VERB + NOUN COLLOCATIONS

Yes, that’s right.

No, I don’t think so.

Maybe. I’m not sure.

1 If you can’t speak English, you can’t

get a good job.

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VERB + NOUN COLLOCATIONS

1 Dictation sentences

1 If you can’t speak English, you can’t get a good job.

2 You should never do business with your friends or family.

3 If you want to become rich, you have to take risks.

4 Successful business people do a lot of overtime.

5 Your work should always take priority over your family.

6 Big companies don’t care about their employees. They only care about
making a profit.

2 Put each word into the correct column in the table below.

a bonus business (with sb)

a break classes
a complaint overtime
a fortune priority
a job qualifications
a profit risks
an appointment training
an email work

do make get take

a job

3 Do you know any more nouns that collocate with the verbs do, make, get,
take (e.g. do your homework, make a mistake)? Write them in the table above.

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VERB + NOUN COLLOCATIONS

business a complaint a bonus priority

(do) (make) (get) (take)

overtime a fortune a job risks

(do) (make) (get) (take)

training a profit an email classes

(do) (make) (get) (take)

work an appointment qualifications a break

(do) (make) (get) (take)

business a complaint a bonus priority

(do) (make) (get) (take)

overtime a fortune a job risks

(do) (make) (get) (take)

training a profit an email classes

(do) (make) (get) (take)

work an appointment qualifications a break

(do) (make) (get) (take)

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VERB + NOUN COLLOCATIONS

Fill each gap with a verb in the correct form. Student A

1 I’d like to ………………….. a complaint.

2 It’s been a pleasure to ………………….. business with you.

3 You’ve been working too hard. ………………….. a break.

4 I ………………….. an email from him last week, but I haven’t replied yet.

5 She ………………….. a fortune in real estate.

6 If you want a good job, you need to ………………….. good qualifications.

7 New employees ………………….. one month’s intensive training before starting.

8 You must be willing to ………………….. risks to gain an advantage over competitors.

Write your own sentences. Test another student.

Answers
1 I’d like to make a complaint.

2 It’s been a pleasure to do business with you.

3 You’ve been working too hard. Take a break.

4 I got an email from him last week, but I haven’t replied yet.

5 She made a fortune in real estate.

6 If you want a good job, you need to get good qualifications.

7 New employees do one month’s intensive training before starting.

8 You must be willing to take risks to gain an advantage over competitors.

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VERB + NOUN COLLOCATIONS

Fill each gap with a verb in the correct form. Student B

1 I have some work for you to ………………….. .

2 The CEO ………………….. a $1 million bonus.

3 The company ………………….. a profit last year.

4 She wanted to learn to speak German, so she ………………….. evening classes.

5 He’s disappointed because he didn’t ………………….. the job at the bank.

6 Some employees were willing to ………………….. overtime at weekends.

7 The new project will ………………….. priority over other issues.

8 I ………………….. an appointment to see the Sales Manager.

Write your own sentences. Test another student.

Answers
1 I have some work for you to do.

2 The CEO got a $1 million bonus.

3 The company made a profit last year.

4 She wanted to learn to speak German, so she took evening classes.

5 He’s disappointed because he didn’t get the job at the bank.

6 Some employees were willing to do overtime at weekends.

7 The new project will take priority over other issues.

8 I made an appointment to see the Sales Manager.

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VERB + NOUN COLLOCATIONS

1 Did you have to ………………….. any training 2 Have you ever ………………….. a complaint
when you started your job? in a shop or a restaurant?

3 Do you ever have to ………………….. work 4 If you want to ………………….. an appointment

at home? (e.g. at the doctor’s or at a hairdresser’s),
what phrases can you use in English?

5 How much overtime do 6 Do you know anyone who …………………..

you ………………….. ? a fortune (e.g. by investing money in
the stock market)?

7 Which other companies does your 8 What kinds of businesses are …………………..
company ………………….. business with? the most profits these days?

