verb + Adverb: wave frantically (NOT wave feverishly)

1. adverb + adjective (Adverbs that Collocate with Adjectives)

There are a number of intensifying adverbs that can be used instead of very or extremely with adjectives, such as: 

·          highly controversial (= very controversial) 

highly = adverb & controversial = adjective 

·         deeply offended (= very offended) 

·         bitterly disappointed (= very disappointment) Often it is difficult to predict which adverb will be used with a particular adjective. Some adverbs occur quite often before some adjectives, e.g. perfectly normal (same as very normal) and grossly misleading (same as very...). 

·          bitterly ashamed / disappointed / cold NOT bitterly successful 

·         highly successful / accomplished NOT highly divided / grateful 

·         deeply divided / grateful / unpopular NOT deeply developed

• Invading that country was an utterly stupid thing to do.
• We entered a richly decorated room.
• Are you fully aware of the implications of your action?

2. adjective + noun (Adjectives that Collocate with Nouns) 

When you want to describe a noun, there is often a range of adjectives you can use, e.g. you can say a strong, real, or distinct possibility when something is very possible, or a remote or faint possibility if something is not very likely.

• The doctor ordered him to take regular exercise.
• The Titanic sank on its maiden voyage.
• He was writhing on the ground in excruciating pain.

3. noun + noun

• Let's give Mr Jones a round of applause.
• The ceasefire agreement came into effect at 11am.
• I'd like to buy two bars of soap please.

4. noun + verb

• The lion started to roar when it heard the dog barking.
• Snow was falling as our plane took off.
• The bomb went off when he started the car engine.

5. verb + noun (Verbs that Collocate with Nouns) 

When you use a noun in a sentence, you need to know which verbs go well with it. Learners often make mistakes with these verbs. For example: 

·         Instead of saying do a bath; you say take a bath 

·         Instead of do an effort; you say make an effort 

·         Instead of do a crime; you say commit a crime 

·          Instead of say a joke, you say tell a joke, make a joke, or crack a joke

• The prisoner was hanged for committing murder.
• I always try to do my homework in the morning, after making my bed.
• He has been asked to give a presentation about his work.

6. verb + prepositional phrase

• We had to return home because we had run out of money.
• At first her eyes filled with horror, and then she burst into tears.
• Their behaviour was enough to drive anybody to crime.

7. verb + adverb

• She placed her keys gently on the table and sat down.
• Mary whispered softly in John's ear.
• I vaguely remember that it was growing dark when we left.

 

Some common verbs
have	do	make
have a bath have a drink have a good time have a haircut have a holiday have a problem have a relationship have a rest have lunch have sympathy	do business do nothing do someone a favour do the cooking do the housework do the shopping do the washing up do your best do your hair do your homework	make a difference make a mess make a mistake make a noise make an effort make furniture make money make progress make room make trouble
take	break	catch
take a break take a chance take a look take a rest take a seat take a taxi take an exam take notes take someone's place take someone's temperature	break a habit break a leg break a promise break a record break a window break someone's heart break the ice break the law break the news to someone break the rules	catch a ball catch a bus catch a chill catch a cold catch a thief catch fire catch sight of catch someone's attention catch someone's eye catch the flu
pay	save	keep
pay a fine pay attention pay by credit card pay cash pay interest pay someone a compliment pay someone a visit pay the bill pay the price pay your respects	save electricity save energy save money save one's strength save someone a seat save someone's life save something to a disk save space save time save yourself the trouble	keep a diary keep a promise keep a secret keep an appointment keep calm keep control keep in touch keep quiet keep someone's place keep the change
come	go	get
come close come complete with come direct come early come first come into view come last come late come on time come prepared come right back come second come to a compromise come to a decision come to an agreement come to an end come to a standstill come to terms with come to a total of come under attack	go abroad go astray go bad go bald go bankrupt go blind go crazy go dark go deaf go fishing go mad go missing go on foot go online go out of business go overseas go quiet go sailing go to war go yellow	get a job get a shock get angry get divorced get drunk get frightened get home get lost get married get nowhere get permission get pregnant get ready get started get the impression get the message get the sack get upset get wet get worried
Miscellaneous
Time	Business English	Classifiers
bang on time dead on time early 12th century free time from dawn till dusk great deal of time late 20th century make time for next few days past few weeks right on time run out of time save time spare time spend some time take your time tell someone the time time goes by time passes waste time	annual turnover bear in mind break off negotiations cease trading chair a meeting close a deal close a meeting come to the point dismiss an offer draw a conclusion draw your attention to launch a new product lay off staff go bankrupt go into partnership make a loss make a profit market forces sales figures take on staff	a ball of string a bar of chocolate a bottle of water a bunch of carrots a cube of sugar a pack of cards a pad of paper

