Understanding collocations is crucial for achieving fluency and accuracy in English. Collocations are words that naturally occur together, and mastering them allows you to express yourself more idiomatically and avoid awkward or unnatural phrasing.
This article focuses specifically on collocations with the verb “give,” one of the most versatile verbs in the English language. By exploring various categories and providing numerous examples, this guide aims to equip you with the knowledge and practice needed to use “give” collocations confidently.
Whether you are an ESL/EFL student, a language teacher, or simply someone looking to improve their English skills, this comprehensive guide will enhance your understanding and usage of “give” collocations.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Definition of Collocations with “Give”
- Structural Breakdown
- Types and Categories of “Give” Collocations
- Examples of “Give” Collocations
- Usage Rules for “Give” Collocations
- Common Mistakes with “Give” Collocations
- Practice Exercises
- Advanced Topics
- FAQ
- Conclusion
Definition of Collocations with “Give”
A collocation is a group of two or more words that often occur together. These combinations sound natural and correct to native English speakers.
Collocations with “give” involve the verb “give” combined with a noun, adjective, or adverb to create a specific meaning. Understanding these collocations is essential for natural and effective communication.
The verb “give” is highly versatile, and its collocations cover a wide range of meanings, from physical actions to abstract concepts. Mastering these combinations allows for more precise and nuanced expression.
Collocations can be classified based on the strength of the association between the words. Some collocations are fixed, meaning the words always appear together in that specific order (e.g., give a speech). Others are more flexible, allowing for some variation (e.g., give advice, give some advice). Recognizing the different types of collocations helps learners understand how to use them correctly and avoid unnatural phrasing.
Structural Breakdown
The basic structure of collocations with “give” typically follows this pattern: Give + Noun/Noun Phrase. This structure can be further modified by adding adverbs or adjectives to provide additional detail. For example, “give generously” adds an adverb to modify the verb, while “give sound advice” adds an adjective to describe the noun.
Understanding the grammatical structure of these collocations helps learners use them correctly in sentences. The noun following “give” can be a concrete object (e.g., give a gift), an abstract concept (e.g., give an opinion), or an action (e.g., give a hug). The choice of noun determines the overall meaning of the collocation, and using the wrong noun can result in an unnatural or incorrect sentence.
Here are a few common patterns:
- Give + a/an + Noun: Give a presentation, give an example.
- Give + some + Noun: Give some advice, give some information.
- Give + Adjective + Noun: Give good advice, give clear instructions.
- Give + Noun + to + Person: Give a gift to John, give the book to Mary.
Types and Categories of “Give” Collocations
Collocations with “give” can be categorized based on the type of noun that follows the verb. This classification helps learners understand the different meanings and contexts in which “give” can be used.
Here are some common categories:
Giving Objects
This category includes collocations where “give” is used to transfer physical items from one person to another. These are often the most straightforward and easily understood collocations. Examples include give a gift, give money, and give a present.
Giving Information
These collocations involve providing someone with facts, details, or explanations. They are crucial for effective communication and include phrases like give advice, give information, and give an explanation. The act of imparting knowledge is central to this category.
Giving Abstract Things
This category covers collocations where “give” is used to offer something non-physical, such as attention, support, or consideration. Examples include give attention, give support, and give consideration. These collocations often express emotions or attitudes.
Giving Actions
These collocations involve performing an action for someone or something. Examples include give a hug, give a call, and give a ride. The focus is on the act of doing something beneficial or helpful.
Giving Reactions
This category includes collocations that describe how someone responds to a situation or event. Examples include give a smile, give a laugh, and give a cry. These collocations often express emotions or feelings.
Examples of “Give” Collocations
To further illustrate the different categories of “give” collocations, here are several examples organized by type. These examples demonstrate how “give” is used in various contexts and with different nouns to create specific meanings.
Each table contains numerous examples to provide a comprehensive overview.