9 Do you ………………….. a lot of emails? 10 Have you ever ………………….. evening classes?

11 Do you need to ………………….. qualifications 12 Are you the kind of person who
if you want to be a successful likes to ………………….. risks?
business person?

13 Can you remember how you 14 How often do you …………………..

………………….. your job? a break at work?

15 If you ………………….. a bonus from 16 If you have several things to do,

your employers, what would how do you decide which
you spend it on? should ………………….. priority?

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VERB + NOUN COLLOCATIONS

Fill each gap in the text with the correct collocation from the list below. Use the
Oxford Business English Dictionary to help you.

How to succeed in business

Many people think that (1) ………………….. a business is an easy way to get rich quick. In
reality it is a (2) ………………….. undertaking that can end in disaster. If you are thinking
about starting a company, make sure you are aware of the risks involved.

The biggest risk is bankruptcy. You will probably have to borrow (3) ………………….. to
get your business off the ground and unless you can (4) ………………….. these loans
quickly, your debts may end up spiralling out of control.

A new business can also take a heavy toll on your private life - most new entrepreneurs
work very hard for very little money. You won’t be able to (5) ………………….. staff until
you start (6) ………………….. a profit, so in the early stages it is you who will be
(7) ………………….. all the overtime.

Think carefully too about what it is you want to produce. It can be difficult to (8)
………………….. an established market, so try to come up with an original product or find
a (9) ………………….. that you can exploit.

Most experts agree that determination to succeed and good product are not enough–
you also need a coherent (10) …………………... You won’t be able to (11) …………………..
investment unless you set clear goals and (12) ………………….. your research.
So (13) ………………….. a business plan that includes sales forecasts and make sure you
know how to beat the competition.

If all of this doesn’t sound like too much of a challenge, go on and (14) …………………..
the plunge – you might just (15) ………………….. a fortune!

1 a) beginning b) going into c) opening d) setting up

2 a) great b) massive c) troublesome d) worrying
3 a) heavily b) in bulk c) substantially d) well
4 a) pay in b) pay off c) pay out d) pay up
5 a) take in b) take on c) take over d) take up
6 a) earning b) moving c) receiving d) turning
7 a) doing b) making c) providing d) taking
8 a) break down b) break into c) break through d) break up
9 a) break b) groove c) hole d) niche
10 a) design b) goal c) measure d) strategy
11 a) attract b) grab c) lure d) receive
12 a) do b) develop c) investigate d) make
13 a) draw down b) draw on c) draw out d) draw up
14 a) do b) get c) make d) take
15 a) create b) get c) make d) receive

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VERB + NOUN COLLOCATIONS

Your son is unemployed, he has no money One of your employees works too hard.
and he spends all day sitting at home doing Everyone else goes home at 5 o’clock, but
nothing. What do you tell him? she stays in the office until 10 or 11 every night.
Tell her to stop working so much!
You should get a job!
You shouldn’t do so much overtime.

I went on a business trip by train, but the journey was

terrible. The train was 3 hours late, I couldn’t I want to learn how to be a computer programmer,
get a seat, the restaurant car was closed and the toilets but I don’t want to teach myself. What should I do?
were all broken. I’m so angry! What should I do?
You should do some training.
You should make a complaint.

A customer has walked into your office and wants One of your employees looks very tired.
to talk to the manager. But the She has been working non-stop all day,
manager is very busy and doesn’t have time and she seems very stressed.
right now. What do you tell the customer? What advice would you give her?

You have to make an appointment. You should take a break.

Your husband/wife is working too hard. He/she is Recently you sold the shares you had in a
always in the office and never has time for you or very successful company. You’ve just
your children. Tell him/her that the family is more received a cheque for over £1million!
important than work! What do you tell your friends and family?

Our family should take priority! I’ve made a fortune!

Your friend wants to invest his life savings Your teenage daughter hates school and
in the stock market. You think it’s too she wants to leave. But if she doesn’t pass
risky – he could lose everything! What her exams, she’ll never be able to get a
do you tell him? good job. What do you tell her?

You shouldn’t take risks like that. You have to get some qualifications.

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