Using Collocations for Natural English - Elizabeth Walter, Kate Woodford 2010

Collocations for communication
Review Units 13-16

Keep talking

As well as collocations used in conversation, there are many collocations used to describe conversations. These exercises focus on how conversations start and stop and what is being said. They are usually used in informal situations.

1 Complete the groups of collocations with words from the box. Use a dictionary to help you if necessary.

conversation • gossip • chat • subject

2 Match the collocations in bold to the definitions 1-10 on page 87. Use a dictionary to help you if necessary.

From: Claudia Gomez <Claudia.Gomez@abc.co.uk

To: <Lucia Gomez@def.co.uk

Subject: Hello there!

Hi Lucia

How are doing there? Nice to chat with you last Sunday.

Thought you'd like to know I had dinner with Camilla last night. I didn't dare 1 broach the subject of work because I know she's been really upset about it. Eventually there was a 2 lull in the conversation and she started to talk about it herself. She's going to leave. Her boss continues to treat her badly and she's had enough. I feel bad for her.

Btw, (bossy big sister speaking here!), have you spoken to Emily about the money she owes you? I know it's a 3 sensitive subject and you don't like confronting people but I really think you should ask her when she intends to pay it back. You are too nice, Lucia! Anyway, I'll 4 drop the subject now and pass on this 5 piece of gossip. According to Camilla, Al Clark was seen having a 6 cosy chat with Lena Cavendish in Cafe Brazil. Did you know they were seeing each other? So there, a bit of 7 juicy gossip for you (even if it's not true!)

I 8 struck up a conversation with a man on the train yesterday that made me think of you. He's a Man U fan and is selling his car so he can buy a season ticket. I told him my sister was a big fan too and that she would be impressed. Also, I heard 9 snatches of conversation from the table next to us where the man was talking about Shane Miller. He said he was going to live in Spain. Have you heard anything of the sort?

Hey, I bumped into Ellen Stead at the swimming pool on Saturday. We had a ¹⁰ brief chat - she said to say hi to you.

Right, I'm off to bed now.

Lots of love

Claudia

1 a topic that someone finds upsetting or embarrassing to talk about

2 an interesting fact about someone, especially relating to their private life

3 a short conversation

4 to start talking to someone you do not know

5 a friendly, relaxed conversation

6 very interesting facts about someone's private life that may not be true

7 a time when the talking between people stops

8 to stop talking about a particular thing, often because it is upsetting or embarrassing someone

9 short pieces of a talk between two or more people

10 to start to talk about something difficult to embarrassing with someone

Classroom extra

Ask students in pairs to describe a conversation that they have had or they have heard, using at least two of the collocations they have learned.

3 Match the statements or questions 1-10 to the responses a-j. Make sure that there is a collocation (in bold) either in the statement/question or the response.

The art of conversation

In these exercises, the focus in the collocations is on the function of speech and what the speaker is actually doing when they choose to say particular words.

4 Solve the anagram in brackets to complete the collocations in the sentences.

1 I only saw Sally briefly so we exchanged greetings but we didn't have a proper conversation. (tregeings)

2 He said in passing that his wife had been ill but he didn't go into ... .(stedial)

3 It wasn't the most exciting party. I seemed to spend half the evening making small ... about the weather. (latk)

4 I was very late for my lesson so I ... profusely to the teacher. (ogisepolad)

5 After a lengthy ..., we finally made a decision. (cionsiduss)

6 John has been ... hints that he would like a bike for his birthday. (nrodppig)

7 I was very pleased because she ... me a compliment on my cooking. (dapi)

8 He's a very shy man and he lacks conversational ... . (kislls)

5 Complete the dialogue with collocations from the box. Make sure you use the correct form of the verbs. Listen to the recording to check your answers.

conversational skills • go into details • lengthy discussion • exchange greetings • make small talk • apologise profusely • drop a hint • pay someone a compliment

Anna: So did you enjoy the party last night? Did you chat to Simon?

Lisa: No, I never found myself in the same room as him. I saw him briefly as he was arriving and we 1... but I didn't see him after that.

Anna: That was a shame - he's so funny. I spent an hour or more chatting with him towards the end of the evening. In fact, we had a 2... on the state of British comedy.

Lisa: Lucky you! I got stuck with Martin in the kitchen - did you see us? That man completely lacks 3..., It's such hard work talking to him.

Anna: Yes, isn't it? What did you find to talk about?

Lisa: Oh, I just 4... about holidays and the weather -nothing very interesting!

Anna: Still, you did get to talk to the gorgeous Alex, I noticed, and I overheard him 5... on your dress!

Lisa: Yes. Mind you, he was probably only being nice to me because he'd just stood on my toe.

Anna: Ah, so that was why he was 6... to you as I walked past.

Lisa: Yes. He couldn't say he was sorry enough! Oh, and I saw you talking to Jane Kennedy. Did she tell you she'd started a new course?

Anna: She mentioned it briefly but she didn't 7 ... .

Lisa: Oh right. I'm so tired today after the late night. I was hoping David would give me a lift home last night. He left just before midnight and I kept 8... that I wanted to leave but he never offered to take me.

6 Are the statements true (T) or false (F)?

1 Lisa and Simon said hello to each other.

2 Anna and Simon had a brief chat.

3 Lisa enjoys talking with Martin.

4 Alex said he liked Lisa's dress.

5 Jane Kennedy talked a lot about the course that she has just started.

6 Lisa tried to let David know that she wanted a lift home.

7 Complete the sentences using the collocations you have learned above. Then complete the crossword.

Across

4 I'm not very good at making small talk.

5 We ... greetings as we passed each other on the stairs.

6 He ... profusely and said he would never let it happen again.

8 After ... discussions, we decided not to pursue the plan.

Down

1 He has fantastic ... skills for a boy of nine.

2 I ... him a compliment on his new haircut.

3 She ... into great detail about the amazing meals she'd eaten on holiday.

7 I thought I might ... a hint that it was about time for the guests to leave.

8 Replace the underlined phrases with the collocations you have learned.

1 She said she'd had a great holiday but she didn't describe very many aspects of it.

2 If someone praises you, it's polite to thank them.

3 I was admiring your ability to talk with people.

4 Most of the time I just talk about things that are not important with her.

5 He said inan indirect way that he was going to leave the company.

6 She said she was sorry again and again.

7 We had a long conversation on the subject in this afternoon's meeting.

8 If we saw each other in the street we would certainly say hello to each other.

Classroom extra

In pairs, students should choose three words from collocations in this unit and make mini crosswords like the one in Exercise 7. They then write their own gap-fill clues and swap them with another pair.