🎯 B1–B2
⏱️ 5 min
💬 Why your English sometimes sounds “off”: A student once told me she “did a mistake.” She knew the vocabulary. She knew the grammar. But native speakers “make” mistakes — they don’t “do” them. This is about collocations: words that live together.
Collocations — Words That Go Together
A collocation is a natural combination of words that native speakers use together. The grammar is correct but the pairing sounds wrong to a native ear if you choose the wrong one.
Make vs Do
MAKE +
a mistake · a decision · progress · a suggestion · an effort · money · a noise · friends · a phone call
DO +
homework · research · exercise · business · someone a favour · the dishes · your best · damage
Common Verb + Noun Collocations
| Verb | Collocates with |
|---|---|
| take | a photo · a break · notes · a risk · an exam · action · responsibility |
| have | a meeting · a shower · a good time · a problem · an argument · lunch |
| give | a speech · advice · permission · a hand · an example |
| pay | attention · a compliment · a fine · a visit · a price |
🎯 Quick Practice — Make or Do?
- She ___ a lot of research before writing the report.
- Don’t ___ any noise — the baby is sleeping.
- We need to ___ a decision by Friday.
- He’s trying his best to ___ progress.
Reveal Answers ▼
- did
- make
- make
- make
✅ Takeaway: Collocations can’t be guessed from grammar rules — they must be learned in pairs. Keep a collocation notebook. Make/do, take/have, give/pay — learn whole phrases, not single words.
Independent project; not affiliated with, endorsed by, or accredited by Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Confers no qualification.