Verbs and collocations

• Engels
• MBO
• Studiejaar 1

Verbs and collocations

Present simple

+   He looks happy

-   He doesn't look happy

?   Does he look happy?

We use the present simple to talk about something that is always or generally true, habits and routines.

Present continuous

+   We're staying here

-   We aren't staying here

?   Aren't we staying here?

We use the present continuous to talk about an activity happening at the time of speaking or a temporary activity happening around now. 

Past simple

+  They worked hard

-  They didn't work hard

?   Did they work hard?   

We use the past simple to talk about finished actions, events or situations in the past.

Past continuous

+   I was living there during the 90's

-   I wasn't living there during the 90's

?   Were you living there?

We use the past continuous to talk about an action or situation in progress at a particular time in the past. This action was not finished at that time. 

Dynamic verbs

There are many types of dynamic verbs, but most of them describe activities or events which can begin and finish.

To play; to melt; to hit

State verbs

State verbs usually refer to a state or condition which is quite static or unchanging. State verbs are not usually used in the continuous form. 

To hate; to believe; to contain; to own 

You ____________ nice because you want to borrow my car.

1. Are
2. Are being

She's being really horrible.

1. This is a temporary state - she may not always be horrible.
2. She's generally a horrible person

He ___________ a nap - don't disturb him.

1. Takes
2. Is taking

I ____________ a lot of work to do today.

1. Have
2. Am having

Collocations

A collocation is two or more words that often go together. These combinations just sound "right" to native English speakers, who use them all the time. 

- Are you fully aware of the implications of your action?

- Let's give Mr Jones a round of applause.

- We had to return home because we had run out of money.

How to learn collocations

Be aware of collocations and try to recognize them when you see or hear them.

Read as much as possible. Reading is an excellent way to learn vocabulary and collocations in context and naturally.

Revise what you learn regularly. Practise using new collocations in context as soon as possible after learning them.

The meeting took almost five hours so it was impossible to ______
attention all the time.

1. Give
2. Pay
3. Have
4. Keep

The problem is difficult to _______
under control.

1. Hold
2. Do
3. Make
4. Keep

I don't think we should ______
a decision yet; we should wait.

1. Do
2. Hold
3. Create
4. Make

Only 31% of the students who ______
the final exam passed it.

1. Had
2. Made
3. Took
4. Wrote

Could you _____
me a favour and post these letters on your way home?

1. Do
2. Make
3. Get
4. Give