Using Collocations

http://www.businessenglishresources.com/31-2/teachers-section/grammar-lessons-2/using-business-collocations/

A collocation is a pair or group of words that go together to make a natural sounding phrase or expression
in English.
Exercise 1: The following email contains a number of incorrect collocations. Underline the incorrect
collocations and correct them.
To: john.smith@megacorp.com
From: john.johnson@megacorp.com
Subject: Bonuses
Unfortunately, we werent able to make a consensus about whether to provide a bonus at the end of the
year. Three people did presentations about various proposals but it seems like none of them made much
interest. Several people presented their concerns about not having achieved a decision on this issue. As
soon as the big conference room gets available were going to meet again to discuss about solutions. Most
people are here already, but because of the strong traffic some havent arrived yet. Lets hope we can do
an agreement later today.

Exercise 2: Correct the following collocations.

1. put attention 14. make research
2. large problem 15. greatly qualified
3. large mistake 16. reject the invitation
4. make a test 17. make an investigation
5. very awake 18. in thorough detail
6. enter the car 19. crash with
7. strong rain 20. similar than
8. capture their attention 21. near to
9. became bankrupt 22. get missing
10. related with 23. exceptionally aware
11. smile to 24. do a presentation
12. presented her concerns 25. gaining interest
13. completely brilliant 26. budget reductions
Answers
Exercise 1
To: john.smith@megacorp.com
From: john.johnson@megacorp.com
Subject: bonuses
Unfortunately, we werent able to make reach a consensus about whether to provide give/award a bonus
at the end of the year. Three people did made presentations about various proposals but it seems like
none of them made generated much interest. Several people presented voiced/expressed their concerns
about not having achieved reached/made a decision on this issue. As soon as the big conference room
gets becomes available were going to meet again to discuss about solutions. Most people are here
already, but because of the strong heavy traffic some havent arrived yet. Lets hope we can do reach an
agreement later today.

Exercise 2
1. put pay attention 20. similar than to
2. large big problem 21. near to by
3. large big mistake 22. get go missing
4. make take a test 23. exceptionally fully aware
5. very wide awake 24. do make a presentation
6. enter get in the car 25. gaining generate interest
7. strong heavy rain 26. budget reductions cuts
8. capture get their attention
9. became went bankrupt
10. related with to
11. smile to at
12. presented voiced her concerns
13. completely absolutely brilliant
14. make do research
15. greatly highly qualified
16. reject turn down the invitation
17. make conduct an investigation
18. thorough great detail
19. crash with into