Content updated on 24 April 2026
Why do we say "make a decision" but "do homework"? Why "heavy rain" and not "strong rain"? Collocations are natural word partnerships that make English sound fluent and native. Common word pairs, like "bread and butter" or "safe and sound", add richness to your expression. This lesson for Class 8, 9, and 10 students covers 200 essential collocations and word pairs, divided into four easy‑to‑study groups. Each entry includes a clear meaning and a realistic example sentence. Click any group to reveal the list and start building a more natural, advanced vocabulary.
✅ Recommended for: Class 8–10 (Fluent & Natural English) | CBSE & UP Board
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Group 1: Verb + Noun Collocations (50 pairs)
๐ View Group 1 (50 collocations)
1. Make a decision – to decide.
Sentence: You need to make a decision quickly.
2. Do homework – to complete school assignments.
Sentence: I do my homework every evening.
3. Take a break – to pause for rest.
Sentence: Let's take a break after this chapter.
4. Have a conversation – to talk with someone.
Sentence: We had a long conversation about the future.
5. Give a presentation – to deliver a talk.
Sentence: She gave an excellent presentation on climate change.
6. Pay attention – to focus on something.
Sentence: Please pay attention to the instructions.
7. Catch a cold – to become ill with a cold.
Sentence: I caught a cold during the rains.
8. Keep a promise – to fulfil a commitment.
Sentence: A true friend always keeps a promise.
9. Break a record – to surpass the best performance.
Sentence: The athlete broke the world record.
10. Save time – to use time efficiently.
Sentence: Taking the metro saves time.
11. Waste time – to use time poorly.
Sentence: Don't waste time on social media before exams.
12. Take a risk – to do something dangerous or uncertain.
Sentence: Sometimes you must take a risk to succeed.
13. Have a party – to host or attend a celebration.
Sentence: We are having a party for her birthday.
14. Make an effort – to try hard.
Sentence: I will make an effort to finish on time.
15. Do business – to engage in commerce.
Sentence: We do business with several international clients.
16. Tell a story – to narrate a tale.
Sentence: Grandmother told a story every night.
17. Give advice – to offer suggestions.
Sentence: My mentor gave me valuable advice.
18. Take a photo – to capture an image.
Sentence: Let's take a photo near the monument.
19. Have a doubt – to be uncertain about something.
Sentence: I have a doubt about this question.
20. Make a mistake – to commit an error.
Sentence: Everyone makes a mistake sometimes.
21. Do the dishes – to wash the plates.
Sentence: I will do the dishes after dinner.
22. Take responsibility – to accept accountability.
Sentence: A leader must take responsibility.
23. Have a meal – to eat food.
Sentence: Let's have a meal together.
24. Make a difference – to have a positive impact.
Sentence: Every small act of kindness can make a difference.
25. Do harm – to cause damage or injury.
Sentence: The storm did serious harm to the crops.
26. Get permission – to receive approval.
Sentence: Did you get permission for the trip?
27. Make sense – to be logical or understandable.
Sentence: Your explanation makes perfect sense.
28. Do research – to investigate a topic.
Sentence: Scientists do research to find cures.
29. Have a problem – to face difficulty.
Sentence: I have a problem with my internet connection.
30. Give a performance – to act, sing, or dance for an audience.
Sentence: The band gave a stunning performance.
31. Take a taxi – to ride in a hired car.
Sentence: We took a taxi to the airport.
32. Have an opportunity – to get a chance.
Sentence: I had an opportunity to visit Japan.
33. Make a plan – to create a strategy.
Sentence: Let's make a plan for the weekend.
34. Do exercise – to work out physically.
Sentence: I do exercise every morning.
35. Take a seat – to sit down.
Sentence: Please come in and take a seat.
36. Have a headache – to suffer from head pain.
Sentence: I have a headache after staring at the screen all day.
37. Give a smile – to smile at someone.
Sentence: She gave a warm smile to the guests.
38. Make a complaint – to express dissatisfaction.
Sentence: The customer made a complaint about the service.