Examples of Giving Objects
This table provides examples of collocations where “give” is used to transfer physical items.
| Collocation | Example Sentence |
|---|---|
| Give a gift | She decided to give a gift to her friend for her birthday. |
| Give money | He decided to give money to the charity. |
| Give a present | They wanted to give a present to their teacher. |
| Give a book | I will give a book to my little brother. |
| Give a donation | We should give a donation to support the museum. |
| Give a loan | The bank agreed to give a loan to the small business. |
| Give food | The volunteers give food to the homeless every week. |
| Give clothes | She decided to give clothes to the thrift store. |
| Give toys | They give toys to children in need during the holidays. |
| Give a hand | Can you give a hand with carrying these boxes? |
| Give a ride | I can give a ride to the airport if you need one. |
| Give a lift | He offered to give a lift to his neighbor. |
| Give a push | She had to give a push to get the car started. |
| Give a treat | We give a treat to the dog after he performs a trick. |
| Give a sample | The store offered to give a sample of the new perfume. |
| Give medicine | The nurse will give medicine to the patient. |
| Give water | Remember to give water to the plants every day. |
| Give a pen | Could you give a pen to me? |
| Give a pencil | I need to give a pencil to my friend. |
| Give a sticker | The teacher give a sticker to the student who did well. |
| Give a card | We give a card to her on her birthday |
| Give a key | I give a key to my housemate. |
| Give a document | The lawyer give a document to his client. |
Examples of Giving Information
This table provides examples of collocations related to providing information.
| Collocation | Example Sentence |
|---|---|
| Give advice | My parents always give advice on important decisions. |
| Give information | The website give information about the company’s products. |
| Give an explanation | The teacher will give an explanation of the new concept. |
| Give a description | She asked him to give a description of the suspect. |
| Give a reason | He needed to give a reason for his absence. |
| Give an account | The witness had to give an account of what happened. |
| Give details | The police asked her to give details about the incident. |
| Give instructions | The manual will give instructions on how to assemble the product. |
| Give directions | Can you give directions to the nearest gas station? |
| Give a lecture | The professor will give a lecture on modern art. |
| Give a presentation | He will give a presentation about his research. |
| Give a summary | She asked him to give a summary of the book. |
| Give a report | The committee will give a report on their findings. |
| Give feedback | The teacher will give feedback on the students’ essays. |
| Give an answer | He tried to give an answer, but he didn’t know the solution. |
| Give a response | The company had to give a response to the customer’s complaint. |
| Give a suggestion | She decided to give a suggestion at the meeting. |
| Give an idea | He wanted to give an idea for the project. |
| Give a clue | The detective tried to give a clue to help solve the mystery. |
| Give a hint | She decided to give a hint to help him guess the answer. |
| Give evidence | The lawyer give evidence to the court. |
| Give testimony | The witness give testimony about the crime. |
| Give a statement | The police asked him to give a statement about what he saw. |
Examples of Giving Abstract Things
This table provides examples of collocations where “give” is used with abstract nouns.
| Collocation | Example Sentence |
|---|---|
| Give attention | The teacher tries to give attention to each student. |
| Give support | Friends and family give support during difficult times. |
| Give consideration | The manager will give consideration to your request. |
| Give respect | We should always give respect to our elders. |
| Give priority | The company will give priority to customer satisfaction. |
| Give importance | It’s important to give importance to your health. |
| Give preference | The school will give preference to students with high grades. |
| Give credit | We should give credit to the scientists for their discovery. |
| Give praise | The coach always give praise to the team after a good game. |
| Give encouragement | Parents should give encouragement to their children. |
| Give hope | The doctor tried to give hope to the patient. |
| Give strength | The support of her friends give strength to her during the difficult time. |
| Give confidence | The teacher tried to give confidence to the student. |
| Give pleasure | Music can give pleasure to many people. |
| Give satisfaction | The company aims to give satisfaction to its customers. |
| Give a feeling | The music give a feeling of nostalgia. |
| Give an impression | He tried to give an impression of confidence. |
| Give an idea | The book give an idea of what life was like in the past. |
| Give a thought | She decided to give a thought to his suggestion. |
| Give a chance | Everyone deserves to give a chance to prove themselves. |
| Give freedom | The country give freedom to its citizens. |
| Give peace | Meditation can give peace to your mind. |
| Give happiness | Spending time with loved ones can give happiness. |
Examples of Giving Actions
This table provides examples of collocations where “give” is used to describe actions.
