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Collocations

Taken from:http://www.englishclub.com/vocabulary/collocations.htm

Tell me who you go with and I'll tell you who you are.

What is a collocation?

A collocation is two or more words that often go together. These combinations just sound "right" to native English speakers, who use them all the time. On the other hand, other combinations may be unnatural and just sound "wrong". Look at these examples:

Natural English...	Unnatural English...
the fast train fast food	the quick train quick food
a quick shower a quick meal	a fast shower a fast meal

Types of Collocation

There are several different types of collocation made from combinations of verb, noun, adjective etc. Some of the most common types are:

• Adverb + Adjective: completely satisfied (NOT downright satisfied)
• Adjective + Noun: excruciating pain (NOT excruciating joy)
• Noun + Noun: a surge of anger (NOT a rush of anger)
• Noun + Verb: lions roar (NOT lions shout)
• Verb + Noun: commit suicide (NOT undertake suicide)
• Verb + Expression With Preposition: burst into tears (NOT blow up in tears)
• Verb + Adverb: wave frantically (NOT wave feverishly)

In this lesson we look at some sample collocations, and end with quizzes to check your understanding:

• Sample Collocations
• Collocation Lists
• Do/Make Collocations Quiz
• Time Collocations Quiz

Advanced students and teachers may also be interested in the Advanced Collocations page.

Survival English

Taken from: http://edition.englishclub.com/category/survival/

Are you ready to travel abroad? You already know many words before you go. Words like hotel, taxi and police are international words and used in almost every country! Now you can learn and practise more key English words, phrases, questions and answers before you book your trip.

How To Go to a Walk-in Clinic
You don’t need to make an appointment to see a doctor at a walk-in clinic. Learn a few key expressions and questions before you get sick or injured.

How to Express Condolences
When an English friend’s loved one dies, take a moment to express your sympathy.

Parent-Teacher Interview English
Listen and read along to help prepare for your next parent-teacher interview.

How to Use an English Library
Let the library be your language partner in learning English.

English for Hot Weather
Useful vocabulary for surviving the heat in an English-speaking country. Includes audio.

How to Give Directions
You know how to ask for directions, but can you give them?

Satisfy your Sweet Tooth
What are you craving for dessert?

Grocery Shopping in English
Words, expressions and tips for grocery shopping in English.

How to Avoid a Parking Ticket
Parking tickets are pricey. Learn these English words, expressions, and tips about parking before you travel.

English for Earth-Friendly Travellers
Words and expressions that will help you stay earth-friendly while you are travelling

Taking a Taxi
There’s more to getting a ride than saying, “Taxi!”

English for Weddings
Weddings are a great place to listen to and practise your English. This vocabulary will help you enjoy their important day!

Taking the Bus
Don’t stand and worry at the bus stop. Learn these words and phrases and reach your destination on time.

English for the Holiday Season
‘Tis the season for saying “Happy Holidays” in English-speaking countries.

Internet Vocabulary: Abbreviations
Learn what Internet abbreviations stand for. It will help you remember the meaning.

Internet Vocabulary: Adjectives
5 adjectives you should know and understand when using the Internet in English

Internet Vocabulary: Verbs
The Internet is a hot topic. Learn 5 verbs related to the Internet. Then, take the Survivor Challenge.

Internet Vocabulary: Nouns
There is a lot of vocabulary to learn about the Internet. Learn 5 nouns in Part 1 of this series.

How to Order a Drink at the Bar
The bar can be loud and busy. It can be difficult for bartenders to hear and understand non-native speakers and vice versa. Know what you want to drink before you walk in.

Airport English
Airports are stressful. Learn the language you will need before you fly!

