Collocations
Collocations
Explore English words that belong together, with meanings, examples, and sentence practice. Browse by CEFR level or pattern, and add collocations to your deck for regular review.
Phrases containing a, including its inflections. Clear word filter
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Showing 1–96 of 129 phrases
Verb + noun(91)
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answer a question
to provide a response to a question
ask a question
to address a question to someone in order to find something out
attend a class
be present at a scheduled lesson
become a father
have a child for the first time; take on the role of a father
build a house
construct a house from the ground up
build a wall
construct a wall
buy a car
to purchase a car
buy a drink
pay for a beverage, often as a gesture for someone else
buy a house
purchase a residential property
call a doctor
phone or summon a doctor, especially in an urgent situation
catch a ball
receive and hold a ball that has been thrown or hit toward you
catch a bus
board a bus before it departs
catch a train
board a train in time before it departs
clean a room
to tidy and remove dirt from a room
climb a tree
to go up into a tree using your hands and feet
close a shop
To permanently or temporarily shut a shop
close a store
To shut down a retail shop permanently or for a period
close a window
To shut a window so that air can no longer pass through
cross a street
walk from one side of a street to the other
dig a hole
to excavate or create a hollow space in the ground
do a dance
perform a dance
do a jump
perform a jump, typically as sport or display
draw a line
to make a mark on a surface, or to set a boundary on what is acceptable
draw a picture
to create an image by drawing
drive a car
to operate a car as its driver
fail a test
not achieve a successful result in a test
feed a baby
to give a baby milk or solid food
feed a horse
give food to a horse
fill a cup
to put liquid into a cup until it is full
fill a glass
To pour liquid into a glass until it is full or nearly full
fill a hole
to put material into a hollow space to make it level or solid
find a boyfriend
meet and begin a relationship with a man
find a job
to search for and obtain employment
find a place
locate a suitable spot or seat
forget a birthday
to fail to remember or acknowledge someone's birthday
form a line
to arrange people or things in a row
get a boyfriend
start a romantic relationship with a man
get a job
to successfully obtain employment
give a kiss
press one's lips to someone as a gesture of affection
give a name
assign a name to someone or something
give a test
administer a test to students or candidates
have a baby
to give birth to a child
have a boy
to give birth to or be the parent of a male child
have a boyfriend
be in a romantic relationship with a man
have a coffee
to drink a cup of coffee, often in a social context
have a dream
experience a dream while sleeping, or hold a strong ambition
have a drink
consume a beverage, especially in a social setting
have a family
to have a partner and children
have a girlfriend
To be in a romantic relationship with a woman
have a kid
become a parent; have a child
have a problem
to experience a difficulty
have a son
to be the parent of a male child
have a talk
to have a conversation, often a serious one
hear a cry
perceive a cry with one's ears
hit a ball
to strike a ball with a bat, racket, or hand
join a club
become a member of a club
join a group
become part of an existing group
join a team
to become a member of a group working or playing together
keep a cat
To have a cat as a resident pet in your home
kick a ball
to strike a ball with the foot
learn a dance
acquire the ability to do a specific dance
leave a message
record or write a message for someone who is unavailable
lose a game
to be defeated in a game
lose a key
to misplace a key so it cannot be found
make a call
to telephone someone
make a friend
to form a friendship with a new person
make a plan
to devise a strategy or scheme for achieving something
make a wish
to express a desire or hope, especially as a ritual gesture
meet a friend
to see or spend time with a friend
miss a bus
arrive too late to board a bus
miss a class
fail to attend a scheduled lesson
miss a train
to arrive too late to board a planned train
open a letter
unseal and read a letter that has arrived
open a store
To start operating a retail shop
open a window
To move a window so that air can flow through it
order a drink
request a beverage from a server at a bar or restaurant
paint a picture
to create an image using paint
paint a wall
apply paint to a wall
pass a test
achieve a successful result in a test
play a game
to participate in a game
pour a cup
to pour liquid into a cup
pour a drink
transfer a beverage from a bottle or jug into a glass
read a book
to go through the text of a book
read a message
look at and take in the content of a written message
read a sign
look at and understand the message on a sign
receive a letter
get a written message that was sent to you
rent a house
pay to live in a house owned by someone else
ride a horse
sit on and control a horse as it moves
save a seat
keep a seat free for someone who is not yet there
see a doctor
visit or consult a doctor for medical advice or treatment
see a movie
to go and watch a movie, especially at a cinema
Adjective + noun(5)
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a good reason
a strong, acceptable justification for something
a long walk
a walking journey that covers a great distance or takes considerable time
a short walk
a walking distance that takes only a few minutes
a small town
a town with a relatively low population and limited amenities
a young lady
a girl or young woman, often used as a polite or formal form of address