LIST OF FREQUENT COLLOCATIONS

Maria Moreno Jaen

University of Granada

1 time small
long dark
spend
short 7 day
waste all (N long)
take present
spare spent
give final
present full
working working
whole
2 year start
past (have a) nice
coming
full 8 days
start early
take past (few/number N)
spent old
spent
3 people working
ordinary take
working
elderly 9 thing
disabled whole
(do the) right
4 way real
long (do the) wrong
go
find 10 child
get only
make (someone's N) expecting
come
easy 11 government
coalition
5 ways interim
separate elected
find
alternative 12 part
explore take (N)
develop play (the/a)
subtle integral
large
6 man major
bi
g essential
tall small
 List of frequent collocations
Maria Moreno Jaen

vital take
form clear
significant strong
full extreme

13 parts 17 cases
spare severe
component court
constituent extreme
played serious
separate criminal
injury
14 life
real 18 woman
family beautiful
everyday attractive
whole pretty
private tall
normal (good) looking
live
saved 19 work
personal hard
public do
early started
spent voluntary
daily charity
lead carried (out)
find
15 lives paid
save major
past community
live
lost 20 system
private welfare
claimed (a number
21 group
of)
small
risk
ethnic (minority N)
lead
largest
cost
formed
daily
minority
spend
leading
everyday
single
separate
research
ordinary
normal 22 number
large
16 case
small
court present
increasin
particular (a N)
adjourned
prosecution made
put

2
 growing govercome
limited common
total faced
increased arises
significant cause
greater resolve
reduce sort (out)
considerabl address
e
substantial 28 service
high free
telephone
23 world provide
real memorial
whole intelligence
modern advisory
developing delivery
full
24 area postal
particular security
play regular
surrounding
residential 29 hand
wide held
central took
major shook
wash
25 course raised
(in) due waved
training lifted
main helping
designed stretched out (his/her.. ,+N)
first extended
take strong
completed
ordinary 30 hands
followed shook
full holding
start clasped
wash
26 company raised
owned
rubbed
27 problem folded
solve
31 party
real
ruling
major
opposition
serious
bi
g 32 led m
particular school e
lies l d
tackle e i
ft c
 a 34 po
l int
w m
e a
n d
t e
w r
h e
o a
l c
e h
e
33 pl d
ace w
t h
a o
k l
e e
w p
r r
o o
n v
g e
( r
fi a
n i
a s
l) e
r d
e
s 35 ho
ti use
n d
g e
N t
s a
a c
f h
e e
ri d
g f
h a
t m
p il
u y
t m
s o
e v
c e
u d
r +
e N
36 co 38 me
untry mber
w f
h a
o m
l il
e y
l f
e o
a r
v m
e e
f r
o s
r e
e n
i i
g o
n r
l
37 we e
ek a
p d
a i
s n
t g
s a
p c
e ti
n v
t e
p e
r l
e e
v c
i t
o e
u d
s u
w n
h i
o o
l n
e f
c u
o ll
m 39 en
i d
n w
g e
st
 e o
a p
st p
c o
a si
m te
e
p 41 wo
u rd
t u
f s
a e
r s
b a
r y
o s
u p
g r
h e
t a
(t d
o k
a e
n y
N fi
) n
r al
e
a 42 ex
c ample
h s
e et
d g
b i
o v
tt e
o cl
m a
s
40 en si
ds c
l p
o e
o rf
s e
e ct
a ta
c k
h e
ie (t
v h
e e
) g
t o
y u
p ts
ic ta
al n
p d
ri i
m n
e g
f n
o o
ll ta
o b
w le
p s
r p
o e
v ci
i fi
d c
e
s 43 fa
si mily
m w
p h
le o
o le
b e
v x
i te
o n
u d
s e
r d
e cl
c o
e s
n e
t e
e n
x ti
tr r
e e
m la
e r
st g
ri e
k n
i u
n cl
e
 a
r
bi
44 families 51 sides
(lone/one/ single) parent opposite
one-parent N + agreed
lone take
single-parent
low-income 52 night
spent
45 fact stay
actual opening
simple dark
N + remains early
mere
face 53 nights
sleepless
46 facts spent
relevant
stated 54 eye
known keep
hard public
basic watchful
true naked
face cast
full look (in the N)
twinkle
47 state critical
mental
declared 55 eyes
announced wide
fixed
48 home bright
come rolled
family turned
stay filled (with)
return pale
left narrowed
ideal raised
get held
made
feel 56 head
matrimonial shook
turned
49 month bowed
past raised
spent bent
lifted
50 side held (N high)
(left-right) hand jerked
wrong lowered
dark nodded
clear
pulled (N back)
 List of frequent collocations
Maria Moreno Jaen

