Collocations

[Red5]

One element of improving your vocabulary is learning which verbs go with which nouns - also called collocations. For example: Do you make or do a mess? Does he miss or lose an opportunity? Here is a series of collocation...

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Source: English as 2nd Language
English as 2nd Language

[RonBee]

Maybe we should start a collocations thread here. Hm?

make

• make a mistake
  make a mess
  make a mention of (something)
  make a left turn

:)

[shane]

Make a correction
Make an apology
Make friends
Make an appointment

:D

[RonBee]

Make up
Make amends
Make time
Make dinner
Make enemies
Make peace
Make war

:)

[RonBee]

take

• take a hike
  take a pill
  take a minute
  take over
  take up
  take down
  take an interest in
  take on

Originally Posted by Red5

One element of improving your vocabulary is learning which verbs go with which nouns - also called collocations. For example: Do you make or do a mess? Does he miss or lose an opportunity? Here is a series of collocation...

Read more...

Source: English as 2nd Language
English as 2nd Language

I heard someone say "They give a lot of value to their families."

Isn't "They place a lot of value on their families." more like how it would normally be said?

I think so.

give value to - or - place value on

[RonBee]

Originally Posted by CitySpeak

I heard someone say "They give a lot of value to their families."

Isn't "They place a lot of value on their families." more like how it would normally be said?

I think so.

give value to - or - place value on

Yes, it should be place a lot of value on. I don't think the first one is even an English sentence.

Originally Posted by RonBee

Yes, it should be place a lot of value on. I don't think the first one is even an English sentence.

That sentence was spoken by a German speaker. It is a grammatically correct sentence. Collocationally, it is wrong.

[RonBee]

Grammar isn't everything.

:P

Originally Posted by CitySpeak

That sentence was spoken by a German speaker. It is a grammatically correct sentence. Collocationally, it is wrong.

It sounds like suits-talk. Give value to your shareholders, give value to the meeting, add value to this and that....
I think the speaker perhaps didn't mean placing value but giving value. Strange-speak nevertheless, when family relationships take on business jargon. :wink: