VERB COLLOCATIONS

HAVE DO MAKE

have a bath make a difference

have a drink make a mess
do business
have a good time make a mistake
do nothing
have a haircut make a noise
do someone a favour
have a holiday make an effort
do the cooking
have a problem make furniture
do the housework
have a relationship make money
do the shopping
have a rest make progress
do the washing up
have lunch make room
do your best
have sympathy make trouble
do your hair
do your homework

TAKE BREAK CATCH

take a break break a habit catch a ball

take a chance break a leg catch a bus
take a look break a promise catch a chill
take a rest break a record catch a cold
take a seat break a window catch a thief
take a taxi break someone's heart catch fire
take an exam break the ice catch sight of
take notes break the law catch someone's attention
take someone's place break the news to catch someone's eye
take someone's someone catch the flu
temperature break the rules

PAY SAVE KEEP

pay a fine save electricity keep a diary

pay attention save energy keep a promise
pay by credit card save money keep a secret
pay cash save one's strength keep an appointment
pay interest save someone a seat keep calm
pay someone a save someone's life keep control
compliment save something to a disk keep in touch
pay someone a visit save space keep quiet
pay the bill save time keep someone's place
pay the price save yourself the trouble keep the change
pay your respects
 COME GO GET

come close go abroad get a job

come complete with go astray get a shock
come direct go bad get angry
come early go bald get divorced
come first go bankrupt get drunk
come into view go blind get frightened
come last go crazy get home
come late go dark get lost
come on time go deaf get married
come prepared go fishing get nowhere
come right back go mad get permission
come second go missing get pregnant
come to a compromise go on foot get ready
come to a decision go online get started
come to an agreement go out of business get the impression
come to an end go overseas get the message
come to a standstill go quiet get the sack
come to terms with go sailing get upset
come to a total of go to war get wet
come under attack go yellow get worried

MISCELLANEOUS COLLOCATIONS

TIME BUSINESS ENGLISH CLASSIFIERS

bang on time annual turnover a ball of string

dead on time bear in mind
early 12th century break off negotiations a bar of chocolate
free time cease trading
from dawn till dusk chair a meeting a bottle of water
great deal of time close a deal
late 20th century close a meeting a bunch of carrots
make time for come to the point
next few days dismiss an offer a cube of sugar
past few weeks draw a conclusion
a pack of cards
right on time draw your attention to
run out of time launch a new product
a pad of paper
save time lay off staff
spare time go bankrupt
spend some time go into partnership
take your time make a loss
tell someone the time make a profit
time goes by market forces
time passes sales figures
waste time take on staff
General rules for make, do and have.
Make is used with most nouns for ways of speaking/planning. For example, you make a
complaint, a promise, an offer, a threat, a speech, an apology, a point, a confession, an
accusation, a suggestion, an arrangement, a decision, a plan, an appointment.
Have is used with most nouns which involve a two-way discussion. For example, you have
a conversation, a chat, a discussion, an argument, a fight, a row, a meeting, an interview.
We also often use have + a + verb (where the verb and the noun are the same). For
example, have a look, a rest, a sleep, a drink, a walk, a go.
Do is often used with words connected with work. For example, you do the housework,
some cleaning, business, your homework.
However, these rules aren't perfect and there are lots of fixed expressions which you will
need to remember.

Look at the information in the table for a couple of minutes and try to remember the words.
Then click below to hide the information and try to answer the questions at the bottom.

make do have take

a mistake the ironing a look a photo

a profit/loss the housework dinner advantage of sb

money/millions your homework a headache care of sb

a fortune business a party place

friends well/badly a picnic sth into account

war sth wrong/right a barbecue your time

a noise your best an appointment time

a mess damage/harm fun no notice of sth

fun of someone sb a favour trouble part in sth

a phone call sth in common the opportunity (to

do sth)
progress

a difference

Note: sb = somebody, sth = something.