39. Do a favour – to help someone.
Sentence: Can you do me a favour and water my plants?
40. Take a chance – to attempt something risky.
Sentence: Take a chance and apply for that scholarship.
41. Have a rest – to relax.
Sentence: You look tired; have a rest.
42. Make a suggestion – to propose an idea.
Sentence: May I make a suggestion?
43. Do a job – to complete a task.
Sentence: She did a great job on the project.
44. Take a bath – to wash oneself in a tub.
Sentence: I take a bath before dinner every day.
45. Have a feeling – to sense something.
Sentence: I have a feeling that we will win.
46. Make a discovery – to find something new.
Sentence: The scientist made an important discovery.
47. Do well – to succeed.
Sentence: She did well in all her exams.
48. Take a look – to glance or inspect.
Sentence: Can you take a look at my essay?
49. Have a quarrel – to argue with someone.
Sentence: The two friends had a quarrel over a silly matter.
50. Make peace – to end a conflict.
Sentence: They finally made peace after the long argument.
Group 2: Adjective + Noun Collocations (50 pairs)
๐ View Group 2 (50 collocations)
1. Heavy rain – very strong rain.
Sentence: The heavy rain flooded the streets.
2. Fast food – quickly prepared food.
Sentence: Eating too much fast food is unhealthy.
3. Deep sleep – a very sound sleep.
Sentence: After the trek, I fell into a deep sleep.
4. High quality – of very good standard.
Sentence: These shoes are made of high‑quality leather.
5. Strong coffee – coffee with intense flavour or caffeine.
Sentence: I need a cup of strong coffee to wake up.
6. Bright future – a promising time ahead.
Sentence: Education gives you the key to a bright future.
7. Best friend – the closest friend.
Sentence: Riya is my best friend.
8. Hot topic – a subject everyone is talking about.
Sentence: Climate change is a hot topic globally.
9. Serious problem – a very important difficulty.
Sentence: Pollution is a serious problem in most cities.
10. Great success – a big achievement.
Sentence: The event was a great success.
11. Poor health – bad physical condition.
Sentence: He could not come due to poor health.
12. Loud noise – a very high volume sound.
Sentence: The loud noise scared the baby.
13. Strong argument – a convincing point.
Sentence: She made a strong argument in favour of uniform.
14. Heavy traffic – a lot of vehicles on the road.
Sentence: I was late because of heavy traffic.
15. Valuable advice – very useful suggestion.
Sentence: My grandfather gave me valuable advice.
16. Good luck – fortune that brings success.
Sentence: Good luck with your exams!
17. Blind faith – belief without question.
Sentence: Don't follow anyone with blind faith.
18. Natural disaster – a catastrophic natural event.
Sentence: The earthquake was a natural disaster.
19. Bright idea – a clever thought.
Sentence: That's a bright idea! Let's implement it.
20. Close friend – a very good friend.
Sentence: I shared my secret with a close friend.
21. Deep understanding – thorough knowledge.
Sentence: She has a deep understanding of history.
22. Remote area – a far‑off place.
Sentence: They live in a remote area near the jungle.
23. Strong smell – a powerful odour.
Sentence: A strong smell of paint filled the room.
24. Bright colour – a vivid and lively shade.
Sentence: She wore a dress with bright colours.
25. Heavy rain – intense rainfall.
Sentence: Schools closed due to heavy rain.
26. Fast train – a train that travels at high speed.
Sentence: The fast train takes only two hours.
27. Rich culture – a culture with deep traditions.
Sentence: India has a rich culture.
28. Hard work – great effort.
Sentence: Hard work always pays off.
29. Soft voice – a gentle and quiet tone.
Sentence: She answered in a soft voice.
30. Bright future – a promising time ahead.
Sentence: With good education, you have a bright future.
31. Top priority – most important thing.
Sentence: Safety is our top priority.
32. Big decision – an important choice.
Sentence: Choosing a career is a big decision.