Animal Terms

Taken from: http://www.englishclub.com/vocabulary/animal-terms.htm

Below you'll find typical terms that we use to refer to some of the more common animals. In some cases there are additional terms not shown here. The collective terms describe groups of the animal and are also known as "terms of venery". (Easy List)

Animal	Plural	Male	Female	Young	Collective term (terms of venery)
ant	ants	winged male, aner	queen, worker	antling	a colony of ants, an army of ants
bat	bats	male	female	pup	a cloud of bats, a colony of bats
bear	bears	boar	sow	cub	a sleuth of bears, a sloth of bears
bee	bees	drone	queen, worker	larva, schadon, fry (plural noun)	a hive of bees, a swarm of bees
bird	birds	cock	hen	nestling, fledgling	a flock of birds, a flight of birds (in the air)
buffalo	buffalo, buffalloes, buffaloes	bull	cow	calf	a herd of buffalo
cat	cats	tom	queen	kitten	a clutter of cats
chicken	chickens	rooster	hen	chick	a brood of chickens, a flock of chickens
cow	cattle	bull	cow	calf	a herd of cattle
dog	dogs	dog	bitch	puppy, pup	a pack of dogs
dolphin	dolphins	bull	cow	pup	a school of dolphins
duck	ducks	drake	duck	duckling	a raft of ducks
elephant	elephants	bull	cow	calf	a herd of elephants
fish	fish, fishes	male	female	fry (plural noun)	a school of fish
fox	foxes	dog, reynard	vixen	cub	a troop of foxes, an earth of foxes
frog	frogs	male	female	tadpole, froglet	an army of frogs, a colony of frogs
goose	geese	gander	goose	gosling	a flock of geese, a gaggle of geese
goat	goats	billy (domestic), evec	nanny	kid	a flock of goats, a herd of goats
horse	horses	stallion, colt (young)	mare, filly (young)	foal	a herd of horses, a team of horses (in harness), a string of horses (for racing)
kangaroo	kangaroos	buck	doe	joey	a mob of kangaroos, a troop of kangaroos
lion	lions	lion	lioness	cub	a pride of lions
monkey	monkeys	male	female	infant	a troop of monkeys
owl	owls	male	female	owlet	a parliament of owls
ox	oxen	bull, steer (castrated)	cow	calf	a herd of oxen, a drove of oxen (when driven in a group), a team of oxen (in harness)
penguin	penguins	male	female	chick	a colony of penguins
person	people	man	woman	baby, infant	a crowd of people
pig	pigs	boar	sow	suckling, piglet	a herd of pigs, a flock of pigs
rabbit	rabbits	buck	roe	bunny, bunny rabbit	a colony of rabbits, a nest of rabbits, a warren of rabbits (strictly, where they live)
sheep	sheep	ram	ewe	lamb	a flock of sheep
tiger	tigers	tiger	tigress	cub, whelp	a streak of tigers, an ambush of tigers (fanciful*)
whale	whales	bull	cow	calf	a school of whales, a shoal of whales, a pod of whales (smaller groups)
wolf	wolves	dog	bitch	cub	a pack of wolves, a herd of wolves
zebra	zebra, zebras	stallion	mare	foal	a cohort of zebra, a herd of zebra

*Some collective terms are fanciful or invented, for example: an ambush of tigers, a wilderness of monkeys, a zeal of zebra

Easy list of animal terms

English for babies and toddlers

Welcome to these English for Babies and Parents pages, where you and your baby can practise English together. Here you will find simple stories, rhymes, games and recommended materials to help you introduce English to your baby or toddler. The audio sections will help you learn the songs and rhymes so that you can teach them to your baby.

Native English parents may also use these pages with their young children. Browse through the lessons to find songs, rhymes, and activities to use throughout the day as your child learns her native language.

Toys | Animals | Body | Nature | Food |
Family | Colours | ABC | 123

English for Work

These are pages for people working in industries or organizations where it is often necessary to speak English. Many of these pages have quizzes for you to test your comprehension and audio for you to listen to sample conversations.

	English for Cashiers
	English for Housekeepers
	English for Hotel Staff
	English for Airline Staff
	English for Food and Drink Staff
	English for Tour Guides
	English for Nurses and Medical Professionals
	English for Police

Industry-specific VocabularyShoemaking Vocabulary

Asking for Identification (ID) and Information

Taken from: http://www.englishclub.com/english-for-work/police-identification.htm

• May I see some photo ID?
• Can I see your passport?
• Driver's license, please.
• Do you have your birth certificate?
• How long have you been in the country?
• Are you here for a holiday?
• Do you have another piece of ID?

