In this lesson, you will learn the most common collocations with 'holiday' as well as key phrases with 'go' that are used to talk about travel and different holiday activities. 

Note: Holiday is used in British English. American speakers say vacation. 

'Holiday' as a noun has three different meanings. 

1. a period of time when you travel to another place for pleasure 
2. a period of time to rest from work or school 
3. a day fixed by law when people do not have to go to work or school 

The collocations in this lesson refer to the first meaning of 'holiday' -- when you travel to another place for pleasure. 


VERB + Holiday 

• go on holiday 
• have a holiday 
• take a holiday 
• book a holiday 
• cancel a holiday 

Examples: 

• We’re going on holiday to Portugal this summer. 
• Are you having a holiday this year? 
• It’s that time of year when we all want to switch off the laptop and take a holiday. 
• 'Have you booked your summer holiday?' -- 'Yes, I booked it online.' 
• I got sick and we had to cancel our holiday to Thailand. 

ADJECTIVE + Holiday 

• a good / great / nice holiday 
• a lovely holiday 
• someone's dream holiday (= the best holiday you can imagine) 
• an exciting holiday 
• a wonderful holiday 
• a disastrous holiday 

Examples: 

• We had a great holiday in the Philippines. 
• What would be your dream holiday? 
• That was the most exciting holiday we’ve ever had. 

Holiday + NOUN 

• a holiday brochure 
• a holiday destination 
• a holiday resort 
• the holiday season 
• holiday photos | holiday snaps 

Examples: 

• We spent a lot of time looking through holiday brochures and searching for information on the Internet. 
• Marmaris is one of Turkey’s most popular holiday destinations.
• Páros is one of Greece's most popular holiday destinations for young people. 
• We went to a holiday resort in Spain. 
• The pool is open throughout the holiday season. 
• I can show you some of our holiday photos. 

VOCABULARY 

• a holiday brochure - a magazine that shows what holidays you can take 
• a holiday destination – a town or country where a lot of people go on holiday 
• a holiday resort – a place with many hotels where a lot of people go on holiday 
• holiday photos (also holiday snaps) (informal) – photographs that you take when you are on holiday 

Phrases with GO 

• go abroad 
• go on holiday 
• go sightseeing 
• go camping 
• go skiing / walking / cycling 
• go for a walk / go for a swim 
• go out at night 
• go away for the weekend 
• go by bus / car / plane / train 
• go swimming / sailing / surfing / skiing 
• go on a trip / tour / cruise 

Other lessons:
Story Time: Travelling in Spain 
Story Time: Travelling in France 

English conversation lessons:
English Conversation: Travel opinions 
English Conversation: Travelling in Europe and Asia 

English collocation lessons: 
English Lesson: Collocations for Leisure 
English Lesson: Collocations for Rural Life 
English Lesson: Collocations for Urban Life 


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In this lesson, we will focus on collocations connected with getting the information and advice you need to make a decision as well as thinking before making any decisions. 

These collocations can be used in informal situations.

Always think about your audience and the situation you are in when using collocations. 


GETTING INFORMATION OR ADVICE TO MAKE A DECISION 

seek advice (= try to get some advice) 

• If you plan to travel to Seoul, you'd better seek advice from someone who knows the city. 
• If you feel unwell, you should definitely seek medical advice. 
• Why don't you seek advice from an accountant? 

carry out research (into/on) | do research (into/on) 

• You need to carry out some research before travelling abroad. 
• The research was carried out by professors at Tokyo University. 
• They're doing some research on the way children learn vocabulary. 

pick someone's brain(s) (= to ask someone for ideas; to ask someone's advice) 

• If you know someone who has been there before, buy them a coffee and pick their brains. 
• Here's her phone number. Why don't you call her and pick her brains? 
• Do you mind if I pick your brains? I really need some fresh ideas. 
• I just started learning Korean and I'd love to pick your brain for any tips you might have. 

​

helpful hints 

• This website contains helpful hints on how to remember vocabulary. 
• I've got a book with lots of helpful hints on living in the UK - you can borrow it if you like. 

THINKING BEFORE YOU MAKE A DECISION 

something crosses your mind (= when an idea suddenly comes into your thoughts) 

• It crossed my mind that she might be lying about what had happened. 
• I never sent an email back even though it crossed my mind a hundred times. 
• What was the first thing that crossed your mind when you won the competition? 
• It never crossed my mind that he might be married. (= I never thought about that.) 

have a brainwave (= you suddenly have a clever idea) 

• I had a brainwave last night about how we can sell the car. 
• After many hours of searching, I had a sudden brainwave. 

toy with an idea (= thinking about doing something, but not very seriously) 

• We're toying with the idea of going to Japan next year. (= haven't decided yet) 
• I've been toying with the idea of living abroad. (= consider and think about an idea) 

think long and hard (= consider something very carefully before making a decision) 

• I thought long and hard about what universities to apply to -- it wasn't a rash decision. 
• I got a job offer yesterday but I thought long and hard about taking it. 

