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parts and frequently involves metaphorical meaning: the lions share, a pain in the neck, a fly in the ointment. Such idioms may also blend into proverbs and
proverbs provide a useful access into this subject for foreign learner.
2. Kinds of Collocation
Some researchers have described the kinds of collocation. However, they mention it in different words. Therefore, in this part, the writer would like to
explore some of the collocation types based on some researchers. According to Newmark 1981: 114-115, there are seven types of collocation. He calls it as
Syntagmatic Collocations. They are: 1.
Verb plus verbal noun. The verb is the collocation for which the translator must find the appropriate corresponding. The verbs in these collocations
simply have an operative function means ‘do’ and does not have particular meaning since the action is expressed in the noun. For example are ‘pay
attention’, ‘suffer a defeat’, ‘run a meeting’, ‘make a speech’, etc. 2.
Determiner plus adjective plus noun. The noun has to found the appropriate adjective. For example include ‘a brave man’, ‘a pretty boy’, ‘a young
woman’, etc. 3.
Adverb plus adjective. The most suitable adverb must be found in this collocation. These collocations tend to be cliché e.g. immensely important.
This combination is almost the same as “adjective plus adjectival.” For example are ‘damn hard’, or ‘bloody hard’, etc. This collocation is more
limited and much at the understanding of language style.
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4. Verb plus adverb or adjectives. The adverb or the adjective must be founf in
this collocation. For examples are ‘work hard,’ ‘run well,’ ‘shine brightly,’ ‘smell sweet,’ etc.
5. Subject plus verb. There are two groups. First, the noun and verb may
commonly attract each other. For example are ‘the dog barks,’ the cat purrs,’ the telephone rings’. In the second group, there is merely a fairly high
expectation that a particular verb will follow the subject. For example is ‘the door creaks’.
6. Count noun plus ‘of plus mass noun. This restricted collocation consists of a
term indicating a unit of quantity and the word for the substance it quantifies. For example are ‘a loaf of bread’, ‘a pinch of salt’, a cloud of dust’, etc.
7. Collective noun plus count noun. For example are a bunch of flowers’, a flock
of geese or sheep’, a pack of cards’, etc. Besides, Moehkardi 2002: 54 states that collocation divides into two
types. They are grammatical and lexical collocation. “Grammatical collocation consists of a noun or an adjective or a verb plus a particle a preposition, an
adverb or a grammatical structure such as an infinitive, a gerund or clause.” Bahns, 1993: 57 as cited by Moehkardi, 2002. Besides, grammatical
collocations include the combinations as follows Benson as cited by Moehkardi, 2002:
1. Noun combine with combinations of preposition,
2. Noun combine with to infinitive,
3. Noun combine with that-clause,
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4. Preposition combine with combinations of noun,
5. Adjective combine with combinations of preposition,
6. Predicate adjective combine with to infinitive,
7. Adjective combine with that clause,
8. Collocation verb patterns.
According to Nattinger and DeCarrico as quoted by Moehkardi 2002: 58, lexical collocations do not contain grammatical elements. There are fixed and
loose combinations especially in verb plus noun collocation. Fixed combinations of verb plus noun collocation is such as commit a murder and break the law. In
comparison, the loose combinations of verb plus noun collocation are such as analyzestudywitness a murder and practicestudy the law. There are seven types
of lexical collocations. They are shown as follows. 1.
Verb plus nounpronoun or prepositional phrase, 2.
Verb plus a noun, 3.
Adjective plus noun, 4.
Noun plus verb, 5.
Noun plus noun, 6.
Adverb plus adjective, 7.
Verb plus adverb. There are two important features of the occurrence of lexical collocation.
First, it is possible to put a word or several words between the lexical collocations. For example is in the lexical collocation collect stamps. It can be
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collect foreign stamps Greenbaum, 1970 as quoted by Moehkardi, 2002. Second, lexical collocation does not depend on grammatical types. For example is
in the collocation strong argument. It can be expressed He argued strongly or His argument was strengthened Halliday, 1966 as quoted by Moehkardi, 2002.
Some examples of verb with their collocation Firth, 2008 are shown as follows.
Table 2.1: Common Collocations
Some Common Collocations have
do make
have a drink have a haircut
have a holiday have a problem
have a relationship have a rest
have lunch have an agenda
do business do the cooking
do the housework do the shopping
do the washing up do your best
do your hair do your homework
make a difference make a mess
make a mistake make a noise
make an effort make money
make room make a speech
take break
catch
take a break take a chance
take a look take a rest
take a seat take a taxi
take an exam take notes
break a habit break a leg
break a promise break someones heart
break the ice break the law
break the news break the rules
catch a bus catch a chill
catch a cold catch a thief
catch fire catch someones attention
catch someones eye catch the flu
pay Save
keep
pay attention pay cash
pay interest pay a compliment
pay someone a visit pay the bill
pay the price pay respects
save electricity save energy
save money save someone a seat
save someones life save space
save time save the earth
keep a diary keep a promise
keep a secret keep an appointment
keep the change keep attention
keep focus keep confidence
come go
get
come to a compromise come to a decision
come to an agreement come to an end
come to a total of come a way
go fishing go online
go out of business go overseas
go sailing go shopping
get a job get a shock
get home get permission
get the impression get the message
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The other types of collocation Firth, 2008 are shown as follows.
1. Adverb plus adjective a
Invading that country was an utterly stupid thing to do.
b We entered a richly decorated room.
2. Adjective plus noun a
The doctor ordered him to take regular exercise.
b He was writhing on the ground in excruciating pain.
3. Noun plus noun a
Lets give Mr Jones a round of applause.
b Id like to buy two bars of soap please.
4. Noun plus verb a
The lion started to roar when it heard the dog barking.
b The bomb went off when he started the car engine.
5. Verb plus noun a
The prisoner was hanged for committing murder.
b I always try to do my homework in the morning, after making my bed.
6. Verb plus expression with preposition a
We had to return home because we had run out of money.
b Their behaviour was enough to drive anybody to crime.
7. Verb plus adverb a
She placed her keys gently on the table and sat down.
b Mary whispered softly in Johns ear.
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Besides, according to Hall 2008, another type of closed collocation is the formulaic utterance which is used in very specific
contexts. Examples are once upon a time, suffice it to say, unaccustomed as I am, be upstanding in court, time, gentlemen, please. A characteristic
of these formulae is that they allow us to predict the situation in which they will occur. A less fixed form of collocation is seen in such
combinations as heavy rain, uphill battle, pay attention. In examples of this kind one or other element may be substituted by a synonym: heavy
downpour, uphill struggle, pay heed.
3. Verifying Collocation
