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

Collocations for decisions
Review Units 17-20

Study tip

Remember the words that form a collocation do not always have to come next to each other.

Taking advice

The collocations in this unit are connected to the processes involved in making decisions. These exercises include collocations connected with getting the advice or information you need to make a decision.

1 Complete the sentences with words from the box. Make sure you use the correct form of the verbs.

pick • informed • make • helpful • carry out • offer • professional • provide • additional • seek

1 If your finances are more complex, I recommend that you ... advice from an accountant.

2 Before setting up our company, we ... a lot of research into the safety of the plastics we are using.

3 Many websites ... a lot of useful information about health issues.

4 My mother grows all her own vegetables, so you might want to ... her brains* about the best varieties to choose.

5 The organisation was set up to ... guidance to young people starting out in their careers.

6 This leaflet will tell you some basic facts about the area: if you require any ... information, try the tourist office.

7 We can give you information about the pension schemes, but we are not allowed to ... recommendations about which you should choose.

8 Her book contains a lot of ... hints* on dressing well on a budget.

9 In matters of law, it is usually best to take ... advice.

10 I don't feel that I have enough facts to be able to make an ... decision.

* informal

2 Bargain Bob writes a blog on travelling on a small budget. Underline ten collocations from Exercise 1 in his advice.

It is certainly possible to travel cheaply, but you need to carry out some basic research first. Your first stop will probably be the internet. There are thousands of sites providing a wealth of information on budget travel, and you will find all sorts of helpful hints on how to have a great time without spending a fortune. Even better, if you know someone who has been to the area you are interested in, buy them a coffee and pick their brains! They may be able to make interesting recommendations about places to stay and things to do.

If you plan to travel somewhere very remote, it is best to seek advice from someone who knows the area well. If you need any additional information, internet message boards can be very useful. Some travel agents can offer guidance on specialist holidays such as wildlife or archaeological tours. They will help you to make an informed decision about the best ones to choose.

And finally, however stretched your budget is, don't forget to buy medical insurance. If you become ill while abroad, it is always best to get professional advice in case it is serious.

3 Match the people 1-10 to the advice a-j.

1 I'm trying to find a school that will be suitable for my daughter - she's very musical and she loves sport.

2 My parents always said I would get their house when they died, but now my brother is claiming half its value. I don't know what to do.

3 I've got an important interview next week, and I can't decide what to wear.

4 I'm thinking about opening a vegetarian cafe near the church, but I'm worried about whether I'd have any customers.

5 I'm still not quite sure whether it's safe to travel in the area at the moment.

6 I'm taking my new girlfriend out to dinner tomorrow and I'm a bit embarrassed because I don't know anything at all about wine - what shall I do if she asks me to decide what to have?

7 My colleague Rav is leaving and I don't know what to get him as a leaving present.

8 I've been diagnosed with a heart complaint and the doctors have said I can either have an operation or join in the trial of a new drug.

9 We're thinking of buying a cottage in Devon, but we're a bit worried about the damp in the walls.

10 My daughter is really stressed about her exams, and I'm not sure of the best way to help her.

a You need to carry out some research locally to see if there's any demand for that kind of food.

b There are lots of websites that offer guidance on supporting young people in their studies.

c It sounds as though you need more information from the hospital to help you make an informed decision.

d Don't worry, the waiter should be able to make some recommendations.

e The council has a booklet that provides information about all the local schools.

f I've got a good book with lots of helpful hints on dressing for success - you can borrow it if you like.

g Here's his girlfriend's phone number-why don't you give her a ring and pick her brains?

h I think you need professional advice - I'd always recommend a complete survey before buying any property.

i Well, keep an eye on the papers, but if you need any additional information, you can always call the embassy.

j I think you need to seek legal advice - if your parents didn't make a will, things could be very difficult.

4 Rewrite the sentences, replacing the underlined parts with the collocations you have learned above.

1 This booklet is designed to tell people facts about healthy eating.

2 This website offers some useful advice about ways to save money on your household bills.

3 I hope to discover more about how children learn to speak, and I'm finding out facts with a group of four-year aids.

4 Hi Anna - I'm phoning to get information from you about working for the university.

5 We asked Lord Flowers to look at how we should improve our service and his report suggests several things we should do.

6 This sheet covers frequently asked questions, but if you need extra facts, log on to our website.

Classroom extra

Ask students to think about a subject they know a lot about. They should then get into pairs and tell each other the best way to get advice about that subject, using some of the collocations they have learned.