English collocation lessons: 
English Lesson: Collocations for Leisure 
English Lesson: Collocations for Success 
English Lesson: Collocations for Feelings 
English Lesson: Collocations for Rural Life 
English Lesson: Collocations for Urban Life 
English Lesson: Collocations for Saving Money 


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In this lesson, we will focus on collocations that are used to describe conversations. 

How can you describe a conversation you have had or heard? Well, there are many collocations that can help you do that, so let's look at the most common ones. 
​

exchange greetings (= say hello to each other) 

• I'm not very close to my neighbours but we exchange greetings when we see each other. 
• I saw her briefly and we exchanged greetings but we didn't have a proper conversation.  

drop a hint (= give a hint; when you say something in an indirect way) 

• 'So, what shall we get her?' -- 'Actually, that wouldn't be so difficult. I talked to her yesterday and she was dropping quite a few hints about what she'd like for her birthday.' 
• It's always a good idea to drop a hint about your birthday, so none of your friends forget. 
• My mum dropped several hints about me getting a job right after graduation. 
• My co-worker dropped a hint that she was going to leave the company. 

a snatch of conversation (= when you hear a short part of a conversation) 

• I heard a few snatches of conversation on the bus that made me think of my school years. 
• I heard snatches of conversation from the table next to us where the woman was talking about her travel experience in Spain. ​

make small talk 

Examples: 

• I'm not very good at making small talk. 
• I've noticed that a lot of people make small talk about the weather. 
• 'What did you talk about?' -- 'Oh, nothing interesting. I just made small talk about the weather and my new job.' 

a quick chat | a brief chat 

• I met Alex at the gym on Saturday. We had a quick chat - he said to say hi to you. 
• Do you have time for a brief chat about the meeting? 

a little chat 

• Are you still mad at him? Why don't you call him and have a little chat? 
• Can you come to my office in an hour? I'd like to have a little chat with you. 

a cosy chat (British English) | a cozy chat (American English)
(= a relaxed, private conversation) 

• She was quite upset so I made some coffee and we had a cosy chat. 
• Come and join us for lunch and a cosy chat. 

​a quiet chat (= when you don't want to be interrupted by other people) 

• Let's have a quiet chat over lunch. 
• That's my favourite coffee shop to meet friends for a quiet chat. 

go into detail(s) (about/on) (= give a lot of details about a situation) 

• He didn't go into great detail about the meeting. 
• I don't think your essay goes into detail about the problems caused by air pollution. 
• They said they'd had a great holiday but they didn't go into details. 
• 'Did I tell you I had started a new course?' -- 'Actually, you mentioned it briefly but you didn't go into details.' 

a long discussion (about/on) | a lengthy discussion (about/on) 

• After a long discussion, we finally made a decision. 
• We had a very long discussion about our future plans. 
• After a lengthy discussion with her parents, she decided not to move out. 

​English collocation lessons: 
English Lesson: Collocations for Success 
English Lesson: Collocations for Feelings 
English Lesson: Collocations for Rural Life 
English Lesson: Collocations for Urban Life 
Collocations and Expressions for Childhood 


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In this lesson, you will learn useful collocations to talk about saving money. Using collocations will help you improve your spoken English and you will sound more natural in conversations or speaking exams. 

Apart from the collocation 'save money', what other interesting ways can you use to express the same meaning? Let's look at the examples below. 


a tight budget (= enough money for what you want to buy, usually a small amount of money) 

• Most university students have to live within a tight budget. 
• Those living on a tight budget can come up with different ways to save money. Packing your lunch for school or work is a good example how you can reduce your daily expenses. Eating in and watching movies at home is another way to bring down the cost of entertainment. 

​
VOCABULARY 

• come up with (phrasal verb) - to think of something such as an idea or a plan 
• a good example (collocation) 
• bring down the cost | reduce the cost | cut the cost (collocations) 

a limited budget 

• Many people spend most of their income on household expenses, and have a limited budget.
• If you are on a limited budget, you can always do your shopping at the end of the day when supermarkets reduce their prices. 

