⚙️ Collocations with Common Verbs – Make, Take, Give, Do (IELTS Guide)

In IELTS Writing and Speaking, using basic verbs with the correct collocations shows that you are comfortable with natural, native-like English. Instead of memorizing advanced vocabulary, focus on mastering high-frequency collocations with verbs like make, take, give, and do. This guide gives you the most useful ones for exam use — with examples.

🧩 Collocations with “Make”

• Make a decision – “It is important to make a decision after careful analysis.”
• Make an effort – “Governments must make an effort to reduce emissions.”
• Make a mistake – “Students often make mistakes when under pressure.”
• Make a difference – “Even small actions can make a difference in society.”
• Make progress – “The country has made progress in healthcare reforms.”

📦 Collocations with “Take”

• Take responsibility – “Citizens must take responsibility for their actions.”
• Take action – “Immediate steps must be taken to take action against pollution.”
• Take part in – “Young people are encouraged to take part in community projects.”
• Take advantage of – “Many people take advantage of online education.”
• Take a break – “It is essential to take a break to maintain productivity.”

🎁 Collocations with “Give”

• Give an example – “To illustrate this point, I will give an example.”
• Give someone a chance – “Education gives everyone a chance to succeed.”
• Give feedback – “Teachers should give constructive feedback regularly.”
• Give a speech – “The mayor gave a speech on the importance of public transport.”
• Give priority to – “Governments must give priority to healthcare funding.”

🧹 Collocations with “Do”

• Do research – “Students are expected to do independent research.”
• Do your best – “You must do your best in every section of the IELTS test.”
• Do a job – “Volunteers can do a great job in cleaning the park.”
• Do homework – “Some students find it hard to do homework after school.”
• Do harm – “Factory waste does harm to the environment.”

📝 IELTS Writing Example

“In order to solve traffic congestion, authorities must make a decision quickly and take action by improving public transport. They should also give priority to pedestrian-friendly infrastructure.”

🗣️ IELTS Speaking Example

“I try to do my best at work, and I often take part in team-building activities. Last week, my manager even gave me feedback on how well I handled a project.”

🎯 Final Tips

• ✔️ Don’t mix verb + noun combinations (e.g., ❌ do a decision)
• ✔️ Learn these as fixed expressions to use naturally
• ✔️ Practice paraphrasing essay questions using collocations
• ✔️ Vary your vocabulary to avoid repetition

These high-frequency verb collocations appear in real IELTS tests. Mastering them will instantly improve your fluency and lexical range — and show the examiner that you’re ready for Band 7 or higher.

See also next Idioms for Expressing Opinions in Speaking Part 3

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