| Collocation | Example Sentence |
|---|---|
| Give a hug | She wanted to give a hug to her friend to comfort her. |
| Give a call | I will give a call to my mom later today. |
| Give a ride | He offered to give a ride to the train station. |
| Give a lift | Can you give a lift to the airport? |
| Give a hand | Could you give a hand with moving the furniture? |
| Give a try | I decided to give a try at solving the puzzle. |
| Give a shot | He decided to give a shot at winning the competition. |
| Give a start | The loud noise give a start to everyone in the room. |
| Give a kick | The soccer player give a kick to the ball. |
| Give a pat | She give a pat to the dog on the head. |
| Give a push | He give a push to the car to help it start. |
| Give a wave | She give a wave to her friend as the train departed. |
| Give a nod | He give a nod to show his agreement. |
| Give a wink | She give a wink as a sign of her flirtation. |
| Give a glance | He give a glance at the clock. |
| Give a look | She give a look to her friend. |
| Give a smile | He give a smile to the camera. |
| Give a laugh | The joke give a laugh to the audience. |
| Give a cry | The baby give a cry in the night. |
| Give a shout | He give a shout to his friend across the street. |
| Give chase | The police give chase to the suspect. |
| Give battle | The soldier give battle to the enemy. |
| Give way | The old bridge is about to give way. |
Examples of Giving Reactions
This table provides examples of collocations describing reactions or expressions.
| Collocation | Example Sentence |
|---|---|
| Give a smile | She give a smile when she saw her friend. |
| Give a laugh | The comedian give a laugh to the audience. |
| Give a cry | The baby give a cry because he was hungry. |
| Give a sigh | He give a sigh of relief after finishing the test. |
| Give a gasp | She give a gasp when she saw the surprise. |
| Give a shudder | He give a shudder at the thought of the accident. |
| Give a cheer | The crowd give a cheer when the team won. |
| Give a shout | He give a shout to his friend across the street. |
| Give a yell | She give a yell when she saw the spider. |
| Give a groan | He give a groan when he heard the bad news. |
| Give a start | The loud noise give a start to everyone. |
| Give a wink | She give a wink to show she was joking. |
| Give a nod | He give a nod to show his agreement. |
| Give a stare | He give a stare at the stranger. |
| Give a glance | She give a glance at the clock. |
| Give a look | He give a look of surprise. |
| Give an impression | He give an impression of confidence. |
| Give an appearance | He give an appearance of being busy. |
| Give a feeling | The music give a feeling of nostalgia. |
| Give a sense | The book give a sense of what it was like to live in the past. |
| Give a reaction | She give a reaction of surprise. |
| Give a response | The company give a response to the customer’s complaint. |
| Give an excuse | He give an excuse for being late. |
Usage Rules for “Give” Collocations
Using “give” collocations correctly requires understanding certain usage rules. These rules govern the grammatical structure and context in which these collocations can be used.
Pay close attention to the specific nouns that collocate with “give” and avoid substituting them with synonyms that may not sound natural.
1. Article Usage: When using “give” with countable nouns, remember to use the appropriate article (a/an/the). For example, “give a speech,” “give an example,” and “give the book.” The choice of article depends on whether the noun is specific or general.
2. Singular vs. Plural: Pay attention to whether the noun is singular or plural. Some nouns, like “advice” and “information,” are generally uncountable and do not have a plural form. Therefore, you would say “give advice” or “give some advice,” but not “give advices.”
3. Prepositions: Certain “give” collocations require specific prepositions. For example, “give something to someone” (Give the book to John) or “give someone something” (Give John the book). Using the wrong preposition can change the meaning or make the sentence grammatically incorrect.