           

Lexical and Grammatical Collocations

A distinction may, if wished, be made between lexical collocations and grammatical collocations.

A lexical collocation is a type of construction where a verb, noun, adjective or adverb forms a predictable connection with another word, as in:

• Adverb + Adjective: completely satisfied (NOT downright satisfied)
• Adjective + Noun: excruciating pain (NOT excruciating joy)
• Noun + Verb: lions roar (NOT lions shout)
• Verb + Noun: commit suicide (NOT undertake suicide)

A grammatical collocation is a type of construction where for example a verb or adjective must be followed by a particular preposition, or a noun must be followed by a particular form of the verb, as in:

• Verb + Preposition: depend on (NOT depend of)
• Adjective + Preposition: afraid of (NOT afraid at)
• Noun + Particular form of verb: strength to lift it (not strength lifting it)

Now that you are aware of what collocation is and the problems that could arise in our conversation due to improper combination of words, we shall take up some words which may be misused by us.

1.      You must have heard many people saying :

I am a regular customer in this beauty parlour here use of customer is incorrect. They must say ; I am a regular client in this beauty parlour. Because when we buy something, we are customers and when we avail somebody’s services; we are clients.

It’ll be correct to say:

Shopkeepers give gifts to their regular customers

2.  My friend gave me a gift on my birthday (incorrect)

My friend gave me a present on my birthday  (correct)

Gift is given from superiors to inferiors ;

From rich to poor and present is given to equals.

The rich man gave a gift of Rs 10,000/- to the poor man.

3.      Rajiv Gandhi was murdered at Sri Perembudur, (incorrect)

Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated at Sri Perembudur (correct)

Murder is unlawful killing of  any human being.

Assassination is killing of somebody important person for money or for political motive.

Countless people are murdered everyday.

4.      Moral of our cricket team is very high these days (incorrect)

Morale of our cricket team is very high these days (correct)

Because moral is that which a story, event or experience teaches us. For example

Moral of the story ‘King Bruce and Spider’ is ‘Try’ Try again.’

Moral is a state of discipline or spirit.

5.  The mother interfered when she saw her children quarreling (incorrect)

The mother intervened when she saw her children quarreling (correct)

Because intervene is to come in between others especially when we take action in a situation to help someone

Interfere is to meddle with somebody’s affairs. For Example :

The didn’t interfere with us; we didn’t interfere with them.

6.      Jawahar Lal Nehru was very famous among children. Here use of famous  is incorrect.

We must say :

Jawahar Lal Nehru was very popular among children.

Because famous is known by others and popular is liked by others

For Example

M F Hussain became famous overnight because of painting of Madhuri Dixit.

7.      Living in a big city makes me feel alone (incorrect)

Living in a big city makes me feel lonely (correct)

Because alone means without any companion

Lonely means sad because one has no friends

She is feeling very lonely after her husband’s death.

One sentence with Lonely and Alone both:

She lives alone but never feels lonely

8.      He has a feminine voice (incorrect)

He has an efflminate voice (correct)

Because feminine means qualities that are supposed to be typical of women, e.g.

