英语固定搭配（collocation）【1】

Collocation

1.Defination

Collocation is a pair / group of words used together called "combination", and they are difficult to guess.

You should make a special effort to learn.

2. Effect

It makes your sentences sounds natural.

**nativre-speakers say **	native-speakers don't say
fast cars fast food	quick cars quick food
a quick glance[1] a quick meal	a fast glance a fast meal

Give you alternative^[2] way to say(describe ) sth.

very dark → pitch dark ^[3]

3. Types

1. Some collocations are FIXED^[4], or very strong^[5].

   Take a photo → fixed because only Take collocates with Photo give the collocation a right meaning

2. Some collocations are OPEN^[6]

   very cold → open because you can use different words to give the collocations the same meaning

   bitterly^[7] cold ≈ very cold

4. Common mistakes

we say	we don't say
make an effort watch TV	do an effort look at TV
powerful engine ancient monuments	strong engine. antique monuments

5.Summary

a pair of word may not be absoulutly worng bucause others will understand what you say but it may not be the NATURAL.

I did a few mistakes.(can be understood) → I made a few mistakes.(natural).

Compounds and idioms

Compounds

1. Defination

Compounds are units of meaning formed with two or more words, sometimes the words are written separately^[8],sometimes they have a hythen and sometimes they are written as one word.

Different from collocations,they can be guessed by knowing the indicidual words.

2.Examples

Car park: an area or a building where people can leave their cars

Post office: a place where you can buy stamps, send letters, etc.

Narrow-minded^[9]: not willing to listen to new ideas or to the opinions of others

.......

2.idioms

1. Defination

Groups of words in a fixed order and cannot be guessed.

2.Example

up in the air:not yet determined;(未决定的)

Our plans going on a trip are still up in the air.

Wake-up call: an event that makes people realize that there is a problem that they need to do sth about(令人警醒的事)

"If I still eats a lot, she will become extremely fat."Her weight gives her a wake-up call.

under the weather:somewhat ill or prone to illness(感到不适)

I will be absent because I feel under the weather.

Pass the buck:to blame someone or make them responsible for a problem that you should deal with(推卸责任)

The responsibility is Mr Smith's and it's no good trying to pass the buck.

Pull one's leg: to tell someone something that is not true as a way of joking with the person(开某人的玩笑)

Don't pull my leg.It is not funny!

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1. 匆匆一瞥(简单看一下) a brief look 例句：She gave him a quick glance.（她迅速扫了他一眼。） ↩︎

2. adj. 可供替换的 ↩︎

3. open collocation, pitch dark为固定使用(?) ↩︎

4. adj. 固定的，此处指固定搭配(fixed collocation) ↩︎

5. adj. 牢固的 ↩︎

6. adj. 可替换的 ↩︎

7. adv. 极度的，非常的 ≈ very ↩︎

8. adv. 分别地 ↩︎

9. adj. 气量小的 ,不愿意听取新的想法或别人的意见的 ↩︎