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Collocations 1 Bookmark and Share

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A collocation is a phrase of two or more words which are generally used together to produce a special meaning. None of the words can be replaced by a similar word and leave the same meaning. For example, we can say a golden opportunity but not a silver opportunity. Opportunities can be good, wonderful, fantastic or golden, but not silver.

Look at the following sentences and choose the best choice for the collocation.

1. Many houses near the river were flooded yesterday as a result of the ____ rain over the last two days.
heavy
strong
powerful

2. I started work at 7.00 and finished at 9.00 in the evening. When I got home I was ____ exhausted.
very
absolutely
extremely

3. I told him that he would not pass the exam unless he ____ the effort to study harder.
had
made
did

4. John said that he should have the ____ share of the money because he had done most of the work.
horse's
wolf's
lion's

5. I've heard a lot of good things about you. Mary has been ____ your praises to me all morning.
singing
talking
shouting



6. At that time I had to work all day for very little money and then come home to a miserable cold flat where I lived alone. It was a ____ life.
cat's
goat's
dog's

7. Now that Aliha's passed her law exams so well she can get to the top of her profession. The sky's the ____ .
limit
end
boundary

8. I've got an important game tomorrow, so I'm going to have another training ____ this afternoon.
time
period
session

9. I sold my car as soon as I put it on the market. A man called up and made me a very ____ offer.
generous
rich
expensive

10. My brother was in an accident this morning. He was badly hurt and taken to hospital, but the doctor says that he's in a ____ condition.
steady
stable
fixed


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