5
7 threw exercise
(back) tilted increase
vested
information full
further held
provide
detailed 61 money
additional spend
relevant save
obtained get
confidential make
exchange raise
collected waste
supplied earn
contain give
( a
background p y) good
valuable change
gathering 62 significant
radical
58 question
major
answer
global
ask
make
simple
dramatic
raised
fundamental
N + remains
rapid
whole posed
sudden
real
real
address
subject to N
begs
+ occurred
crucial
central changes
relevant 63 make
fundamental major
proposed
business
dramatic
59 small
occur
doing
radical
whole
significant
family
sweeping
running
necessary
serious
introduced
private
minor
6
conduct
rapid
0 successful
interest
power 64 public
use
special
labour
lower
real
high
seized
mortgage
1
0
 real main
fixed TV
particular
shown 70 water
take (an N fresh
in) deep
expressed running
vested clean
common salt
strong still
65 shallow
interests
(in the) best 71 form
protect application
outside order
vested booking
varied complete
serve (verb)
pursue claim
defend fill
66 registration
order take
make (in) good
keep
maintain 72 car
standing park (verb)
restore hire
pecking drive
rigid police
working racing
good crashed
put
established 73 level
take high
low
67
book top
latest reached
illustrated intermediate
reference current
water
68
development achieved
child
sustainable 74 policy
curriculum foreign
career monetary
further common
rapid made
adopted
room
double
single
leave
75 line 80 use
direct drug
railway make
draw (verb) good (make good/full N
straight of)
widespread
crossed full
fine extensive
take
dividing 81 uses
common
76 need
urgent 82 idea
feel whole
desperate give (an)
meet get
stressed rejected
N + arises original
faintest
77 needs simple
meet (verb) wrong
individual put (forward/aside the + N)
suit (verb) form
satisfy developed
strong
83 ideas
78 effect exchange
have original
cause+ N fresh
take bright
knock-on
direct 84 study
immediate present + N
dramatic N + found
desired recent
beneficial pilot
profound showed
devastating carried
opposite conducted
overall research
adverse major
detrimental reported
undertaken
79 effects designed
long-term significant
harmful
adverse 85 lot
direct awful
beneficial whole
damaging
profound
 List of frequent collocations
Maria Moreno Jaen

86 job 91 body
do upper
good dead N +
get lay naked
part-time lower
lost
find 92 friend
quit best close
full-time old family
finish made N in
leave
proper 93 friends
family
87 jobs close
create old
lost make
temporary became
do real
odd
save 94 right
shed (number) vote + N
secure 88
real pensio
permanent
given full
unskilled
put minorit
full-time
full
proper 96 authority
second given (g
last exercis
legitim
names
give 97 view
call (someone's N) take (th
shared
result full
direct expres
final suppo
net give
achieve clear
inevitable held
produce (give) a
overall accept
further
poor 98 report
significant full
desired final
name 95 rights
N+ 9
releas 9
ed bi
issued t
wee

Q
89

90
 List of frequent collocations
Maria Moreno Jaen

(Scotti 1 10 1
sh) 0 5 0
3 la 9
10 h w w
0 o breaki a
fac u ng r
e rs passed end
pale spent enforc declare
slap + early e d N+
(some (N of broke
one's) the 10 (out)
+N mornin 6 fought
pretty g) do
turned workin or 1
round g knock 1
flushe long slamm 0
d took ed re
beauti N+ as
permitt o
ful ed swung n
smilin small (open) (for
g normal pushe the)
hands dayligh d simple
ome t pulled (there
school flung is) real
10 put in (open)
1 (for no)
late N appare
m flying
ar nt
10 given a
ke 1 7
t reason
0 co major
free 4 ur
housin sufficie
r t nt
g at told
major (for
e (the some)
fixed N) unkno
10 Inflatio heard
2 wn
n ruled
ho low appear
ur 11
(in) 1
spent held
took m
take in
late obj to
early is
N+ te
10 r
passed 8
finest appoint
off ed
ice junior
took elected
held
1
1