33. Serious injury – a severe wound.
Sentence: He suffered a serious injury in the accident.
34. Wide range – a large variety.
Sentence: The library has a wide range of books.
35. Strong influence – powerful effect.
Sentence: Teachers have a strong influence on students.
36. Early morning – the first hours of the day.
Sentence: I love the peace of early morning.
37. Great opportunity – an excellent chance.
Sentence: This internship is a great opportunity.
38. Huge mistake – a very big error.
Sentence: Trusting him was a huge mistake.
39. Main reason – the primary cause.
Sentence: The main reason for pollution is vehicular exhaust.
40. Deep sorrow – intense sadness.
Sentence: The news filled us with deep sorrow.
41. High price – a lot of money.
Sentence: He paid a high price for that car.
42. Wide knowledge – extensive learning.
Sentence: She has wide knowledge of ancient Egypt.
43. Loud voice – a high volume voice.
Sentence: The teacher has a loud and clear voice.
44. Heavy meal – a large, filling meal.
Sentence: I feel sleepy after a heavy meal.
45. Soft skin – smooth, delicate skin.
Sentence: The baby has soft skin.
46. Strong case – a convincing legal argument.
Sentence: The lawyer presented a strong case.
47. Close race – a competition with very little gap.
Sentence: It was a close race; both runners were excellent.
48. Hard choice – a difficult decision.
Sentence: It was a hard choice between the two colleges.
49. Fresh air – clean, unpolluted air.
Sentence: Let's go outside and breathe some fresh air.
50. Sweet dream – pleasant dream.
Sentence: Good night and sweet dreams!
Group 3: Adverb + Adjective & Other Collocations (50 pairs)
๐ View Group 3 (50 collocations)
1. Highly recommended – very strongly suggested.
Sentence: This book is highly recommended by teachers.
2. Deeply concerned – very worried.
Sentence: We are deeply concerned about the pollution levels.
3. Completely different – totally not the same.
Sentence: Their opinions are completely different.
4. Fully aware – completely knowing.
Sentence: I am fully aware of the risks.
5. Seriously ill – very sick.
Sentence: He is seriously ill and needs hospital care.
6. Absolutely necessary – completely needed.
Sentence: A visa is absolutely necessary for the trip.
7. Bitterly cold – extremely cold.
Sentence: It was a bitterly cold winter night.
8. Deeply hurt – very emotionally wounded.
Sentence: She felt deeply hurt by his words.
9. Highly skilled – having great expertise.
Sentence: The surgeon is highly skilled.
10. Perfectly clear – extremely understandable.
Sentence: The instructions were perfectly clear.
11. Badly damaged – seriously broken.
Sentence: The building was badly damaged in the fire.
12. Greatly appreciated – very much valued.
Sentence: Your help is greatly appreciated.
13. Strongly oppose – to be very against something.
Sentence: We strongly oppose the new parking rules.
14. Firmly believe – to have a strong conviction.
Sentence: I firmly believe in the power of education.
15. Sincerely hope – to wish strongly.
Sentence: We sincerely hope you recover soon.
16. Closely related – very connected.
Sentence: Diet and health are closely related.
17. Well informed – knowing a lot.
Sentence: A well‑informed citizen makes better decisions.
18. Carefully considered – thought about a lot.
Sentence: After a carefully considered decision, she accepted the offer.
19. Badly needed – urgently required.
Sentence: Rain is badly needed for the crops.
20. Ready to go – prepared to depart.
Sentence: We are packed and ready to go.
21. Hard to believe – difficult to accept as true.
Sentence: His story was hard to believe.
22. Easy to use – simple to operate.
Sentence: This app is very easy to use.
23. Safe to eat – not harmful to consume.
Sentence: Is this mushroom safe to eat?
24. Willing to help – ready to assist.
Sentence: My neighbour is always willing to help.
25. Fit to lead – capable of leading.
Sentence: He is fit to lead the team.
26. Fast asleep – deeply sleeping.
Sentence: The baby was fast asleep.