VOCABULARY 

• living expenses | household expenses (collocations) - money that you spend on basic things such as rent, food, and electricity 
• reduce prices (collocation) 

a budget for something 

• We only have a small budget for furniture. 
• The company's budget for advertising has been reduced by 10%. 

VOCABULARY 

• reduce a budget OPP. increase a budget (collocations) 

keep within a budget | stay within a budget (= spend only the money that is available) 
​

• I'm keen on travelling a lot and I tend to book my trips in advance and keep within my budget. 
• I always keep track of my expenses and try to stay within budget. 

NOTE: You can also say 'stay within my budget' or 'stay within the budget' depending on what you are talking about.  

VOCABULARY 

• to be keen on something | to be keen on doing something (phrase) - when you are interested in something, especially an activity that you do often (Example: I'm keen on swimming.) 
• book a trip (collocation) 
• keep track (phrase) - to have all the information that you need about something 

on a budget (= with only a small amount of money) 

• You can still travel abroad even on a small budget. 
• When we moved into our new flat, it wasn't fully furnished, but we managed to decorate the living room and the bedroom on a really small budget. 

English collocation lessons: 
English Lesson: Collocations for Success 
English Lesson: Collocations for Feelings 
English Lesson: Collocations for Rural Life 
English Lesson: Collocations for Urban Life 
Business English: Collocations with Business 

Other lessons: 
Business English: Phrasal Verbs for Work 
​Business English: How to Talk about Money 
Story Time: Running out of petrol on the highway 
English Conversation: Buying sunscreen products at a store 
English Conversation: Socialising with people and working in coffee shops 


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In this lesson, we will focus on things people do in their spare time, such as having some hobbies, shopping and sleeping. The best way to sound more natural and concise in English is by using collocations. 
​

COLLOCATIONS FOR HOBBIES 

take up a hobby (= start going it) 

• If you feel stressed, you can take up a hobby to keep yourself busy with something interesting. 
• Taking up a hobby is a great way to fill up your free time with something meaningful. This could be anything from learning a new language to cooking or gardening. 

pursue your hobbies (formal) (= do them) 

• When I graduated from high school, I had more time to pursue my hobbies. 
• When I was doing a 9-to-5 job, I never had any time to pursue my hobbies, especially during the week. 

take up a sport (= start doing it)  

• I really need to take up a sport to get fit. 
• In my opinion, taking up a sport can have a positive impact on people's well-being. (= general health and happiness) 

 ​
develop a passion for something | have a passion for something 

• While at school, I developed a passion for dancing. 
• I think many people have a passion for music. They can actually turn their hobby into a career. 

go for a stroll | go for a walk (= to walk somewhere for pleasure) 

• I often go for a stroll in the park. 
• On Sunday. I go for a walk in the park near my flat. 

COLLOCATIONS FOR SHOPPING 

go to the shops (= go shopping) 

• I have to go to the shops in town this weekend. 
• I normally go to the shops twice a week and I tend to stick to my shopping list so that I don't spend more than I have planned. 

do the shopping | do some shopping 

• On weekends, I usually do the shopping and play tennis with friends. 
• I do my grocery shopping online. (= food shopping) 

weekly shopping | monthly shopping 

• I do my weekly shopping on a Friday. (= every Friday) 
• I go to the supermarket only once a month. I normally make a list of what I already have and what needs to be purchased. The best way to do my monthly shopping is by planning ahead. 

online shopping 

• One of the main advantages of online shopping is that it saves people time and energy because they don't have to go to physical stores. 
• Online food shopping is convenient for many reasons. One of them, for example, is that you get the best prices and you can browse offers at your leisure. Another advantage of ordering food online is that you can avoid crowds and queuing at the checkout to pay. 

COLLOCATIONS FOR SLEEPING 

sleep late (= wake up late) 

• At weekends, I usually try to relax and sleep late. 
• As far as I'm concerned, sleeping late is considered to be unhealthy. I prefer to get up early because I feel physically active, I can focus my mind on work, and I'm productive throughout the day. 

catch up on some sleep (phrase) (= sleep after not having enough sleep) 

• I normally catch up on some sleep at the weekend since my schedule is quite busy during the week. [You can use 'since' to give the reason for something.] 
• I usually study hard and catch up on some sleep after my exams are finished. 

a good night's sleep (phrase) (= when you sleep well)  

• My weekdays are always very busy and I tend to get up quite early in the morning. I can only get a good night's sleep at the weekend. 
• I've noticed that I'm most productive after a good night's sleep. 

