Identifying Collocations (Use of English Advanced)

1. Three of the words in each set collocate with the given verb. One does not. Which are the three correct collocations?

• Give          permission/ someone a favour/ a presentation/ someone a hand
• Lay           claim to/ the blame on/ the table/ an excuse
• Make         a mistake/ plans/ a noise/ your best
• Pay           attention/ a ticket/ tribute to/ a compliment
• Run          an exercise/ a business/ a race/ a campaign
• Shoot        a film/ past someone/ an arrow/ a camera
• Stand        a possibility/ a chance/ trial/ for parliament
• Take         care/ measurements/ a promise/ the train

 2. Now choose one of the collocations from Exercise 1 to complete each sentence.

•  It isn't fair that the ______________ you for other people's mistakes.
• It says in the papers that four men are to _______________ next month for that robbery at our local bank.
• Paul crept in at about 2 am trying his best not to ________________ and wake his parents.
• I've got to _______________ about my research at a seminar next week.
• The engineer ____________ very careful _________ before he cut the metal panel.
• We've chosen a new advertising agency to _____________ for our latest range of products.
• The Minister made a speech to ______________ the soldiers who had fought for their country.
• I was winning the race until the very end when Jo _____________ me.

3. Choose the correct option to complete each sentence. In each, the answer will depend on a collocation.

• The sales team ______ a very successful time at the exhibition.

A. spent     B. passed     C. had     D. made

• When she was transferred to the New York office, Sarah joined an evening class in order to ________ friends. 

A. have     B. find     C. meet     D. make 

•  The proud father was very excited when his son ______ his first steps.

A. made     B. took     C. gave     D. did

• The lecturer ______ the class's attention to an error in the calculations.

A. drew     B. attracted    C. put     D. showed 

•  My parents contributed a ______ anount of money to the fund.

A. big     B. large     C. grand     D. high

• There was a time when the ______ person could not afford a mobile phone.

A. usual     B. normal    C. regular    D. ordinary

•  The CEO will ______ a meeting with her management team this morning.

A. visit     B. join     C. attend     D. follow

• All the students on the course are required to ______ sport every afternoon.

A. go     B. do    C. train    D. practise