27. Fully grown – completely mature.
Sentence: The sapling has become a fully grown tree.
28. Keenly aware – very conscious of.
Sentence: She is keenly aware of social issues.
29. Painfully slow – frustratingly sluggish.
Sentence: The queue at the bank was painfully slow.
30. Highly unlikely – very improbable.
Sentence: It is highly unlikely to snow today.
31. Vastly different – extremely dissimilar.
Sentence: The two cultures are vastly different.
32. Widely known – famous across a large area.
Sentence: The author is widely known for his novels.
33. Highly educated – having advanced degrees.
Sentence: She is highly educated and well‑spoken.
34. Seriously thinking – considering carefully.
Sentence: I am seriously thinking about studying abroad.
35. Bitterly disappointed – extremely sad and disillusioned.
Sentence: We were bitterly disappointed by the loss.
36. Deeply in love – very strongly affectionate.
Sentence: They are deeply in love.
37. Fully prepared – completely ready.
Sentence: I am fully prepared for the interview.
38. Rightly said – correctly spoken.
Sentence: It is rightly said that health is wealth.
39. Happily married – in a joyful marriage.
Sentence: They are happily married for two decades.
40. Well dressed – wearing nice clothes.
Sentence: He is always well dressed for school.
41. Perfectly fine – completely okay.
Sentence: The plan is perfectly fine with me.
42. Highly sensitive – easily affected.
Sentence: This instrument is highly sensitive.
43. Totally exhausted – completely drained.
Sentence: After the marathon, I was totally exhausted.
44. Readily available – easy to obtain.
Sentence: Fresh vegetables are readily available in the market.
45. Genuinely interested – truly curious.
Sentence: She is genuinely interested in wildlife photography.
46. Greatly missed – very much wished for.
Sentence: You will be greatly missed, dear friend.
47. Carefully selected – chosen with attention.
Sentence: The team was carefully selected through trials.
48. Widely accepted – agreed upon by many.
Sentence: The theory of gravity is widely accepted.
49. Strongly worded – expressed with firm language.
Sentence: The editor wrote a strongly worded letter.
50. Deeply regret – to feel extreme sorrow.
Sentence: We deeply regret the inconvenience caused.
Group 4: Common Word Pairs (Binomials) (50 pairs)
๐ View Group 4 (50 word pairs)
1. Bread and butter – basic necessities; a main source of income.
Sentence: Photography is his bread and butter.
2. Salt and pepper – seasoning; mixed colours.
Sentence: His hair has turned salt and pepper.
3. Black and white – very clear; absolutely right or wrong.
Sentence: It's not a black‑and‑white issue.
4. Pros and cons – advantages and disadvantages.
Sentence: Let's discuss the pros and cons of the plan.
5. Give and take – mutual compromise.
Sentence: Friendship requires give and take.
6. Ups and downs – good and bad times.
Sentence: Every life has its ups and downs.
7. Odds and ends – miscellaneous small items.
Sentence: The drawer was full of odds and ends.
8. Safe and sound – unharmed, protected.
Sentence: We reached home safe and sound.
9. Peace and quiet – a calm, untroubled atmosphere.
Sentence: I need some peace and quiet to study.
10. Wear and tear – damage through regular use.
Sentence: The furniture has a lot of wear and tear.
11. Sick and tired – completely fed up.
Sentence: I am sick and tired of this weather.
12. Short and sweet – brief but pleasant.
Sentence: Her speech was short and sweet.
13. Back and forth – moving repeatedly between two places.
Sentence: We went back and forth trying to decide.
14. By and large – generally speaking.
Sentence: By and large, the project was a success.
15. Now and then – occasionally.
Sentence: We meet now and then for lunch.
16. Loud and clear – very distinctly.
Sentence: I heard you loud and clear.
17. Hit and run – a road accident where the driver flees.
Sentence: The police chased the hit‑and‑run driver.
18. Wait and watch – observe patiently before acting.
Sentence: Let's wait and watch how events unfold.
