Thinking About Language

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Collocations

Certain words ‘go together’. Such ‘word friends’ are called collocations. The collocation of a word is ‘the company it keeps’.

For example, look at the paired sentences and phrases below. Which is a common collocation, and which one is odd? Strike out the odd sentence or phrase.

a.

• How old are you?’
• How young are you?

b.

• a pleasant person
• a pleasant fellow

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Here are some nouns from the text.

Work with a partner and discuss which of the nouns can collocate with which of the adjectives given below. The first one has been done for you.

(i)culture: unique culture, ancient culture

(ii)monks: ........................................

(iii)surprise: ........................................

(iv)experience: ........................................

(v)weather: ........................................

(vi)tradition: ........................................