​
English collocation lessons: 
English Lesson: Collocations for Feelings 
English Lesson: Collocations for Success 
English Lesson: Collocations for Rural Life 
English Lesson: Collocations for Urban Life 
Collocations and Expressions for Childhood 

Other lessons: 
English Lesson: 5 Types of Lifestyle 
English Lesson: Describing a Friend 
English Conversation: Saying Goodbye 
Commonly Used Phrases in Spoken English 
Spoken English: How to Agree and Show Interest 


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In this lesson, we are going to focus on collocations to talk about having your own business. 

HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT ABOUT GOING INTO BUSINESS? 

Let's consider some major aspects of starting a business and what it takes to run it. 
​
One of the reasons why some people decide to go into business for themselves is because they want to have a job that fits into their lifestyle. They can have a more flexible schedule without having to worry about their working hours or sick leave.

Before thinking of setting up a business, you need to brainstorm a good business idea. Remember that you also need to be passionate about it, so that you can stay motivated in the long term. There are different kinds of businesses, so those who want to start a business need to figure out their area of expertise and skills they have.

During the early stages of your business, you will have to work long hours to set everything up as well as learn new skills in order to build and grow your business. Whether it is a product or a service that you want to offer, you need to consider all the different ways to finance your business. In the beginning, it makes more sense to start your business on the side and keep your full-time job, so that you have a source of income to rely on. 

If you want to do business, you need to be aware that this involves considerable risks. Of course, some businesses are riskier than others and there are different factors you should definitely take into account such as money and labour. 

Be optimistic and think about the money you will need to run your business. Often times you will spend more than you can actually make, especially early on. Even though you may have a good idea, bear in mind that there are no guarantees in business. You need to have a point of view about the future. It is also important to keep in mind that in a recession smaller firms often go out of business. 

Running your own business requires hard work and patience. You have to start getting sales and revenue in order to stay in business. 

​
VOCABULARY 

• go into business (collocation) - start working in business 
• start a business | set up a business (collocations) 
• figure something <-> out (phrasal verb) - to think about a problem or situation until you find the answer
• set something <-> up (phrasal verb) - (SYN: establish) - to start a company 
• have a business | own a business (collocations)
• build a business | develop a business (collocations) 
• grow a business (collocation) - make it larger 
• finance a business (SYN: fund) - to provide money for it 
• a source of income (phrase) 
• do business (collocation) 
• considerable risk(s) (collocation) - fairly large 
• take something into account - to consider facts or details when making a decision 
• bear in mind that | keep in mind that 
• go out of business (collocation) - stop doing business because of financial problems 
• run a business (collocation) - manage it 
• stay in business (collocation) - continue operating and not go bankrupt 

Other Business English lessons: 
Collocations with Job (Part 1) 
Collocations with Job (Part 2) 
English Lesson: Jobs and Skills 
Business English: Working in an office 
Business English: Prepositions with WORK 
Business English: How to Talk about Money 
Business English: How to Talk about Your Job Responsibilities 

​
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If you have any questions, please leave a comment below this lesson. 

In this lesson, we give you common expressions to talk about childhood as well as collocations we use in spoken English. Read the expressions below and complete them to make them true for you. 

Note: You don't have to remember every single expression. Learn the ones that you relate to. 

If you are taking the IELTS exam or any other speaking test where you might be asked to talk about your childhood or family, it will be better for you to extend your answers. 

Example: My parents are originally from Korea, but I was born and raised in the US. They decided to name me Nicole because it's a Western name and, in fact, quite easy to remember. I grew up in Southern California in a very close-knit family. 

​EXPRESSIONS TO TALK ABOUT YOUR FAMILY AND CHILDHOOD 
​

• I'm originally from .................... : that's where I was born. (city, country) 
• I was born and raised in .................... (place: city, country) 
• I was born in ..................... (year) 
• My parents decided to name me .................... (Peter/Kate, etc.) 
• I was named after .................... (my grandmother/grandfather, etc.) 
• I grew up in .................... (place: city, village, country) 
• I spent most of my childhood in .................... (place: city, village, country) 
• I was raised by .................... (my mother/father/grandparents) 
• I was brought up by .................... (my parents/grandparents)  
• They brought me up to be a good person. 
• I was a bright child - always asking lots of different questions. 
• I don't think I was spoilt as a child. | I don't think I was a spoilt child. 
• When I was a child, I was quite stubborn, especially when my parents took me to the shops. 
• I was a difficult child and my parents didn't know what to do with me. 
• I wasn't allowed to have a TV in my bedroom. | I wasn't allowed to eat too many sweets. 
• My parents were very strict with me when I was young. | My parents weren't too strict with me. 
• My parents were comfortable with money, but not really well-off. 
• I wasn't really born with a silver spoon in my mouth or anything like that. 
• I'm from a normal family. (= financially) 
• I come from a large/big/small family. (You can add how many brothers or sisters you have.) 
• In looks I take after my mother.  
• My family used to say that I took after my mum. (= I looked like her.) 
• I take after my mother, being short and fair, but my older sister has dark hair and he's taller than me. 