Thinking it through

The collocations in these exercises are connected with the thinking you need to do before you make a decision. Note that some of them are informal.

5 Circle the correct answer. Use a dictionary to help you if necessary.

1 If you hit upon an idea*, you:

a look for an idea on a website.

b have an idea yourself.

c steal an idea from someone else.

2 If you bear something in mind, you:

a worry about it all the time.

b never forget about it.

c remember to consider it.

3 If you toy with an idea*, you:

a definitely agree to an idea.

b tell other people your idea.

c consider an idea.

4 If you reach a decision, you:

a think very hard about something.

b discuss something a lot.

c decide what to do.

5 If you rack your brains*, you:

a think very hard about something.

b fill your head with lots of details.

c get a lot of ideas.

6 If something crosses your mind*, it:

a makes you feel angry.

b suddenly comes into your thoughts.

c is immediately forgotten.

7 If something springs to mind*, you:

a jump up when you think of it.

b feel very surprised by it.

c think of it straight away.

8 If you grapple with a problem, you:

a have difficulty deciding what to do.

b solve the problem.

c feel upset about a problem.

9 If you have second thoughts about something, you:

a think about it twice.

b decide that it may not be a good idea after all.

c think it is a very good idea.

10 If you refuse to entertain an idea, you:

a say you will not consider it.

b think the idea is not amusing.

c say you will not tell anyone your idea.

* informal

Sound natural

Remember to think about your audience when using collocations. It can sound strange or comical to use informal language in formal situations.

6 Zoe is describing how difficult it was to choose a present for a colleague.

Complete her description using the collocations you have learned above. Use the correct form of the verbs. Listen to the recording to check your answers.

It's my colleague Ollie's 21st birthday next week, and I stupidly volunteered to buy a present from everyone at work. After 1... for ages with the problem of what to

get, I suddenly 2... upon an idea - instead of a thing, I'd get him an experience.

I 3... with the idea of tickets for a show, but Ollie's more of an active type, so I 4... second thoughts about that - to be honest, culture's not the first thing that

5... to mind when you think of him! So, 6... in mind his love of adventure, I eventually 7... a decision - I'd buy him a helicopter ride. Perfect, or so I thought ...

It never 8... my mind that he'd be scared of flying - until Katie told me this morning. Apparently he won't 9... the idea of travelling in anything that is not

firmly on the ground. Now I've got to start 10... my brains all over again!

7 Match the sentences 1-10 with the events a-j.

1 I've been grappling with the problem of how to transport the teams to and from the stadium.

2 I need to reach a decision about who to invite as our main speakers.

3 We're toying with the idea of having everyone dressed as foxes.

4 We need to bear in mind that the acoustics are not great in the church.

5 It never crossed my mind that Iceland would be a suitable destination until Eva suggested it.

6 The first place that sprang to mind for the ceremony was our wonderful castle and its grounds.

7 I hit upon the idea of hiring a magician.

8 I've been racking my brains to think of ways of getting men to come along.

9 I thought a casino would be a good idea, but the church leaders won't entertain the idea of gambling.

10 I was going to book a table at La Perla, but I had second thoughts when I saw how expensive it was.

a a wedding

b a children's party

c a concert

d a romantic meal for two

e a sports competition

f an anti-hunting protest

g a church fundraising event

h a dance class

i an international conference

j a holiday

8 Put the phrases in the correct order to make sentences. Add punctuation where necessary.

1 the problem of/in temporary shelters/we've been grappling with/how to accommodate 500 people

2 a decision/we reached/to sell the land/after much discussion

3 worried about you/didn't it/I would be/cross your mind that

4 when I saw him/was 'eccentric'/the word that/sprang to mind was

5 and Dad hit upon the idea/to raise some money/of organising a quiz night/ we wanted

6 to think of the best/we all/places for them to visit/racked our brains

7 I'm toying with/retraining to/the idea of/become a physiotherapist

8 none of them is particularly fit/I think they'd/but you need to bear in mind that/enjoy a walk

9 about getting married /the wedding he told his mother he/three weeks before /was having second thoughts

10 of eating meat/my daughter has refused/since the age of ten/to entertain the idea

Classroom extra

Ask students to imagine that they are planning an event of their choice. In pairs, they then write a short dialogue discussing their plans, using some of the collocations they have learned.