14
 List of frequent collocations
Maria Moreno Jaen

pe
rs
on
missin
g
averag
e
single
disabl
ed
eld
erl

15
 yauthorised

113 terms
practical
general
agreed (to the
N)
broad
(on) equal
(in) absolute
accept
relative

114 sorts
all

115 period
minimum
extended
trial
limited
prolonged
considerable
maximum

116 society
modern
whole
classless
high

117 process
whole
involved
decision-making
continuous
complete
gradual
lengthy

118 mother
single
foster

119 voice
low
loud
soft
deep
quiet
high
 controversial 128figures
serious released
complex official
N was resolved leading
public
124 position
strong 129type
hold particular
difficult certain
marginal common
dominant media
placed (in)
maintain 130research
privileged shows
competitive done
leading suggests
strengthen further
reached carried
conducted
125 cost future
low
effective 131education
extra further
total public
high
cover 132programme
estimated major
additional full
meet launched
reduced extensive
reasonable current
complete
126 matter drun
simple ambitious
further
serious 133minute
referred hang
raised take
resolved hold
full
127 figure
leading 134moment
tall right
central long
high paused
public took
major brief
low precise
increase
gi 13 rl fair
5 beautiful
pretty 141 health
mental
136 age poor
early medical
golden improve
retirement
maternal 142 decision
reached made
final
137 ages taken
dark court
announced
138 centre conscious
entertainment (day) unanimous
care follows
reached
139 control support
take came
lost reversed
have
complete 143 force
total use
gain military
regain driving
full peacekeepin
keep g
effective excessive
direct full
exercise dominant
tight powerful
retain strong
strict armed
overall brute
maintain
144 forces
140 value security
good N (for money) joined
great opposition
added
total 145 condition
real good
high serious
equal medical
increase critical
full stable
add excellent
true poor
estimated immaculate
critical sufficient
deteriorated
 perfect came (to/into N)

146 conditions 154team

weather dream
living national
working winning
improve N + won
appalling led
poor beat
satisfied (verb) favourable support + N

impose 155experience
prevailing previous
adverse practical
meet gain
fulfilled learning
relevant
147 paper working
printed extensive
past
148 section direct
previous valuable
final
separate 156death
further sudden
accidental
149 patients caused
treated tragic

150 road 157act

main criminal
cross passed
busy amended
major
line (the N with people) 158sense
make
151 table strong
league real
lay the N false
true
152 church
whole 159staff
established trained
support
153 mind extra
bear permanent
keep qualified
open (adj) had experienced

crossed
 conscious
160 student 168 evidence
former give
N + suggests
161 language presented
foreign hard
use provide
speak strong
modern N + shows
native sufficient
official conclusive
considerable
162 morning supporting
early ample
late circumstantial
spent insufficient
bright growing
indicates
163 plan
peace 169 foot
action set
radical
approved 170 feet
strategic bare
drawn up rose (to her N)
adopted
ambitious 171 boy
prepare bad
small
164 product good
final bi
g
make
launch+ N 172 game
competitive win
created final

165 city 173 food

capital fresh
ancient delicious
beautiful diet

166 ground 174 role

common play
lost key
open leading
gaining major
active
167 letter central
quick vital
post starring
business crucia
resignation
 take complete
traditional
supporting 181stage
prominent early
passive final
essential reached
minor retirement
further
175 practice
common 182meeting
private (doctors) annual
medical held
classroom summit
emergency
176 bank called
collapsed arranged
adjourned
177 support
strong 183art
public modern
provide contemporary
received great
family ancient
technical
gmmg 184club
emotional join
substantial exclusive