ID is different in every country

It is important to keep in mind that every country requires different documentation that proves someone's identification (ID). In many countries such as Greece and Spain a national ID card is compulsory. Citizens are expected to have these cards on them at all times. However, in other countries ID cards are not required. Police and officials in these countries often use another system to identify people, such as asking for two pieces of ID.

Types of ID

• Passport
• Government-issued Photo ID card
• Driving licence/Driver's license
• Birth certificate
• Permanent residence card
• Social security card
• Medical/Health card
• Voter registration card

Information/security items that may appear on documentation

bar code	a series of thick and thin black lines that holds computerized information
Date of birth (DOB)	date when the ID holder was born: day/month/year: 23/05/1970 (23rd May 1970) month/day/year: 05/23/1970 (23rd May 1970) year/month/day: 1970/05/23 (23rd May 1970)
Date of Issue	date when documentation was created
Eye colour	blue, brown, green, black, grey
Fingerprint	markings of a person's thumb or finger tip
Height	how tall a person is in centimetres or feet and inches
Hologram	a laser photograph which makes a picture or image look life-like
Magnetic stripe	a long black stripe found on the back of a card that can be swiped into a computer for information
Maiden name	a woman's surname before marriage
Marital status	single, married, divorced (no longer married), separated, common law wife, common law husband
National status	citizenship (native citizen, immigrant, landed immigrant, permanent resident, refugee)
Photograph	recent picture of ID holder
Place of birth	city, country where ID holder was born
Profession	current job (doctor, teacher, retired)
Serial number or PIN (Personal Identification Number)	number that can be entered into government systems to find information about a person
Sex	M (male), F (female)
Signature	hand-written name of ID holder
Valid until/expiry date	the last date when an ID document can be used

Reading Exercise: Identity Fraud

Read the vocabulary and then try to fill in the blanks.

ID fraud	lying about one's identity
counterfeit	fake, not real
illegal immigrants	people who do not have government permission to live or work in a country
crack down on	to put a real stop to
authentic	real, true
identity theft	stealing someone else's identity for personal use (or sale)
underground	not publicly known, usually illegal
getting away with	not getting caught by police or the authorities
controversy	disagreement surrounding an issue

For police officers - Questioning a Witness

Taken from: http://www.englishclub.com/english-for-work/police-witnesses.htm

to witness (verb):	to see something happen
a witness (noun):	a person who sees something happen

Witnesses are valuable to the police. A witness is somebody who is actually present when something happens and sees what happens. The police usually like to question all witnesses as soon as possible after a crime, accident or other event.

Questions police ask witnesses

• Did you see what she was wearing?
• Did he have a weapon?
• Was the gun loaded?
• What kind of car was the thief driving?
• I will need to get a statement from you.
• How long ago did this happen?
• If you think of anything else, please notify us.

Description of a suspect

• He was wearing sunglasses.
• He had a mustache.
• He had a beard.
• She was dressed in black.
• She had a baseball cap on.
• She was wearing gloves.
• Hair: short, long, shoulder length, curly, straight, spiky, brown, blond, black, red, in a ponytail
• Body: skinny, fat, chubby, medium build, muscular, tall, short, average height

Sample Conversation

An ESL teacher working in Korea witnesses a bank robbery. The police question her as a witness...

Police:	I understand you were the key witness for the robbery.
Woman:	Yes, I was the only other person in the bank besides the tellers.
Police:	Are you okay to answer some questions for me?
Woman:	Sure. I don't know how much help I'll be. He made me get on the ground so I didn't get a very good look at him.
Police:	Was he carrying a weapon?
Woman:	Yes, he had a pistol in his back pocket. He threatened to use it, but I doubt it was loaded.
Police:	What makes you say that?
Woman:	He was just a kid. Probably fifteen or younger.
Police:	Can you describe him for me?
Woman:	He was Asian. Probably five foot six. He was wearing a baseball cap and sunglasses. I can't remember what else he was wearing.
Police:	Did he talk directly to you? I mean, did he ask you for your money or anything?
Woman:	No, he just told me to get on the ground. That's all I know. I'm running late for a class. Is it okay if I go now?
Police:	I just want to get your name and phone number. If you think of anything else, please notify us.

