Learning collocations—the natural pairings of words—is one of the best ways to sound more fluent in English. Instead of memorizing single words, mastering commonly used word combinations allows you to speak and write more naturally. Imagine expressing yourself effortlessly without second-guessing every word!
If you’ve ever wondered how native speakers string words together so smoothly, the answer is collocations. And the good news? You don’t have to spend hours every day studying them. With just 10 minutes of daily practice, you can master 1,000 collocations over time! Sounds too good to be true? Stick with me, and I’ll show you how.
Collocations are words that often go together in a way that sounds natural to native speakers. For example, we say “make a decision” rather than “do a decision.” Similarly, “fast food” is correct, but “quick food” sounds awkward.
These word pairings exist in all languages, and English is no exception. Learning them helps you avoid awkward phrasing and sound more natural in conversations, writing, and exams like IELTS or TOEFL.
Now that you understand the importance of collocations, let’s dive into how you can learn 1,000 of them with just 10 minutes a day!
To reach 1,000 collocations, start small. Pick just 10 new collocations per day. This could be from books, websites, or lists like the one at the end of this article.
Example for Day 1:
Writing collocations in sentences helps you remember them better. Instead of just memorizing “take a risk,” write: “If you want to start a business, you have to take a risk.”
Speaking collocations aloud makes them feel natural in your mouth. Say them in different tones and speeds to get comfortable using them in conversation.
Whenever you read an article, book, or even a social media post, highlight collocations you find. If you see “make a mistake,” take a moment to note it.
Watch movies, listen to podcasts, or tune in to English YouTube channels. Pay attention to how words naturally pair together.
At the end of the week, review all 70 collocations you’ve learned. Make flashcards, take quizzes, or challenge yourself to use them in a conversation.
Writing a short paragraph or recording yourself speaking using the week’s collocations is a powerful way to reinforce learning.
To get you started, here’s a list of some common collocations:
Mastering 1,000 collocations may sound like a daunting task, but breaking it down into daily 10-minute sessions makes it achievable and fun. Stick with this routine, and in just a few months, your fluency will soar!
Are you ready to start? Try learning 10 collocations today and share your progress in the comments. Let’s build fluency together—one collocation at a time!
Happy learning!
— Janet, English with Janet
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