178 event 185arm

major put (someone's N
unlikely around)
upper
sporting grabbed
big broken
held broke
annual raised
history grasped
final
186history
179 building family
main medical
tall
house 187parent
single
180 range elderly
wide
long 188parents
full foster
offers adoptive
free working
broad single
vast
189 land
housing 197account
held taken (into)
open opened
work (verb)
native 198difference
farming make
waste big
 tell
190 trade little
world see
foreign significant
retail potential
real
191 situation fundamenta
current l
marked
present (adj)
showed
improve
desperate 199material
remedy raw
impossible
intolerable 200materials
building
192 teacher
former 201air
primary (school) fresh
open
193 record clean
world clear
set the record breathe
breaking thick
unbeaten heavy
criminal
keeping 202wife
poor second
impressive left + N
held former
achieved estranged

194 relation 203project

bear whole
close completed
complete
195 field ambitious
visual run

196 window 204sales

front retail
back increased
smashed record
rear rose
 annual private
boost home
total nursing
direct provide
potential family
expected domiciliary

205 relationship 208 rule

close (as a)
loving general
special golden
working established
lasting 209
story
love
tell
serious
true
direct
full
strong
main
establish
real
developed
big
inverse
causal 210 quality
intimate high
to end good
see top
public poor
maintain improve
excellent
206 light
air
bright
superb
shed
low
natural
total
low
throw 211 tax
switch (on/off) increases
turned (on/off) gross
strong cast
flashing 212 nature
soft human N+
cold calls
shining
pale 213 structure
full family
fading
flickering 214 data
clear collected
suggest
207 care support
take present
medical
primary method
215 use
 List of frequent collocations
Maria Moreno Jaen

payment 224 hospital

effective general
simple (to be) admitted (to
alternative N) mental
traditional go
adopted transferred
applied
preferred 225 chapter
provide discussed
previous
216 unit contains
family examines
hospital preceding
covered
217 bed
get (into/out of/off the N) 226 scheme
l in
y g training
double (four) poster go launched
single successful
make designed
devised
218 union
join 227 theory
critical
219 movement
rights N 228 property
private
220 detail commercial
greater (in) fine land
considerable sufficient owned
further (to) purchase

221 details 229 officer

further chief
full army
give prison
provide
230 charge
222 model free (of)
following (verb) take
developed extra
top additional
initial
223 computer minimum
running made
using put (in/on) fixed

231 charges
232 b
ankdi
recto
r
gen

1Q
 List of frequent collocations
Maria Moreno Jaen

era g d (at increa

l r the sed
fil e N) out
m a sta
ap t 235 ndi
poi s app ng
nte e licat
d c ion 237 s
the o com on
atr n plete eld
e d mad est
li e bab
233 a tt y
pproa l 236 old
ch e amo est
ca m unt ille
uti i certa giti
ou s in mat
s s smal e
ad e l
opt enor 238 o
d
ed mou perat
o
tak s ion
f
en huge res
f
alt fair cue
e
ern trem poli
r
ati endo ce
e
ve us maj
d
ma bi large or
de g consi suc
fre f dera ces
sh a ble sful
rad ir mini per
ica c mum for
l a full me
eff m reaso d
ect e nabl und
ive r e erw
e maxi ent
234 c a mum mil
hance s subst itar
ha o antia y
ve n l em
get a erg
giv enc
b
en y
l
sta
e
nd 239 o
j
a pport
u
N unity
m
tak giv
p
e en
e

26
 List of frequent collocations
Maria Moreno Jaen

equ e
al h
tak a
e v
pro e
vid q
e u
uni i
que c
gol k
den c
mis l
sed o
per s
fec e
t r
off h
ere a
d r
rar d
e g
ide a
al v
sei e
ze s
the h
N o
pre t
sen (take a )
ted fresh N
itse (at
lf
exc
elle
nt
am
ple
rea
l
aro
se

240 l
eader
op
pos
itio
n

241 l
ook
tak

27
242 production
)entered (into)
increase
come
stage
draft
theatre
mutual
243 picture final
exclusive N + provided (for)
complete broad
taken failed (to reach N)
shows end
clear make
overall (in) full
N + emerges voluntary
accurate binding
mental common
presented complete
similar
248 site
full
( a + number) acre + N
244 source caravan
major archaeological
single suitable
primary construction
valuable
constant 249 labour
principal female
temporary