For police officers - Traffic and Accidents

Taken from: http://www.englishclub.com/english-for-work/police-traffic.htm

Pulling over drivers

• Can I see your driver's licence and passport?
• Have you been drinking tonight?
• How much have you had to drink?
• How fast do you think you were going?
• Do you know what the speed limit is?
• Is this a rental car?
  
• You were driving too fast.
• You broke the speed limit.
• You were driving on the wrong side of the road.
• You're driving the wrong way in a one-way street.
• You were travelling too close to the car in front of you.
• You cut off another car.
• You didn't obey the traffic signals.
• You aren't wearing your seatbelt.
• You aren't allowed to park here.
  
• I'm going to keep your driving licence and give you a ticket. You can go to the police station to pay the fine. They will give your driving licence back to you.

Questions police ask an injured driver

• Are you hurt?
• Can you stand up/move?
• Where does it hurt most?
• How did the accident happen?
• Who was at fault?
• What did the other car look like?
• Is there someone you want to call?
• Don't worry. We've called an ambulance.

Sample Conversation

A Japanese police officer pulls over an American driver on the highway for speeding...

Police:	Can I see your driver's license please?
Man:	Ah, yeah. I think it's in my pocket. No. Maybe my wallet. Uh. Yeah here.
Police:	Do you know how fast you were driving?
Man:	No, sorry. It's a rental car. I'm not used to it.
Police:	Have you been drinking tonight, Mr. Davidson?
Man:	I had one or two drinks. I'm okay to drive, though. I know my limit.
Police:	How long have you been in Japan?
Man:	A few weeks, why?
Police:	It seems you are unaware of our zero tolerance for drinking and driving.
Man:	I'm not drunk. I'll blow into a breathalizer.
Police:	In Japan you cannot operate a vehicle after consuming any alcohol.
Man:	Oh, I didn't know that.
Police:	You were also going over the speed limit, Mr. Davidson. I'm going to have to ask you to step out of your vehicle and get into my car.
Man:	This is crazy. But what about my car?
Police:	We'll have the rental car towed to the agency. When you're in our country you have to respect our rules.

For police officers - Helping Tourists

Taken from: http://www.englishclub.com/english-for-work/police-tourists.htm

Questions tourists ask police

• I'm lost. Can you help me find the Pacific Hotel?
• I'm looking for the American Consulate/Embassy.
• My luggage/suitcase was stolen. What should I do?
• Who can we trust to exchange our money?
• Where is the bad part of town?
• Please help us. Our child is missing.

Questions police ask tourists

• Which hotel are you staying at?
• When did you lose your wallet?
• How much money was in your purse?
• What did the thief look like?
• What was the man wearing?
• Did he have a weapon?
• Where/When did you last see your child?
• How old is your child?
• What was your child wearing?

Comforting a tourist in distress

• Please stay calm. I am going to help you.
• We will do everything we can.
• I'll give you a map of the city.
• Try not to panic.
• I can give you a ride to the hospital.
• The ambulance is on its way.
• Don't worry, everything is going to be okay.

Sample Conversation

A Spanish police officer helps a British woman find her missing child...

Woman:	Help! Police!
Police:	What's wrong?
Woman:	My daughter is missing. I can't find her anywhere!
Police:	Okay. Calm down. I'm going to help you find her. What's her name?
Woman:	Erica. She's only five. She doesn't know how to speak Spanish!
Police:	Okay. What does Erica look like?
Woman:	She has brown curly hair. She's skinny and small for her age.
Police:	Okay. What is she wearing today?
Woman:	Blue shorts and a pink T-shirt. She has a hat on too, I think.
Police:	How long ago did she go missing?
Woman:	I've been looking for her for almost an hour now.
Police:	And where did you last see her?
Woman:	We were just shopping in the vegetable section. I turned around and she was gone.
Police:	Don't worry, everything is going to be okay.
Woman:	What should I do?
Police:	Stay right at the front of the store in case she comes looking for you. We'll start looking for her now.

