Fluency Quiz: Test Your English Collocations
Quick check:
- Do you say ‘do a mistake‘ or ‘make a mistake‘?
- Do you say ‘very sad‘ or ‘deep sorrow‘?
- Do you say ‘talk with friends‘ or ‘catch up with friends‘?
If you paused, don’t worry. Your grammar may be correct, but your English doesn’t sound natural yet. The reason is simple: you are not using English collocations for fluency.
In this guide, you’ll learn 20 word combinations that native speakers use daily. These word combinations, used to sound native, help bloggers, poets, and learners to speak and write smoothly—without memorizing rules.
Free, printable PDF is waiting at the end!
Why Word Combinations Make Fluency So Fast
Native speakers use natural word pairings, not single words. They think in word partnerships.
Compare this:
| Basic English | Fluent English |
|---|---|
| very tired | completely exhausted |
| big rain | heavy rain |
| do a decision | make a decision |
These natural pairs are called collocations, phrasal verbs, and idioms.
They are especially useful for phrasal verbs for beginner learners who want real-life English.
If grammar basics confuse you, read:
What is Grammar in English?
Parts of Speech Made Easy
Active and Passive Vocabulary Explained
Everyday Word Combinations
You can use these word combinations in Daily Life.
1. Make a decision
- Meaning: Choose something carefully
- Native example: I’ll make a decision by tonight.
- Practice: I need to make a decision about ___.
- Pronunciation: (/meɪk ə dɪˈsɪʒn/)
2. Heavy rain
- Meaning: Strong rainfall
- Native example: Heavy rain flooded the streets.
- Practice: The heavy rain stopped ___.
- Pronunciation: (/ˈhevi reɪn/)
3. Catch a cold
- Meaning: Become sick
- Native example: Don’t go out or you’ll catch a cold.
- Practice: I always catch a cold when ___.
- Pronunciation: (/kætʃ ə koʊld/)
4. Strong coffee
- Meaning: Coffee with a bold taste
- Native example: I need strong coffee this morning.
- Practice: I prefer strong coffee because ___.
- Pronunciation: (/strɒŋ ˈkɒfi/)
Try It Now:
Write two sentences using any two combinations.
Professional Word Combinations for Work
5. Meet a deadline
- Meaning: Finish work on time
- Native example: We must meet the deadline.
- Practice: I struggle to meet deadlines when ___.
- Pronunciation: (/miːt ə ˈdedlaɪn/)
6. Close a deal
- Meaning: Finalize an agreement
- Native example: They closed the deal yesterday.
- Practice: To close a deal, you need ___.
- Pronunciation: (/kloʊz ə diːl/)
7. Take a break
- Meaning: Rest for a short time
- Native example: Let’s take a break.
- Practice: I take a break after ___.
- Pronunciation: (/teɪk ə breɪk/)
8. Launch a product
- Meaning: Introduce something new
- Native example: They launched a product online.
- Practice: Companies launch products to ___.
- Pronunciation: (/lɔːntʃ ə ˈprɒdʌkt/)
Try It Now:
Pretend you’re in a meeting and use two combinations.
Emotional & Poetry- Word Combinations
These are loved by poets, especially for those learners who want expressive English.
9. Bitter tears
- Meaning: Deep emotional crying
- Native example: She wept bitter tears.
- Practice: Bitter tears fell when ___.
- Pronunciation: (/ˈbɪtər tɪrz/)
10. Deep sorrow
- Meaning: Strong sadness
- Native example: He felt deep sorrow.
- Practice: Deep sorrow filled my heart when ___.
- Pronunciation: (/diːp ˈsɒroʊ/)
11. Bright smile
- Meaning: Happy, warm smile
- Native example: Her bright smile changed the mood.
- Practice: A bright smile appears when ___.
- Pronunciation: (/braɪt smaɪl/)
12. Burning passion
- Meaning: Strong enthusiasm
- Native example: She writes with burning passion.
- Practice: My burning passion is ___.
- Pronunciation: (/ˈbɜːrnɪŋ ˈpæʃən/)
Try It Now:
Write three poetic lines using one combination.
Travel Word Combinations for Real Experiences
13. Book a flight
- Meaning: Reserve air travel
- Native example: I booked a flight early.
- Practice: I want to book a flight to ___.
- Pronunciation: (/bʊk ə flaɪt/)
14. Miss a bus
- Meaning: Fail to catch transport
- Native example: I missed the bus again.
- Practice: I miss a bus when ___.
- Pronunciation: (/mɪs ə bʌs/)
15. Pack a bag
- Meaning: Prepare luggage
- Native example: Please pack a bag quickly.
- Practice: I pack a bag with ___.
- Pronunciation: (/pæk ə bæɡ/)
16. Jet lag
- Meaning: Tiredness after travel
- Native example: Jet lag ruined my sleep.
- Practice: Jet lag makes me ___.
- Pronunciation: (/dʒet læɡ/)
Try It Now:
Describe your dream trip using two combinations.
Social Word Combinations for Confidence
17. Break the ice
- Meaning: Start a conversation
- Native example: Jokes break the ice.
- Practice: To break the ice, I ___.
- Pronunciation: (/breɪk ði aɪs/)
18. Small talk
- Meaning: Casual conversation
- Native example: I enjoy small talk.
- Practice: Small talk helps me ___.
- Pronunciation: (/smɔːl tɔːk/)
19. Keep in touch
- Meaning: Stay connected
- Native example: Let’s keep in touch.
- Practice: We keep in touch through ___.
- Pronunciation: (/kiːp ɪn tʌtʃ/)
20. Hit it off
- Meaning: Connect instantly
- Native example: We hit it off immediately.
- Practice: I hit it off with ___.
- Pronunciation: (/hɪt ɪt ɒf/)
Try It Now:
Record yourself saying one combination aloud.
Why These Word Combinations Really Work
These English word combinations fluency tools:
- Reduce hesitation
- Improve writing rhythm
- Help poets sound natural
- Help bloggers avoid repetition
Helpful reads:
- 7 Simple Word Swaps to Fix Repetitive Writing
- Sensory Words to Fix Flat Scenes
- Easy Writing Exercises to Get New Ideas Fast
Free PDF Download: Sound Fluent Faster
Get a free printable PDF that includes:
- All 20 word combinations
- Extra practice sentences
- Writing exercises for poets and bloggers
Download FREE PDF Now!
FAQs: Word Combinations & Fluency
- How many word combinations should I learn daily?Five is perfect. Practice daily.
- Are collocations better than grammar rules?They work with grammar, not against it.
- Do poets really use word combinations?Yes. Natural word flow is the heart of poetry.
Start Sounding Fluent Today
Comment below: Pick 3 combos TODAY and comment your favorite below = fluency boost guaranteed
Which word combination will you use first?
- Make a decision?
- Break the ice?
- Burning passion?
Related reads:
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