245 security 250 test

top fitness
maximum passed
increased final
failed
have
246 contract put (to the
signed N)
expires take
won showed
awarded pilot
agreed standard
binding
terminate 251 loss
weight
247 agreement memory
reached suffered
signed peace hair
(free) trade caused
co-operation total
nodded (in) N made N
concluded reported
ceasefire blood
hearing
great
 job pounding (adj)
lead (to N) suffered
consequentia stopping
l lies (at the N
felt of)
considerable 262 standards
thumping
cover (the N) safety
heavy
substantial meet
thudding
serious
severe 258 election
incurred general
major won
complete held
following
252 colour lost
full fought
add forthcoming
light
dark 259 elections
bright general
pale national
gve municipal
high
strong 260 purpose
serve
253 shop sole
gift general
pet specific
run primary
antique useful
video real
High (Street) special
souvenir intended
dual
254 benefit
housing 261 standard
get high
maximum poor
marginal set
claim required
receive double
invalidity reasonable
maintain
255 benefits
enjoy meet
improve
256 animal low
wild minimum
acceptable
257 heart
broken
beating
 raise 267factor
minimum major
key
263 secretary risk
former significant
private crucial
appointed determining
contributory
264 date deciding
closing limiting
blind time
set common
effective critical
due contributing
fixed decisive
target vital
early N+
agreed influencing
cost
human
265 music additional
played
classical 268pattern
live follow
popular set
traditional established
loud regular
contemporary shows
make complex
written common
composed repeated

266 hair 269front

blonde house
blond
curly 270evening
thick early
dyed late
facial spent
fair
cropped 271population
dye civilian
straight large
wash entire
brushed total
soft whole
permed overall
ginger
auburn 272plant
processing
reprocessing
 List of frequent collocations
Maria Moreno Jaen

273 pressure expert N + gained

put N on high full
increasing working
(peer) group special
intense true
enormous professiona
growing l
low intimate
applied specific
came (under wide
N)
considerable 278 design
exerted interior
take N off garden
strong original
constant art
heavy research
severe response 279page
immediate blank
positive turn
sexual printed
public (on the
initial previo
poor
emotional 280rest
given spend
rapid have
quick get
take
street give
side
walking (up/down the N) 281basis
busy regula
daily
performance (on a)
strong day)
form
poor weekly
improve individ
outstanding provid
live perma
impressive annual
give tempo
volunt
knowledge month
common firm
27
7

3
2
 List of frequent collocations
Maria Moreno Jaen

prior dy 2
acquired docum 8
required entary 7
background produc th
274 ed o
282 healt launch u
size hy ed g
small final ht
full 284 success spare
large fire ful (a N)
fits open present given
incre ed N runs bear
ase on 2 (aN)
half set N 8 struck
(the to / 6 (a N)
obj su occurre
275 on N cc d deep
N) caug es careful
stand ht s N came
ard frien huge (to
dly achieve me/min
276 starte d d)
avera d enjoye serious
ge (fire) d conscio
medi burni make us
um ng conside modern
reduc N+ rable
e broke major 2
(out) ensure 8
283 light early 8
env (verb guarant th
iro ) ee o
nm cause relative u
ent d continu g
natur make ing ht
al sprea outstan s
prote d ding on
ct contr likely second
safe ol immedi interru
work ate pted
home 285
dama seri 2
ge es 8
impr whol 9
ove e lis
stable dram t
hostil a long
e come full

33
 List of frequent collocations
Maria Moreno Jaen

make
comp
lete
draw
n (up)
comp
iled

290
fut
ure
near
fore
see
abl
e
brig
ht
unc
erta
in
sec
ure
(ver
b)
im
me
diat
e
(N)
hol
ds
disc
uss
dist
an

