Phrasal Verbs, Idioms and Collocations

Have you already heard about these three topics above?

Do you know the difference among them?

Well, what we can say is that the more you get to know them, the more you will be able to speak English fluently as a native.

So let’s start:

Phrasal Verbs are the verbs which are formed by two words and we can use them when we want to have an informal conversation. By using them, you show that you can talk to natives in their own way (as well as using the idioms and collocations).

Examples:

To call off: to cancel

To find out: to discover some information

To get up: to arise from bed/couch/chair

To look after: to take care of somebody or something

Idioms are figures of speech that always play a trick on second language learners.

We must pay attention to them because they’re expressions compounded by two or more words and the real meaning doesn’t have anything to do with the isolated meanings of the words involved.

Examples:

Never mind: forget it

Take your time: no need to rush

Act your age: don’t be a child

How are you doing?: to ask somebody if everything is okay

Collocations are two or more words that are often combined. It’s a sequence of terms that is very used by native speakers. If you don’t use them correctly, probably people will understand what you mean, but it would sound unnatural for them.

Examples:

·         Money

Easy Money

Dirty Money

To make Money

To earn Money          

·         Door

Big Door

Sliding Door

To Shut the door

To unlock the door

After this explanation, we can now understand the difference among idioms, collocations and phrasal verbs. In spite of all this, we must bear in mind that all of them are very useful and can give us the fluency we wish.

The Collocations, Idioms and Phrasal Verbs help us to learn a more natural Spoken English.

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