Types of crime

Taken from: http://www.englishclub.com/english-for-work/police-crime.htm

Crime	Definition
abduction/kidnapping	taking a person to a secret location using force
armed robbery	using a weapon to steal
arson	setting fire to a place on purpose
assault	hurting another person physically
attempted murder	trying to kill someone (but failing)
burglary, breaking and entering	going into another person's home or business with force
child abuse	injuring a child on purpose
domestic violence	physical assault that occur within the home
drug trafficking	trading illegal drugs
drunk driving	driving after having too much alcohol
fraud	lying or cheating for business or monetary purposes
hijacking	holding people in transit hostage (usually on a plane)
murder/homicide	taking someone's life through violence
shoplifting	stealing merchandise from a store
smuggling	bringing products into a country secretly and illegally
speeding	driving beyond the speed limit
terrorism	acts of crime against a group (political/religious) or another country
theft	stealing
torture	extremely cruel and unfair treatment (often towards prisoners)
vandalism	damaging public or private property (for example with spray paint)
white collar crime	breaking the law in business

Types of punishment

Punishment (example offence)	Definition
traffic ticket (speeding, parking)	leaves marks on driving record/involves paying a fine
license suspension (drunk driving)	driving rights are removed for a certain period of time
fine (hunting out of season)	pay money as punishment for minor/petty crime
house arrest (a young offender who is waiting to go to court)	remain in one's home for a certain period of time
community service (a youth that steals a car for the first time)	do volunteer work such as teaching children about crime or cleaning up garbage
jail time (man who assaults his wife)	spend a certain amount of months or years locked away from society
life in prison (a woman who commits homicide)	spend the rest of one's life in prison with no chance of going back into society

Crime and Punishment

A crime is a serious offence such as murder or robbery. A punishment is a penalty imposed on somebody who is convicted of a crime. A punishment could be, for example, time in prison or a fine.

There is an important difference between criminal law and civil law.
Criminal law deals with matters such as murder.
Civil law deals with matters such as contracts or divorce.
The police are not normally involved in civil law.

Questions from law breakers or suspected criminals

• Why did you pull me over?
• Have I done something wrong?
• Is this illegal?
• What are my rights?
• Can I call a lawyer?
• Where are you taking me?
• Can I make a phone call?

Questions police may ask a suspected criminal

• Are you carrying any illegal drugs?
• Do you have a weapon?
• Does this belong to you?
• Whose car is this?
• Where were you at eight last night?

Informing someone of laws and police procedures

• You are under arrest.
• Put your hands on your head.
• I am taking you to the police station.
• Please get in the police car.
• You will have to pay a fine for this.
• I will give you a warning this time.
• I'm going to write you a ticket.
• We'll tow your car to the station.
• Smoking in restaurants is illegal in this country.
• It is against the law to do drugs in public.