34
 (N+) lies monthly
long-term released
face
bleak 296 attention
pay
291 analysis draw
detailed turned
data N focused
showed attract
provide media
performed special
carried medical
suggests public
careful particular
full close
(a) developed brought
given
292 space caught
storage divert
open received
parking N is/should be directed
limited full
living careful
extra considerable
empty serious
little concentrated
use distract
free hold
constant
293 tv urgent
watching
live 297 love
colour making
fall
294 demand true
meet real
increase young
huge passionate
consumer's wonderful
strong
high 298 principle
growing general
made basic
satisfy + N fundamental
reduce established
underlying
295 statement
issued 299 principles
N+ said basic
made general
joint fundamental
 apply unique
underlying dominant
established
guiding 304 couple
broad happy
elderly
300 set
complete 305 step
full take
whole further
bi
standard g
single major
unusual
301 doctor positive
see necessary
hospital significant
consult essential
medical
went 306 machine
called use
local
307 income
visit
low
examined
annual
302 choice high
have current
make disposable
wide family
given taxable
offer average
obvious guaranteed
personal fixed
free regular
consumer national
limited paid
possible gross
natural extra
informed additional (to)
supplement
303 feature
regular 308 training
striking job
distinctive youth
major teacher
particular vocational
prominent professional
attractive staff
significant military
characteristic management
notable provide
unusual forma
 lintensive 314
further
college
do (some)
in-service
initial
given
quality
received
business
full

309 film
making
directed

310 effort
make
put
relief
concerted 315
required
considerable
involved
conscious
major
ensure 316
extra
joint
minimum 317
tremendous

311 player
former
outstanding

312 award
won
presented
received 318
given
prestigious

313 village
fishing
pretty
situated
picturesque
quiet
deserted
 List of frequent collocations
Maria Moreno Jaen

319 attractivemeans 323 news

provide good
effective radio
use national
possible world
alternative bad
private told
necessary daily
taskbrief
320 growth today
impossible
rapid latest
daunting
strong broke (the N
simple
potential to)
tough
employment television
set (himself)
personal heard
perform
high 324 tonight
take (on/over)
slow N + reached
carry out
continued spread
completed
major (verb)
overall 325 faced
unemployment difficulty
undertake
have
formidable
321 treatment considerabl
hard
have e
medical overcome
provision
hospital increasing
made
further 326 adequate
require cell
receiving prison
behaviour
drug bad
given energy
good
emergency saving
learned
effective 327 low
responsible
preferential high
disruptive
prescribed renewable
surgical waste
function
undergoing supply
perform
following 328 alternative
primary
reduce
brain
322 sound fulfil
heard degree
poor (to
resource a)
made greater
human high
loud (to
valuable a)
distant certain joint
natural
turned (down/up/off) considerabl
soft e
resources
deep 329 lesser
natural
produce honorary
human
awarded
available
remarkable
limited
obtained
energy
required
existing
2Q increase

defence
made
 List of frequent collocations
Maria Moreno Jaen

330 garden
back
vegetable
secret
front
walled
herb
flower
rose
do
rear
pretty
attractive

331 floor
top
upper
reach

332 technology
new
latest
advanced
using
developed

333 style
traditional
classic
unique
adopt
334 feeling
get
strong
general
strange
gave
bad
sinking
deep
gut
growing
experienced

335 doubt
cast
reasonable
put (in/beyond)
serious

39
 convincing
344 station powerful
radio
tv 353show
put (on a
345 glass N)
live
broken quiz
open
346 glasses go (on N)
wearing held
run
347 cup annual
win
make (a N of) 354responsibility
played take
nice N of tea accept
personal
348 husband full
estranged moral
N + left assume
former given
lost
second 355deal
great
349 capital good
foreign peace
current struck
major signed
fair
350 note agreed
take get
made (a mental) left make

mental 356economy
delivery slowing
planned
351 season boost
start strong

352 argument 357element

put (forward) key
further essential
cited strong
additional major
strong significant
made
rejected 358duty
support heavy
accept
logical
presented
359 attempt substantial
made marked
serious large
desperate real
failed (+ N) dramatic
deliberate massive
unsuccessfu small
l further
vain rapid
sharp
360 investment considerable
foreign caused
capital major
business modest
made big
increase
major 366 help
direct seek
attract professional
massive great
361 brother provide
younger give
older offers
elder medical
bi
g receive
little call (for)
362 title appealed
world (for)
won domestic
national require
defend 367
retain summer
full late
took spent
early
363 hotel dry
luxury full
stay 368
(family-) daughter
run eldest
comfortable youngest
family only
elegant 369
booked baby
expecting
364 aspect unborn
particular lost
further 370 sea
365 increase open
huge calm
significant