VOCABULARY 

• a close/close-knit family (collocation) - spending a lot of time together and supporting each other  
• name somebody/something (after somebody) (phrasal verb) - I was named after my great-grandfather. 
• grow up (phrasal verb) - It is used for talking about the things that happened while you were a child. 
• spend your childhood somewhere (collocation) - I spent (most of) my childhood there. 
• bring up (phrasal verb) [OFTEN PASSIVE] - to look after a child until he/she becomes an adult 
• a bright child (collocation) - intelligent 
• a spoilt/spoiled child (collocation) - allowed to do or have whatever he or she wants, and behaving badly 
• a difficult child (collocation) - difficult to deal with 
• as a child (collocation) - when you were a child 
• comfortable with money - having enough money for a good standard of living - My parents were not rich or anything, but they were quite comfortable (with money). [You can use 'with money' if you wish or you can just say 'comfortable'.] 
• a wealthy/rich/well-off family (collocation) 
• a poor/low-income/disadvantaged family (collocation) 
• born with a silver spoon in (one's) mouth (idiom) - born into a wealthy family, rich from birth 
• a large/big/small family (collocation) 
• take after somebody (phrasal verb) - to look or behave like an older member of your family, especially your mother or father 

​TASK: 

1. Where were you brought up? 
2. ​Have you got any brothers or sisters, or are you an only child? 
3. Do you take after your mother or your father? How? 

​
Other lessons: 
English Lesson: Talking about Childhood 
English Lesson: Describing a Friend 
Confusing words in English: Famous vs. Popular 
Confusing words in English: Crowded vs. Congested 

Lessons with English collocations: 
Collocations for Urban Life 
Collocations for Rural Life 
Collocations for Success 
Collocations for Feelings 

Click below to read some of our IELTS related lessons: 
​Discourse Markers for IELTS Speaking and Everyday English 
Causes and Effects of Migration from Rural Areas to Cities 
IELTS: Advantages and Disadvantages of Using the Internet 
Social Media Addiction: Causes, Effects and Possible Solutions 


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In this lesson, you will learn collocations to talk about living in the countryside. You can use them to describe a place that you enjoy visiting, especially if it is in a rural area. 

A DESCRIPTION OF A RURAL AREA 

I visit my grandparents once in a while. They live in a valley surrounded by rolling countryside. It's a small village within easy reach of the nearest big town - only a 20-minute drive away. While driving in the surrounding area, you get to see a lot of farm fields with colourful stripes of windflowers. 

I enjoy visiting this place because of the relaxed way of life there and the absolutely breathtaking scenery. You can walk through the unspoilt countryside and play games on the village green. I don't think the village has changed much since my first visit as a child. There aren't many young people in the surrounding countryside because they have already moved to the cities. To be honest, I think there isn't much to do in the area apart from climbing a hill and hill walking. Perhaps people who visit the area could have a picnic on the green hills surrounded by nature. 

In my opinion, one of the best things about village life is that you get the chance to buy local produce at the farmers' market. Another thing is that villages, in general, have a very peaceful atmosphere and it's a great way to escape from the hustle and bustle of the city, especially for those who prefer the peaceful life of the countryside to cities. 

VOCABULARY 

• rolling countryside - with hills 
• a small/little/tiny village 
• within easy reach of the nearest big town/city 
• farm fields 
• in the surrounding area 
• way of life 
• unspoilt countryside - with natural beauty not spoilt by buildings 
• the village green - an area of grass for everyone to use 
• the surrounding countryside 
• climb a hill - walk or drive up a hill 
• hill walking - the activity of walking on hills 
• have a picnic | go for a picnic 
• green hills - covered with grass 
• local produce 
• farmers' market - where farmers sell their produce directly to the public 
• peaceful atmosphere | peaceful life 
• the hustle and bustle of the city - all the noise and activity there 

​

TASK:

• What do you think about countryside life? 
• Can you think of some negative aspects of living in a rural area? [What?] 

Exercise
​
Replace the phrases below with collocations from the text. 

