Vocabulary: Collocations & Idiomatic Language (B2) - Lesson 4: Why Some Word Pairs Sound Natural (and others don't)

Lesson 4: Why Some Word Pairs Sound Natural

The "Music" of Collocations

Have you ever made a sentence that was grammatically perfect, but an English speaker told you, "We don't really say it like that"? Why do we say 'fast food' but not 'quick food'? Why 'heavy rain' but not 'strong rain'? The answer is collocation¹. This lesson will explore *why* these word partnerships are so important for sounding fluent² and natural³.

Reason 1: Precision of Meaning

Sometimes, different verbs create completely different, precise meanings with the same noun. They are not interchangeable⁴.

• to run a business means to manage it.
• to start a business means to create a new one.
• to do business means to have a commercial transaction.

Reason 2: Grammatical Patterns

Some words are simply built to connect to a certain grammatical structure, like a specific preposition. We learned about this in the last lesson.

• We are interested in art. (Correct)
• We are good at art. (Correct)
• We are afraid in art. (Incorrect - The pattern is 'afraid of').

Reason 3: Common Use & History

This is the most common reason, but also the most difficult for learners. Sometimes, a word pair is correct simply because "that's what native speakers have always said".

• heavy rain: 'Heavy' has been used to mean 'a large amount' for centuries. It became the traditional partner for 'rain'.
• fast food: This phrase became popular with the rise of restaurants like McDonald's. 'Quick food' is grammatically okay, but it is not the common, recognized term.
• make the bed: This is a traditional fixed phrase⁵. There is no logical reason why it isn't 'do the bed'—it's just the established collocation.

Usage Note: How to Think in Collocations

The goal is to stop thinking 'word + word' and start thinking in 'chunks'.

• Don't Translate Word-for-Word: The biggest mistake is translating from your native language. 'Do homework' in English might be 'make homework' in another language. You must learn the English chunk.
• Notice Chunks When You Read: When you read an article, don't just look for new single words. Look for word partnerships. Underline `verb + noun` or `adjective + noun` pairs that you see often.

In Conversation

Bora is asking Srey for help with his writing.

Bora: Srey, I wrote "I have a strong interest in history." Is that correct?

Srey: It's grammatically okay, but a more natural collocation would be "I have a deep interest in history." or "a keen interest".

Bora: Ah, so 'deep' or 'keen' are the natural partners for 'interest'. It's not about a grammar rule, it's just about common use.

Srey: Exactly. It's like how we say 'heavy traffic'. 'Big traffic' makes sense, but it sounds strange to a native speaker.

Bora: I see. So the best way to learn is not to ask 'why' for every single one, but to notice and memorize the partnerships that native speakers use.

Srey: That's the key! It's about developing a 'feel' for the language, which comes from lots of reading and listening.

quiz Check Your Understanding

1. Which phrase sounds the most natural?

• a) a powerful car
• b) a strong car
• c) a heavy car

Click to see the answer

Answer: a) a powerful car

2. I was very busy, so I had a ______ lunch.

• a) fast
• b) quick
• c) rapid

Click to see the answer

Answer: b) quick ('quick lunch' is a common collocation. 'fast food' is a type of food).

3. Why do we say "make the bed" and not "do the bed"?

• a) Because of a grammar rule.
• b) Because of a spelling rule.
• c) Because it is a traditional, fixed collocation.

Click to see the answer

Answer: c) Because it is a traditional, fixed collocation.

edit Your Mission

1. Collocation Check: Think of three collocations you have learned. For each one, try to replace one word with a synonym and see if it still sounds natural. (e.g., 'heavy rain' ➞ 'strong rain'? No.)
2. Notice in Reading: Read the first five sentences of an English news article online. Write down two collocations (adjective+noun or verb+noun) that you find.
3. Speak: Your mission is to consciously use one strong collocation you know is correct in a conversation. (e.g., "I had to take an exam," not "do an exam" or "make an exam.")

book Lesson Glossary

1. Collocation (noun) - Khmer: ការរួមបញ្ចូលគ្នា - A group of words that are often used together in a way that sounds natural. ↩
2. Fluent (adjective) - Khmer: យ៉ាងស្ទាត់ - Able to speak a language easily, correctly, and naturally. ↩
3. Natural (adjective) - Khmer: ធម្មតា - Sounding normal and relaxed, as a native speaker would say it. ↩
4. Interchangeable (adjective) - Khmer: អាចផ្លាស់ប្តូរបាន - Able to be exchanged with each other without making a difference. ↩
5. Fixed Phrase (noun phrase) - Khmer: ឃ្លាថេរ - A group of words used as a single unit, where the words rarely change. ↩