4. Verb Tense: Ensure that the verb “give” is in the correct tense to match the context of the sentence. For example, “I gave a presentation yesterday” (past tense) or “I will give a presentation tomorrow” (future tense).
5. Formal vs. Informal: Be aware of the formality of certain collocations. Some “give” collocations are more formal than others. For example, “give an account” is more formal than “give a description.”
Common Mistakes with “Give” Collocations
One of the most common mistakes is using incorrect nouns with “give.” For example, saying “give a suggestion” instead of “make a suggestion.” It’s important to learn which nouns naturally collocate with “give” and avoid using synonyms that don’t fit. Another common mistake is using the wrong preposition.
For example, saying “give to someone advice” instead of “give advice to someone.” Pay attention to the correct word order and preposition usage to avoid these errors.
Another frequent error is using the wrong article or plural form. For example, saying “give advices” instead of “give advice” or “give a information” instead of “give information.” Remember that some nouns are uncountable and do not have a plural form.
Additionally, learners often struggle with verb tense. Using the incorrect tense can change the meaning of the sentence.
Ensure that the verb “give” is in the correct tense to match the context.
Here are some examples of common mistakes and their corrections:
| Incorrect | Correct |
|---|---|
| Give a suggestion | Make a suggestion |
| Give to someone advice | Give advice to someone |
| Give advices | Give advice |
| Give a information | Give information |
| I giving a presentation | I am giving a presentation |
Practice Exercises
Complete the following sentences with the correct “give” collocation. Choose from the words in the box below.
Words: advice, a ride, a presentation, attention, a gift, a call, an explanation, a hand, respect, a smile
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| 1. Can you __________ to the airport? | Give a ride |
| 2. The teacher tries to __________ to each student. | Give attention |
| 3. She wanted to __________ to her friend to comfort her. | Give a hug |
| 4. My parents always __________ on important decisions. | Give advice |
| 5. I will __________ to my mom later today. | Give a call |
| 6. He is going to __________ on the project. | Give a presentation |
| 7. The company will __________ to the client. | Give a gift |
| 8. The teacher has to __________ about the lesson. | Give an explanation |
| 9. Can you __________ with moving the furniture? | Give a hand |
| 10. We should always __________ to our elders. | Give respect |
| 11. He __________ when he saw her. | Give a smile |
Exercise 2: Fill in the blanks with the correct form of ‘give’ and a suitable noun from the list.
Nouns: consideration, support, priority, example, chance, details, thought, loan, feedback, reason
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| 1. The bank decided to __________ to the small business. | give a loan |
| 2. The manager will __________ to your request. | give consideration |
| 3. The school will __________ to students with high grades. | give priority |
| 4. He needed to __________ for his absence. | give a reason |
| 5. She decided to __________ to his suggestion. | give a thought |
| 6. The teacher __________ on the students’ essays. | give feedback |
| 7. Friends and family __________ during difficult times. | give support |
| 8. Can you __________ to illustrate your point? | give an example |
| 9. Everyone deserves to __________ to prove themselves. | give a chance |
| 10. The police asked her to __________ about the incident. | give details |
Exercise 3: Choose the correct collocation in each sentence.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| 1. He decided to (give a try / make a try) at solving the puzzle. | give a try |
| 2. The company aims to (give satisfaction / make satisfaction) to its customers. | give satisfaction |
| 3. The coach always (give praise / make praise) to the team after a good game. | give praise |
| 4. Parents should (give encouragement / make encouragement) to their children. | give encouragement |
| 5. We should always (give respect / make respect) to our elders. | give respect |
| 6. She decided to (give a suggestion / make a suggestion) at the meeting. | make a suggestion |
| 7. The detective tried to (give a clue / make a clue) to help solve the mystery. | give a clue |
| 8. He offered to (give a lift / make a lift) to his neighbor. | give a lift |
| 9. Can you (give a hand / make a hand) with carrying these boxes? | give a hand |
| 10. The volunteers (give food / make food) to the homeless every week. | give food |
Advanced Topics
For advanced learners, understanding the nuances of “give” collocations in different contexts is crucial. This includes recognizing formal versus informal usages, understanding idiomatic expressions, and using collocations appropriately in written and spoken English.