She looked delicately feminine in that dress.

Effeminate is used for men having characteristics typical of women. It is a derogatory term.

9.      Sachin’s electrifying performance led the team to glorious triumph (incorrect)

Here the word should be victory

Because victory means to win and triumph is the feeling of happiness that comes after victory. As: the Indian cricket team returned home in triumph after winning Coca-Cola Cup in Sharjah

10.  He beat his son severely and was full of penance (incorrect)

The correct word is “Repentance” Because Repentance is to feel sorrow about something that one had done or failed to do

Penance is a punishment that one gives to himself to show that one is sorry for having done wrong.

He cooked the dinner as a penance for forgetting his wife’s birthday.

11.  My little sister is afraid of cockroaches she is coward (incorrect)

My little sister is afraid of cockroaches, she is a timid (correct)

Because timid means easily frightened

Coward is a person who lacks courage when facing a dangerous situation and tries to avoid it.

People who cannot face the problems in life and commit suicide are cowards.

12.  He jumped into the water to save a sinking child (incorrecgt)

He dived into the water to save a drowning child (correct)

Jumping into water is diving. Ship Sinks and person drowns. Boat capsizes

13.  Many of us do not know the difference between woman and lady.

Now-a days, ladies have become aware of their rights (incorrect)

Now-a-day, women have become aware of their rights (correct)

Because woman is female human being and lady is a woman of good family and social position.

The lady at the tourist office told that it opens at 1 p.m.

14.      The young couple absconded because their parents would not let them marry (incorrect)

The young couple eloped because their parents would not let them marry (correct)

Abscond means to run away suddenly and secretly to avoid arrest

Elope means to run away suddenly and secretly to marry.

Let’s have a look at a sentence with abscond.

On his way to court, he absconded from police (custody)

15.     She is bold enough not to obey her boss (incorrect)

She is daredevil enough not to obey her boss because daredevil is a person on who is foolishly bold and seems not to care about danger. It is derogatory.

Bold means confident and brave. It is used in positive sense. For example

I’m not bold enough to  live alone.

16.       It is the work of the scientist to prove the propounded theories   (incorrect)

            It is the job of the scientist to prove the propound theories (correct)

Because job is a particular work assigned to the person.

Work is more general

Everybody should work hard

17.    Children who lack the safety of parental care have disbalanced        personality (incorrect)

Children who lack the security of parental care have disbalanced personality (correct)

Because security is freedom from anxiety

Safety is freedom from danger

For Example

We must observe safety rules

18.              The little girl was embracing her doll (incorrect)

The little girl was hugging her doll (correct)

Because embrace is to hold a person in one’s arms as a sign of affection Hug is to put one’s arms round somebody/something to show affection

She embraced her son before leaving

He hugged the book to his chest.

19.              He is fond of journeying (incorrect)

He is fond of travelling (correct)

Because Journey is particular or specific one

Travelling is used in wider sense

Series of journeys – travel

Example

            Did you have a comfortable journey

He plans to write a book about his travels

20.              My friend is working in my place on a momentary basis (incorrect)

My friend is working in my place on a temporary basis

Because momentary means lasting for a moment only

Temporary means lasting for a short time

For Example

There was a momentary interruption during the film show.

He thought momentarily before replying

21.              He found it difficult to sympathize with the working mother of two little children (incorrect)

He found it difficult to empathize with the working mother of two little children.

Because sympathy is the feeling of pity and sorrow for somebody

Empathy is the ability to imagine and share the feelings of other persons

For Example

He deserves sympathy for the way he has been treated

There is natural love and empathy between the two

22.              The police arrested that fowl thief and sent him to prison. (incorrect)

The police arrested that fowl filcher and sent him to prison

Because thief is a person who steals something of value

Filcher is a person who steals something of little value

e.g. Jewel Thief

23.              The policeman was following a robber. (incorrect)

The policeman was pursuing a robber

Because pursue means to go after in order to capture or kill.

