Collocation (SEMANTICS)

WHAT IS COLLOCATION?

Collocation refers to a group of two or more words that usually go together. A good way to think of collocation is to look at the word collocation. Co - meaning together - location - meaning place. Collocation are words that are located together. A good answer to "What is collocation?" is: Collocation is a group of two or more words that like to hang out together. Here are some examples of common collocations that you might know:

make tea - I made a cup of tea for lunch.

do homework - I did all of my homework yesterday.

The meaning of “collocation” according to Cambridge dictionary:

1.     “a word or phrase that is often used with another word or phrase, in a way that sounds correct to people who have spoken the language all their lives, but might not be expected from the meaning.”

2.     “The combination of words formed when two or more words are often used together in a way that sound correct”

Types of Collocation

1.     Adjective + noun

There are many adjective which can gather with noun, but I will write some adjectives to give you obvious example. Here are the examples of collocation adjective + noun

He has been a heavy smoker and drinker all his adult life.

She speaks English quite well but with strong French accent.

They have a hard life and worked through a hard time. We don’t have hard evidence that they had used hard drugs.

The doctor ordered him to take regular exercise.

The Titanic sank on its maiden voyage.

2.     Noun + noun (such as collective noun)

I would like to buy two bars of soaps

There is a glass of water on the table.

Would you like to have a cup of coffee?

He will give a bar of chocolate to his girlfriend on Valentine ’s Day.

Her bouquet of flower is the best of all

3.     Verb + noun

I always try to do my homework in the morning aftermaking my bed

Do you think the bank would forgive a debt?

We are going to have lunch together, would you like to join??

Every day, I take a shower at 6 o’clock

4.     Adverb + adjective

This test is ridiculously easy! I didn’t even study, but I will get high score.

Janet is a highly successful businesswoman. She owns several restaurants and hotels around the country.

That is utterly ridiculous. She didn’t steal your favorite book. She wasn’t even in the office yesterday.

Roger is strongly opposed to anything bad for health. He doesn’t eat junk food at all.

Are you okay? I am deeply concerned about you. You have been desperate since you lost your job.

5.     Verbs+ prepositional phrase (phrasal verb)

Their behavior was enough to drive anybody to crime

We had to return home because we had run out of money

I am going to look up the meaning in the dictionary

She is going to dress up for her first date with him.

You have to make up your mind before doing something.

6.     Verb +adverb

Mary whispered softly in John’s ear.

The boy speaks politely, and is very well-behaved.

The accident happened because he was driving dangerously.

After 2 years in London, he speaks English fluently.

I waited patiently, but she never came.

LEXICAL COLLOCATIONS AND GRAMMATICAL COLLOCATIONS 

Lexical collocations are made up only of verbs, adjectives, nouns and adverbs in different possible combinations

1. V + N = make a decision; take place/part

2. V + Adv = walk heavily; argue heatedly

3. V + N/P = compose music; set an alarm

4. Adj + N = strong/weak tea

5. N + V = bombs explode; alarms go off

6. Adv + Adj = quite safe; deeply absorbed

7. N1 + of + N2 = a pride of lions; a bunch of keys

8. V + C (Adj) = The food tastes good.

9. V + C (Adj or N) = He was a teacher.

Grammatical collocations contain words such as verbs, adjectives or nouns combined with a preposition or a grammatical structure.

1. N+ Prep = ability in/at; kind of; changes in

2. N + to + Inf = an attempt to do it; years to come

3. Prep + N = on purpose; in fact

4. Adj + Prep = tired of; bored with; angry with/at

5. Adj + to + Inf = ready to go; easy to learn; likely to be

6. V + Prep = I believe in …

7. V + Prep + O = They came by train;

8. V + to Inf = She continued to write

Example of Collocation 

Collocations with the verb ‘go’

Go bald

Go abroad

Go astray

Go bad

Go bankrupt

Go blind

Go crazy

Go fishing

Go mad

Go missing

Go online

Go out of business

Go overseas

Go quiet

Go sailing

Go to war

Collocations with the verb ‘come’

Come under attack

Come close

Come direct

Come early

Come first

Come into view

Come last

Come late

Come on time

Come prepared

Come right back

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

Collocations with the verb ‘get’

Get the sack

Get a life

Get a job

Get a shock

Get angry

Get divorced

Get drunk

Get frightened

Get home

Get lost

Get married
Get permission

Get ready

Get started

Get the impression

Get upset

Get wet

Get worried

Example of journal or article about Collocation

Title : A Comparative Evaluation of Collocation Extraction Techniques

           Darren Pearce

           School of Cognitive and Computing Sciences (COGS)

           University of Sussex

Grab the PDF here..

References

https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-collocation-1211244

http://nanikastutik91.blogspot.co.id/2015/04/six-types-of-collocation_24.html

http://english-learners.com/2011/11/lexicalgrammatical-collocations-patterns-and-examples.html

http://oxforddictionary.so8848.com/search1?word=unique_
http://www.englishleap.com/vocabulary/collocations