1. gentle, rounded slopes 
2. incredible view 
3. style of living 
4. around a place 
5. a beautiful place that has not been changed or built on 

​
Answers: 
1. rolling hills; 2. breathtaking scenery; 3. way of life; 4. surrounding area; 5. unspoilt countryside; 


Other lessons: 
City Life - Going out 
Cities - Talk about your area 
Cities - Advantages and Disadvantages of Urban Life 
Countryside - Advantages and Disadvantages of Rural Life 

Other lessons with English collocations: 
Collocations for Urban Life 
Collocations for Success 
Collocations for Feelings 

Click below to read some of our IELTS related lessons: 
Discourse Markers for IELTS Speaking and Everyday English 
Causes and Effects of Migration from Rural Areas to Cities 
IELTS Speaking Test: Means of Transport (We give answers to five questions from Part 3 of the speaking test.) 
IELTS Speaking Test: Arriving Early and Being Patient (We give answers to six questions from Part 3 of the speaking test.) 
IELTS Speaking Test: Places That Tourists Visit and Being a Tourist (We give answers to six questions from Part 3 of the speaking test.) 


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In this lesson, you will learn collocations to talk about the area where you live. You can use them to describe your neighbourhood and what you like or dislike about living there. 

Notice how the choice of words can make a place sound attractive or unattractive. 


A DESCRIPTION OF AN URBAN AREA 

I've lived in this city all my life. I really like the area where I live because of the unique atmosphere and friendly neighbours. Also, there are plenty of green spaces for children, and actually people of all ages, to enjoy. I'd say it's one of the most pleasant residential areas of the city. Apart from having lots of parks, there are also lots of local amenities such as convenience stores, sports facilities, and so on.
My apartment is within easy reach of the city centre - just about a 15-minute walk. I find it quite refreshing when I walk along the tree-lined streets in my area, especially early in the morning. It's a pretty good place to live because it's extremely safe and also clean. 

VOCABULARY 

• friendly neighbours | friendly neighbourhood - an area of a city with people who are pleasant and helpful to each other 
• green spaces - areas covered with grass and trees and there are no buildings (e.g. community gardens, parks, and so on) 
• a residential area - a part of a town where people live 
• local amenities - places such as stores, swimming pools or other sports facilities that make it convenient and enjoyable for people to live in an area 
• sports facilities - places and things for doing sports (e.g. gym, stadium, swimming pool, tennis court, ice-skating rink, and so on) 
• within easy reach of - a short distance away from a place so that you can go there easily 
• tree-lined streets - a road in a city with a lot of trees 

NEGATIVE ASPECTS OF AN URBAN AREA 

Having lived in my area for many years now, I've noticed a few things which in my opinion should be improved. First of all, I think that more recycling facilities should be installed. Currently, I cannot find any near my apartment building. Secondly, the parking facilities are poor and a lot of people leave their cars on every available pavement. Another thing is that once it becomes darker, I feel a bit unsafe walking along the dimly lit streets. 

VOCABULARY 

• recycling facilities - large containers in public places where people put used paper, bottles, etc. so that 
• an apartment building (also an apartment block) (BrE) / an apartment house (AmE)
• parking facilities - parking places where you can leave a vehicle 
• dimly lit streets - roads with little light 

​

TASK:

• What do you like about living in your area? 
• What changes do you think would improve the area where you live? 

​

Exercise
​
There are important factors to consider before you decide where to live. Look at the key things listed below and rewrite the information using collocations from the texts. 

1. near to the city centre
2. an area with nice people 
3. parking spaces available 
4. lots of parks for walks  
5. lots of trees by the road 
6. no dark roads at night 
7. a pharmacy, a post office, lots of stores, etc. nearby 

Answers: 
1. within easy reach of the city centre; 2. friendly neighbourhood; 3. parking facilities; 4. green spaces; 5. tree-lined streets; 6. no dimly lit streets; 7. local amenities; 


Other lessons: 
City Life - Going out 
​Cities - Talk about your area 
Cities - Advantages and Disadvantages of Urban Life 
Countryside - Advantages and Disadvantages of Rural Life 

Other lessons with English collocations: 
Collocations for Rural Life 
Collocations for Success 
Collocations for Feelings 

Click below to read some of our IELTS related lessons: 
Discourse Markers for IELTS Speaking and Everyday English 
Causes and Effects of Migration from Rural Areas to Cities 
IELTS Speaking Test: Means of Transport (We give answers to five questions from Part 3 of the speaking test.) 
IELTS Speaking Test: Places That Tourists Visit and Being a Tourist (We give answers to six questions from Part 3 of the speaking test.) 