Follow means to come after as Monday follows Sunday

You go first, I’ll follow you.

24.              Their marriage has been happy one

Because happy is a feeling of pleasure satisfaction and contentment

25.              The magistrate will give the judgement today  (incorrect)

The magistrate will pass the judgement today  (correct)

Because judgement is always passed verdict is given by the jury

26.              I am a regular customer of The Tribune

I am a regular subscriber of The Tribune

Subscriber is a person who obtains a subscription for a magazine or newspaper

27.              Our English teacher is 30, she is still a bachelor (incorrect)

Our English teacher is 30,

She is still a spinster (correct)

Spinster is the feminine gender of bachelor; esp. an older woman. Many are not familiar with this word.

28.              We were given only 2 hrs. to attempt such a long paper (incorrect)

We are given only 2 hours to attempt such a lengthy paper (correct)

Because long is measuring from end to end. It is used for physical sense

Lengthy is adjective of speech &

It is a long lane that has no turning

The priest gave a lengthy discourse on morality.

29.              Phoolan Devi was a famous dacoit (incorrect)

Phoolan Devi was a notorious dacoit (correct)

Because famous is well-known for good deeds

Notorious is well known for bad deed.

It’ll be right to say :

Mr. H.C. Popli is a famous doctor you must have heard many students saying:

30.              I read in campus school  (incorrect)

I study in campus school (correct)

Because study means devotion of knowledge.

Read is to look at, understand or

To go through printed words silently or aloud to others.

The boy can neither read nor write.

Can you read the time ?

For Example

            A news reader reads the news

She does not study it

31.              Sensitive/Sensible

Sensitive refers to emotions

Sensible refers to intellect

It will be right to say

An author must not be too sensitive to criticism

It was sensible of you to lock the door

32.              Satisfaction/contentment

Satisfaction means the state of being pleased or satisfied

Contentment means not wanting more.

She gets contentment with very little

Your success will be a great satisfaction to your parents.

33.              Look at these sentences:

I’m hoping for a phone call from him

I’m expecting a phone call from him.

Expect is a kind o f thinking. It is not an emotion. It is connected with logic. If one expect, he has a good reason to think that it will happen.

Hope is more emotional. If one hopes for something, one wants it to happen.

I hope she writes to me soon.

I’m expecting his arrival any moment.

34.              The lamp was hanging from the roof. (incorrect)

The lamp was hanging from the ceiling.

Roof is the top outer covering of building, bus, car etc.

Ceiling is the top inner surface of a room, bus, car, tent etc.

35.              He was greatly praised for his achievements.  (incorrect)

He was greatly admired for his achievement (correct)

Because we admire a man for what he does.

We praise a thing.

 

For Example

Our guests praised the meal as the best they had had for years

Do not forget to admire the baby

36.              I saw a fish floating in the water (incorrect)

I saw a fish swimming in the water (correct)

Because lifeless things float and living things swim

I saw a beat floating in the water is correct

37.              My brother works in sugar factory (incorrect)

My brother works in sugar mill (correct)

Because both factory & mill are industrial buildings but they involve different processes and produce different kinds of things. In factory, products are made and put together

Shoe factory, toy factory

Mill is a building where certain raw materials are processed

Cotton mill, paper mill

   

 

Exercise I.      Fill in the blanks with correct alternative:

1.      An author must not be too……….to criticism (sensible, sensitive)                          

2.      The priest gave a …….discourse on morality (long, lengthy)                                  

3.      He plans to write a book about his ……..(travels, journeys)                                     

4.      On his way to court, he …….from police (abscond, escape)                                    

5.      She is ………..enough not to obey her boss (bold, dare devil)                                 

6.      Though he showed a great deal of ………..at that time, he has no feeling of ………now (anger/resentment).

7.      He was …………for rescuing the drowning child, and everyone …….his bravery (applaud/praise).

8.      A ………..diet helps to make a man …………….(healthy/wholesome).

9.      He was well …………..of the difficulties to be overcome, and yet …….of his own inability to overcome them. (conscious/aware.)

