Certain words ‘go together’. Such ‘word friends’ are called collocations. The collocation of a word is ‘the company it keeps’. For example, look at the paired sentences and phrases below. Which is a common collocation, and which one is odd? Strike out the odd sentence or phrase.
(a) • ‘How old are you?’ & How young are you?’
• a pleasant person • a pleasant pillow
Look at these words: upkeep, downpour, undergo, dropout, walk-in. They are built up from a verb (keep, pour, go, drop, walk) and an adverb or a particle (up, down, under, out, in). Use these words appropriately in the sentences below. You may consult a dictionary.
i) A heavy……. has been forecast due to low pressure in the Bay of Bengal.
II. Rakesh will …….major surgery tomorrow morning.
(iii) My brother is responsible for the ……..of our family property.
(iv) The ……rate for this accountancy course is very high.
(v) She went to the Enterprise Company to attend a ……..interview.
Now fill in the blanks in the sentences given below by combining the verb given in brackets with one of the words from the box as appropriate.
over by through out up down
i) The Army attempted unsuccessfully to (throw) the government
ii. Scientists are on the brink of a major…..in cancer research.(break)
iii) The State Government plans to build a……for Bhubaneswar to speed up traffic on the main highway. (pass)
iv. Gautama’s …..on life changed when he realised that the world is full of sorrow. (look)
v) Rakesh seemed unusually…..after the game. (cast)