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In this lesson, you will learn collocations that will help you express the idea of succeeding in doing something or getting something. They are used in contexts such as work and achieving personal goals. 

ACHIEVE AN AMBITION 
To do what you want to do. 

Examples: 

• I think it's extremely important for young people to have ambitions they want to achieve. 
• I would say I'm an ambitious person. I have many ambitions I want to achieve in my life. For example, I want to learn other foreign languages apart from English and I want to live and work in those countries so that I can practise my language skills. 
• It took me a few years to achieve my ambition of speaking English fluently. 

FULFIL A DREAM 
To do or get what you want. 

Examples: 

• I've always wanted to be a doctor, so becoming a specialist in this field was a chance for me to fulfil my dream. 
• I really want to fulfil my dream of visiting as many countries as I can. 
• I helped my student prepare for her job interview and I'm proud of her because she fulfilled her dream and became an interpreter.  

GET RESPECT | EARN RESPECT 
To be treated with respect. | To start to be respected. 

Examples: 

• People make assumptions based on your appearance so you are more likely to get respect if you are dressed appropriately for the occasion. 
• He earned his boss's respect by working hard and effectively. 
• Earning respect may sound simple, but it takes a lot of work. 

CAPTURE SOMEONE'S INTEREST 
To make someone interested in or excited about something. 

Examples: 

• What I find difficult about my job is giving presentations to my colleagues at work because I need to be well prepared and able to capture their interest. 
• This is the best film I've ever seen. It definitely captured my interest from the beginning. 
• When you're telling a story, you have to start with something that will really capture the listener's interest. 

PROVIDE (SOMEONE WITH) AN OPPORTUNITY | GIVE SOMEONE AN OPPORTUNITY 
To have a chance to do something. 

Examples: 

• Without doubt, big cities provide better educational opportunities. 
• My university provides opportunities for a number of extracurricular activities such as sport and fitness, volunteer work, and more. 
• Studying abroad gave me the opportunity to learn more about a new culture and experience a completely new way of life.  

REAP THE BENEFIT | REAP THE REWARD  
To get something good as a result of your own actions or something that you have done. 

Examples: 

• I know that I need to work hard now if I want to reap the benefits later. 
• She studied hard every day and reaped the benefit at the exam. 
• I made a few attempts to get the job I wanted but it was worth it. I'm now reaping the rewards of all my hard work in the last few months. 

BOOST SOMEONE'S CONFIDENCE | BUILD UP SOMEONE'S CONFIDENCE 
To make someone feel more confident. | To gradually increase it. 

Examples: 

• I prefer to have make-up on because it really boosts my confidence. 
• If you focus on your passion, you will feel unique and accomplished and will definitely boost your confidence. 
• I'm not experienced in public speaking and I always feel quite nervous when speaking in front of others. What really helps me build up my confidence is writing my content in advance and improvising when giving a presentation. 

GET INTO A ROUTINE | SETTLE INTO A ROUTINE 
To have a fixed order of doing things. 

Examples: 

• When I was at school, I didn't think about my study habits at all, but once I entered university, I got into a study routine. I wanted to study effectively and to be organised, so that I could enjoy my free time without having to worry about my studies. 
• Parents should get their children into a routine of doing their homework after school. 
• Being a university student can be quite challenging, especially when revising for exams, but once you settle into a routine, it gets easier. 

TASK:
Think about your achievements and experiences. Write sentences about them using the collocations you have learned in this lesson. 


Click below to read some of our IELTS related lessons:
Causes and Effects of Migration from Rural Areas to Cities 
IELTS: Advantages and Disadvantages of Using the Internet 
Discourse Markers for IELTS Speaking and Everyday English 


Other lessons:
Business English: Working in an office 
Business English: How to Talk about Your Job Responsibilities 
English Lesson: Jobs and Skills 
Collocations with Job (Part 1) 
Collocations with Job (Part 2) 
Phrasal Verbs: Phones and Technology 
Commonly Used Phrases in Spoken English 

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As an English learner, you are probably familiar with many words connected with feelings. In this lesson you will learn collocations that will help you express how you feel in more interesting ways. 

We have selected different types of feelings and collocations that best describe them. 

ADMIRATION | RESPECT 

Examples: 

• I have nothing but admiration for people whose job involves helping others. 
• I'm full of admiration for what my parents have done for me throughout the years. (= be full of admiration) 
• I have a high regard for talented people. (= to respect and admire a lot) 
• I don't like people who have no regard for others' feelings. 