10.  A miser can easily satisfy his………….but can never satisfy his ……..(needs/desires).

11.  India is a ………..country, consisting of many cities. (large/great).

12.  There is as much ……………in his ideas as there is …………in the arrangement of his books. (Disorder/confusion).

13.  The Vice Chancellor……………his request and ………..him many more facilities besides.  (give/grant).

14.  The …………turn that the results of my experiment have taken gives me………..courage. (new/fresh).

15.  Excessive spray of insecticide is the ………….of the falling of unripe fruit; the order of chief scientist, sitting in the ivory tower was the ………..of the spray. (Cause/reason).

 

Exercise No. II.          Match the following:

1.	a)	To put to death	1.	i)	Assassinate
	b)	To murder by surprise, design, secret or assault		ii)	Kill
2.	a)	Anything seen in general	2.	i)	Sight
	b)	A view of landscape		ii)	Scenery
3.	a)	To lighten or make mild the burden	3.	i)	Remove
	b)	To take it away altogether		ii)	Mitigate
4.	a)	Careless in particular things	4.	i)	Neglectful
	b)	Careless as a matter of habit		ii)	Negligent
5.	a)	To understand things that are difficult to follow	5.	i)	Understand
	b)	To follow without difficulty		ii)	Comprehend

 

Exercise No. III. Give one word from the suggested pair for the following expressions:

1.	A building intended for dwelling and associated with sentiments	1.	Home/house
2.	Extremely fastidious in attending details of a performance	2.	Careful/meticulous
3.	To presume an information that is probable	3.	Guess/suppose
4.	A series of violent conflicts between two or more than two countries	4.	Battle/war
5.	A fictitious name used by an author in place of his original name	5.	Alias/pseudonym

Exercise No. IV.        Fill in the blanks with the suitable alternatives:

1.           Though he showed a great deal of ………..at that time, he has no feeling of ………now (anger/resentment).

2.           He was …………for rescuing the drowning child, and everyone …….his bravery (applaud/praise).

3.           A ………..diet helps to make a man …………….(healthy/wholesome).

4.           He was well …………..of the difficulties to be overcome, and yet …….of his own inability to overcome them. (conscious/aware.)

5.           A miser can easily satisfy his………….but can never satisfy his ……..(needs/desires).

6.           India is a ………..country, consisting of many cities. (large/great).

7.           There is as much ……………in his ideas as there is …………in the arrangement of his books. (Disorder/confusion).

8.           The Vice Chancellor……………his request and ………..him many more facilities besides.  (give/grant).

9.           The …………turn that the results of my experiment have taken gives me………..courage. (new/fresh).

10.       Excessive spray of insecticide is the ………….of the falling of unripe fruit; the order of chief scientist, sitting in the ivory tower was the ………..of the spray. (Cause/reason).

 

Exercise No. V

Substitute the underlined word with the correct one:  

1.      He knew that the electric wires were naked but that could not discourage him from trying to set the chandelier that hanged from the roof.

2.      The scientist denied believing that the boat carrying his research material had drowned.

3.      His affection for his party is unbounded.

4.      The student requested the teacher to do loose marking because the question paper was very hard.

5.      Standing under the shadow of a tree the leaders sprinkled flowers on the grave of the patriot.

 

Exercise No. VI

Choose the correct alternative:

1	He arrived exactly at 11am, bang/straight on time.
2	What do you do in your free/loose time?
3	We couldn't finish because we ran through/ ran out of time.
4	If we take this short cut we'll save/grow some time.
5	I wasted/ damaged time, and now doth time waste me. (Shakespeare)
6	There have been several burglaries in the few past/ past few weeks.
7	The Internet was developed in the last 20th/late 20th century.
8	They have no time. They work from day to/ dawn to dusk.
9	You'll forget it as time goes/ when time comes by.
10	Can you cut time/ make time for me this weekend?