19. Do or die – a situation requiring supreme effort.
Sentence: The final match is a do‑or‑die situation.
20. Far and wide – across a large area.
Sentence: They searched far and wide for the lost ring.
21. Blood, sweat and tears – extreme effort.
Sentence: The project was built with blood, sweat and tears.
22. First and foremost – most importantly.
Sentence: First and foremost, we must ensure safety.
23. Law and order – a situation of public rule and peace.
Sentence: The police maintain law and order.
24. Null and void – having no legal force.
Sentence: The contract was declared null and void.
25. Part and parcel – an essential component.
Sentence: Exams are part and parcel of school life.
26. Spick and span – very clean and tidy.
Sentence: The classroom was spick and span.
27. Tooth and nail – with all one's strength.
Sentence: They fought tooth and nail against the new rule.
28. Trial and error – trying different methods until success.
Sentence: We learned through trial and error.
29. Wine and dine – entertain lavishly.
Sentence: The guests were wined and dined.
30. Rise and shine – wake up and start the day.
Sentence: Rise and shine! It's a beautiful morning.
31. Cut and dried – settled, straightforward.
Sentence: The rules were cut and dried.
32. Ins and outs – the detailed facts.
Sentence: He knows the ins and outs of the business.
33. Hustle and bustle – busy, noisy activity.
Sentence: I love the hustle and bustle of the market.
34. Bits and pieces – small fragments or items.
Sentence: I gathered the bits and pieces of the broken toy.
35. Heart and soul – with complete dedication.
Sentence: She put her heart and soul into the dance.
36. Touch and go – a very uncertain situation.
Sentence: The patient's condition was touch and go for hours.
37. Crying shame – a very sad occurrence.
Sentence: It is a crying shame that the monument is crumbling.
38. Down and out – having no money and no hope.
Sentence: The novel is about a down‑and‑out musician.
39. Fair and square – honest and in the proper way.
Sentence: We won the game fair and square.
40. High and mighty – arrogant, self‑important.
Sentence: He acts high and mighty after his promotion.
41. Life and soul – the most lively person.
Sentence: She was the life and soul of the party.
42. Nip and tuck – very close, tightly contested.
Sentence: The race was nip and tuck until the end.
43. Hodge podge – a confused mixture.
Sentence: The room was decorated in a hodge podge of styles.
44. Wear and tear – damage from normal use.
Sentence: The bus showed signs of wear and tear.
45. Bread and water – the simplest possible food.
Sentence: For days, they survived on bread and water.
46. Thick and thin – all situations, good and bad.
Sentence: Friends stick together through thick and thin.
47. More or less – approximately.
Sentence: The journey takes two hours, more or less.
48. On and off – occasionally, intermittently.
Sentence: It rained on and off all day.
49. So‑and‑so – a person whose name is not given.
Sentence: I heard that so‑and‑so is leaving the company.
50. Up and about – out of bed and active after an illness.
Sentence: After the fever, I am glad to be up and about.
Why Collocations Make Your English Sound Natural
Using the right collocations and word pairs is what separates a textbook learner from a natural speaker. Saying "make a photo" sounds odd, but "take a photo" is correct. Writing "strong tea" is uncommon; "strong coffee" is fine but "powerful tea" would be very strange. The more you read and listen to native English, the more these patterns will feel instinctive. Try to notice collocations in the songs you hear, the books you read, and the movies you watch. Then, bring them into your own writing and speaking, one phrase at a time.
- Vocabulary Building Hub — All vocabulary lessons.
- Proverbs & Sayings Guide — Next in the series.
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- Worksheets Master Hub — Every worksheet you need.
๐ Collocations & Common Word Pairs Worksheet – Class 8, 9 & 10
This worksheet covers 200 collocations and word pairs. It includes matching exercises, gapfills, sentence‑completion tasks, and rewriting activities to help you sound more natural in English. Includes 50 questions.
Collocations & Word Pairs Worksheet »Answer key included • Aligned with CBSE & UP Board curriculum