COURAGE | DETERMINATION | HOPE 

Examples: 

• Studying for my exams can be difficult at times but I try not to lose heart. (= I won't give up because I believe that I can succeed and pass my exams.) 
• I was doing a research on a specific topic for one of my school subjects. It was challenging for me to find and read all the information. My teacher actually supported me a lot and told me not to lose heart because I was doing really well. This motivated me and kept me going. 
• It takes courage to move abroad far from family and friends. 
• I didn't have the courage to tell my parents the truth. 

HAPPINESS | EXCITEMENT 

Examples: 

• I remember I was quite nervous before the test but when I got the results two weeks later my heart leaped with joy. I passed the exam with flying colours. (= with a very high mark/grade) 
• ​I was thrilled to bits when I got a pay rise. (= extremely excited and pleased) 
• I passed all my exams and I'm really thrilled with the results. 
• I think I would be blissfully happy if I didn't have any neighbours. 

SADNESS 

Examples: 

• I told him the bad news with a heavy heart. 
• I had been working as a teacher for 10 years before I decided to change career. I left my job with a heavy heart. 
• He was sick at heart about having to live far away from his family. (= very unhappy) 
• It breaks my heart to see her unhappy. (= makes me feel sad) 

FEAR 

Examples: 

• When I saw the lake we would jump in, my courage failed me. (= I was scared to do it.) 
• I've always been afraid of heights so I couldn't do a bungee jump. My courage failed me. 
• If your courage fails you, don't do it. (= If you're scared, don't do it.) 
• I've tried a few extreme sports as a way to overcome fear.  

ANGER 

Examples: 

• If I saw someone hit an animal, I don't think I would be able to contain my anger. 
• There are some situations where you just have to contain your anger. 
• It is not healthy to suppress your anger. 
• It's really shocking how many people express their anger through violence. 

DISLIKE 

Examples: 

• To be honest, I don't do any sport because I have an intense dislike of any form of exercise. I usually watch my weight and I try to eat a balanced diet. ('dislike' as a noun) 
• I really like having a tidy home but I have an intense dislike of household chores. 
• There are very few vegetables that I actively dislike. ('dislike' as a verb) 
• I simply dislike going to crowded places. I feel extremely tired after that. 

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Exercise 1 

Rewrite the sentences using the collocations in brackets. 

1. I'm not a big fan of shopping. I don't like going to shopping malls. (intense dislike) 
2. I feel extremely happy every time my boyfriend calls me. (heart leaps) 
3. I really hate spicy food. (simply dislike) 
4. I think I have a really good English teacher. (high regard) 
5. ​Even if I'm angry, I try to hide it. (contain anger) 

Exercise 2 

Complete a short sentence about the situations, using the collocations you have learned in this lesson. Make sure you use the correct form of the verbs. 

1. For my sister's birthday, I bought her a book she really wanted to read. She was really excited when she opened her present. 
   She was .................................................. 
2. I've been learning English for many years now but I've always found it difficult to speak. I'm afraid of making mistakes. Once I saw a foreigner in my city and I really wanted to practise my English, but I was afraid of starting a conversation. 
   My .................................................. 
3. She had been with the company for five years when she decided to move on and change career. It was a difficult decision to make because she loved working with her colleagues. 
   She did it with .................................................. 
4. I feel sad when when I see injured animals or when my pets are sick. I always do my best to help them. 
   It .................................................. 
5. She's my best friend and I've always been honest with her but when I saw her boyfriend with another girl, I just couldn't tell her. 
   I didn't .................................................. ​​

Answers to exercise 1 

1. I have an intense dislike of shopping.
2. My heart leaps every time my boyfriend calls me. 
3. I simply dislike spicy food.
4. I have a high regard for my English teacher.
5. I try to contain my anger. 

Answers to exercise 2 

1. She was thrilled to bits.
2. My courage failed me.
3. She did it with a heavy heart.
4. It breaks my heart.
5. I didn't have the courage. 

​Click below to read some of our IELTS related lessons:
Causes and Effects of Migration from Rural Areas to Cities 
IELTS: Advantages and Disadvantages of Using the Internet 
Social Media Addiction: Causes, Effects and Possible Solutions 


Other lessons:
Business English: Working in an office 
Business English: How to Talk about Your Job Responsibilities 
English Lesson: Jobs and Skills 
Collocations with Job (Part 1) 
Collocations with Job (Part 2) 
Phrasal Verbs: Phones and Technology 
Commonly Used Phrases in Spoken English 
​

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