 

Exercise No. VI

Fill in the blank with the correct word:

I'm an ______ admirer of your work. (Ardent/avid)

 

He knows the interviewer already and that will give him an ______ advantage over me. Unfair/ considerable

I don't trust him. I think he has a ______ agenda. Hidden/ obscure/secret

I think they must be providing them with some kind of ______ aid. But I don't know what. Covert/ hidden

I agree with the ______ aims of what you are trying to do but not with some of the details. Broad/wide   I'm sure he's got the job. He's walking around with a ______ air. Triumphant/ victorious/ winning

 

Exercise No. VIII

Here are some questions to test your knowledge of collocations:

• What is the difference between a high window and a tall window?
• Look at the following pairs of phrases and in each case choose the most usual collocation:
• strong tea / powerful tea
• a strong car / a powerful car
• a strong computer / a powerful computer
• a strong drug /a powerful drug
• Now look at the following words and phrases and decide if we do them or make them. For example, do we do a mess or make a mess?

a mess	a mistake	the housework	the beds
a noise	a wish	a test	a promise
a job	someone a favour	your best	a speech
the shopping	damage	a telephone call	your hair (i.e. comb it or make it tidy

Finally some odds and ends. See if you know the correct collocations in answer to the following questions?

• The opposite of strong tea is weak tea. What is the opposite of a strong wind, a strong smell?
• Someone can be very tired, but not very awake or very asleep. What do we say instead?
• Which of the following are the usual collocations?
• completely beautiful
• incredibly beautiful
• absolutely beautiful
• extremely beautiful
• totally beautiful
• utterly beautiful
• thoroughly beautiful
• The following collocations are incorrect. Can you sort them out?
• to get in a building
• to get on a car
• to go in a ship

Answers

• A high window is a window that is located a long way from the ground, whereas a tall window measures a long way from top to bottom.
• We talk of strong tea, a powerful car and a powerful computer. A drug can be both strong and powerful.
• These are the usual collocations with make or do:

make a mess	make a mistake	do the housework	make or do the beds
make a noise	make a wish	do a test	make a promise
do a job	do someone a favour	do your best	make a speech
do the shopping	do damage	make a telephone call	do your hair (i.e. comb it or make it tidy

• Odds and ends. Here are the usual collocations:
• a light wind, a faint smell
• wide awake; sound asleep or fast asleep
• to get in a car; to get on a ship; to go in a building
• incredibly beautiful; extremely beautiful (and possibly: utterly beautiful)

 

Exercise No. IX

Choose the correct alternative:

1. She felt sad when she realized that she had lost her watch. It wasn't expensive but it had sentimental ______.               a) expense b) price c) value

2.  I used to go to church under false ____. I never wanted to go but my mother made me. 

a) agreements b) feelings c) pretences

3. One minute they were just talking and then all hell broke ______ and everybody started screaming and shouting.         a) free b) loose c) over

4.  He never cheats or tricks anybody when he plays. He always goes by the ______. 

a) book b) instructions c) principles

5. Don't tell Mary your plans or she'll tell everybody. She is always ______ her mouth off. 

a) shooting b) speaking c) talking

6.  Tom might be able to help with your problem. He has friends in high ______ who might be able to change the decision. 

a) jobs b) places c) spots 

 

Finally some more Examples:

She's a heavy / strong smoker. No wonder she coughs so much.

You are making a very big / large mistake.

There was only a light / weak wind, but it still blew a tree down in my garden.

If you want to get there by this evening, you'll have to take / use the train.

I wish you would stop doing / making such a mess in the kitchen.

He caused / made a bad accident when he fell asleep while driving.

I'm getting old; my hair is going / getting gray.

She has won / made a lot of friends here in a very short time.

If you want your English to improve, you will have to do / make more effort.

I tried to wake him but he was fast / deep asleep.

I was a little sleepy after lunch, but now I feel very / wide awake.