Advanced learners should also focus on expanding their vocabulary of “give” collocations beyond the basic examples covered in this guide. This can be achieved through extensive reading, listening to native speakers, and actively using new collocations in their own writing and speaking.
Additionally, exploring phrasal verbs with “give” can further enhance one’s understanding of the verb’s versatility. Phrasal verbs like “give up,” “give in,” and “give away” have distinct meanings that are different from the literal meaning of “give.” Mastering these phrasal verbs is essential for advanced English proficiency.
Another advanced topic is understanding how “give” collocations are used in specific professional contexts, such as business, law, or medicine. Each field has its own set of specialized collocations that are essential for effective communication.
FAQ
Q1: What are collocations, and why are they important?
A: Collocations are words that naturally occur together in a language. They are important because using the correct collocations makes your English sound more natural and fluent. Incorrect collocations can sound awkward or unnatural, even if they are grammatically correct. Mastering collocations helps you express yourself more accurately and effectively.
Q2: How can I learn more “give” collocations?
A: The best way to learn more “give” collocations is through exposure to the English language. Read books, articles, and websites, listen to podcasts and conversations, and watch movies and TV shows. Pay attention to the words that are used together with “give” and try to incorporate them into your own vocabulary. Use a dictionary or a collocation dictionary to check the accuracy of your usage.
Q3: Are there any specific resources for learning collocations?
A: Yes, there are several resources available for learning collocations. Collocation dictionaries, such as the Oxford Collocations Dictionary, are specifically designed to help learners find and understand collocations. Online resources, such as websites and apps, can also provide valuable practice and examples. Additionally, language learning textbooks often include sections on collocations.
Q4: What is the difference between a collocation and an idiom?
A: A collocation is a combination of words that frequently occur together, while an idiom is an expression whose meaning is different from the literal meaning of the individual words. Collocations are generally more predictable than idioms. For example, “give advice” is a collocation, while “kick the bucket” (meaning to die) is an idiom.
Q5: Can I use a synonym for the noun in a “give” collocation?
A: In some cases, you can use a synonym, but it’s important to be careful. Not all synonyms will collocate naturally with “give.” For example, you can say “give assistance” instead of “give help,” but you cannot say “give a suggestion” instead of “make a suggestion.” Always check a dictionary or collocation dictionary to ensure that the synonym is appropriate.
Q6: How do I avoid making mistakes with “give” collocations?
A: The best way to avoid mistakes is to study and practice using “give” collocations. Pay attention to the correct word order, article usage, and preposition usage. Use a dictionary or collocation dictionary to check the accuracy of your usage. Ask native speakers to review your writing and speaking and provide feedback.
Q7: Is it okay to use “give” collocations in formal writing?
A: Yes, many “give” collocations are appropriate for formal writing. However, it’s important to choose collocations that are suitable for the context and audience. Avoid using informal or slang collocations in formal writing. When in doubt, consult a dictionary or style guide to determine the appropriate level of formality.
Q8: How does understanding “give” collocations improve my English fluency?
A: Understanding “give” collocations significantly enhances your English fluency by allowing you to speak and write more naturally and accurately. When you use correct collocations, your language sounds more idiomatic and less forced. This makes it easier for native speakers to understand you and improves your overall communication skills. Mastering collocations also helps you avoid awkward or unnatural phrasing, which can disrupt the flow of conversation or distract the reader.
Conclusion
Mastering collocations with “give” is an essential step towards achieving fluency and accuracy in English. By understanding the different categories, usage rules, and common mistakes, you can confidently use “give” collocations in various contexts.
This guide has provided a comprehensive overview of “give” collocations, along with numerous examples and practice exercises to reinforce your learning. Remember to continue practicing and expanding your vocabulary of collocations to further enhance your English skills.
With dedication and effort, you can master “give” collocations and express yourself more naturally and effectively in English.