Taken from: http://www.englishclub.com/english-for-work/police-crime.htm

Police vocabulary

Tourists | Traffic | Witnesses | Identification

Taken from: http://www.englishclub.com/english-for-work/police-vocabulary.htm

Vocabulary part of speech		Meaning	Example sentence
arrest verb		take into police control	My partner arrested the man who set fire to the building.
assailant noun		person who assaults or attacks	Did you see the assailant run away?
at large (on the loose) preposition + adjective		not caught, running free	I'm afraid that the man who robbed the bank is still at large.
armed and dangerous adjective		is carrying a weapon and has a violent background	Do not approach the thief if you see him. He is considered armed and dangerous.
back-up noun		police that are called in to support or help	We're calling for back up now that we know she has a gun.
bail noun		large amount of money that someone pays as a promise to appear in cour	Your husband's bail is posted at 20, 000 dollars.
baton (night stick) noun		heavy stick that police use for controlling crowds or defending themselves	No, we don't carry guns. We only havebatons.
book someone verb		register someone as a criminal	We're taking your brother down to the station to book him.
break into verb		enter a residence, car, or business illegally	Do you have any idea who would havebroken into your car?
burglar noun		a person who breaks into a home or business and steals items	We think the burglar got in through your chimney.
cell noun		individual room in a jail/prison	We'll have to keep you in a cell until someone comes to pay your bail.
convict noun		a person who is doing (or supposed to be doing) jailtime	Please be aware that there is a convict on the loose.
cop/copper noun		police officer (common slang)	Did somebody here call the cops?
criminal record noun		a file that lists all of the crimes a person has committed	We don't allow anyone with a criminal record into our country.
crime scene noun		the place where a crime happened	Please stay outside the yellow tape. This is acrime scene.
cruiser (squad car) noun		police car	Please step out of your vehicle and get into the police cruiser.
(in) custody noun		under police control	You will be happy to know that we have taken the kidnapper into custody.
DUI/DWI		(Driving Under the Influence/Driving while Intoxicated). Driving after drinking too much alcohol	Your record says that you have two previousDUIs.
detective noun		police officer responsible for solving crime	The detective is going to ask you a few questions about the man's appearance.
do time verb + noun		receive punishment for a crime by spending time in jail	You won't be required to do any time but you will have to pay a fine.
domestic dispute adjective + noun		argument/trouble in the home(often leads to violence)	We've had a number of calls reporting adomestic dispute in your hotel room.
escape verb		get away from a holding place	If you try to escape we will have to restrain you with handcuffs.
felony noun		a major crime (e.g. murder)	Murder is considered a felony and is punishable by life in prison.
fine noun		money that a person pays for breaking a law	You can get charged a large fine forspeeding in a school zone.
fingerprints noun		marks left by fingers that identify a person	We're going to have to check your personal belongings for fingerprints.
firearms noun		weapons that shoot	It is illegal to carry unregistered firearmssuch as rifles and pistols.
gang noun		a group of people often associated with crime and drugs	Stay away from this area at night as there is a lot of gang activity.
guilty adjective		responsible for a crime, deserving of punishment	You will be considered innocent until you are proven guilty.
handcuffs noun		metal rings that attach to wrists to keep criminals (or the accused)from escaping	We put your boyfriend in handcuffs, because we saw him climbing through your window and thought he was an intruder.
innocent adjective		not responsible for the crime	We'll believe you are innocent when you show us your receipt for the items in the bag.
intruder noun		a person who enters a home or business illegally	Someone called to report an intruder on the third floor.
jail (prison) noun		a place where criminals are confined	The guards will be patrolling the prison all day long.
misdemeanor noun		a minor crime (punishment is usually a fine or less than one year in jail)	Stealing a road sign is considered amisdemeanor,but is punishable by a large fine.
noise complaint noun		a call to the police to complain of disturbing noise (usually music or a party)	Two of your neighbours have made a noise complaint tonight.
partner noun		another officer that a policeman drives and works with	I'm going to get you to tell your story to mypartner.
patrol (on patrol) verb		observe and protect an area	We always patrol the downtown core on the weekends.
perpetrator noun		person who committed the crime	The perpetrator is still at large.
pickpocket noun		a thief who steals from people's pockets in transit or in crowds	Beware of pickpockets on the subway.
pistol noun		a hand held firearm	Our local cops carry pistols but rarely use them.
pursuit noun		the act of searching for	We are in pursuit of a man in a green jacket and orange pants.
radar noun/adjective		radio wave transmission that helps police track cars and map crime scenes	According to our radar you were driving well above the speed limit.
robbery noun		theft; taking something that does not belong to you, often with force	We have twenty officers investigating the bank robbery.
speeding ticket noun		a fine given to a driver who gets caught driving beyond the speed limit	Your license shows a clean driving record except for one speeding ticket from five years ago.
steal verb		to take something that does not belong to you	Do you know who stole your wallet?
street crime noun		crime such as drugs and prostitution	Don't give the beggars any money. You will only be promoting street crime.
thief noun		somebody who steals	We have found the thief who stole your car.
walkie-talkie noun		hand held radio each partner carries	My partner told me your license plate over hiswalkie-talkie.
wanted adjective		being searched for by police	A man from your hotel is wanted for his involvement in a murder.
witness verb		to see something happen	Three people witnessed the murder but they are afraid to speak.
young offender (juvenile delinquent) noun		a minor who commits a crime (usually under age of 18)	Your punishment will be less severe because you are a young offender.