Vocabulary

Generally, our ability to communicate and express our ideas or emotions effectively depends on our knowledge of vocabulary. In this lesson, we will be looking at vocabulary in context. Context defines the situation or the intent of using a particular vocabulary to express an idea. The meaning of a word varies from one situation to another. Hence, having knowledge of a word alone is not enough but knowing the various way that a word can be used to express various ideas is what is important. Follow me as we explore the world of vocabulary in context.

Vocabulary refers to the total set of words and their corresponding meanings known to an individual in order to communicate effectively. It is the total number of words we know and use to communicate or express our ideas effectively. Vocabulary tells us how words should be used, spelled and even pronounced. Your knowledge of vocabulary is the surest way to learn effectively and understand ideas expressed in texts. We are going to look at the various ways we can learn vocabulary in context. Your ability to follow the lesson carefully will help you learn and acquire vocabulary easily.

To put the matter of vocabulary into numbers is difficult. Researchers suggest that the average English speaker has between 20000 and 30000 words in use, although this is a notoriously difficult subject to be accurate about. The following article provides some insights:https://wordcounter.io/blog/how-many-words-does-the-average-person- know#:~:text=The%20study%20(which%20was%20based,a%20day%20until%20 middle%20age Various Aspects of Vocabulary Meaning of Words Meaning of words is understanding the concepts, ideas or definitions associated with words and phrases. The meaning of a word can be literal (direct) or literary (figurative).

Table 15.1: Some examples of meaning of words.

It is important to know that, literal meaning refers to the meaning of the word in a dictionary while that of figurative or literary meaning is the deeper meaning of a word or a phrase and mostly requires much reasoning. Click on the YouTube link below to learn more.

https://youtu.be/bhmuF0y24N8?t=30 Word Usage Word usage refers to the way or manner in which words are used in a particular context or situation. It shows how you should use a word or a phrase in a specific context.

Understanding word usage will help you make the right choice of register (whether formal or informal) to communicate appropriate meaning, tone and context. Example of word usage is illustrated below:

Figure 15.7: An image on correct word usage Contextualisation Contextualisation simply refers to the meaning of words according to the idea they express in a particular text. It is understanding how words relate and the specific contexts in which they can be used to enhance clarity and convey meaning, thereby preventing misunderstanding and removing ambiguity. It also includes adapting language (words or phrases) to suit various situations or context. For example, the words bank and table can be used in different contexts to convey different meaning as shown below.

1. The money has been deposited at the bank. (“bank”- the place where financial transaction is undertaken)

2. The family played football at the bank of the river. (“bank”- the shore of a river)

3. Put the box under the table. (a piece of furniture, used as a noun)

4. The member of parliament tabled a motion of no confidence against the government. (“tabled” used as a verb)

Figure 15.8: Diagram showing related context words of farm and market Collocation Collocation refers to a pair or sets of words that are mostly used together. Once you use one, the other ones follow. That is, it refers to words that naturally go together to make complete meaning or expressions. It is important to know that some words fit together and some words don’t. This will help you know whether you are using the right expression or not. We have some examples in the table below.

Table 15.2: Examples

Perform the Activity 15.5 to measure your progress.

Activity 15.5 Identifying vocabulary in a given passage

1. Read the passage below carefully and identify all the vocabulary you do not understand.

2. Use your dictionary to look up for the various meanings of the vocabulary.

3. Select 5 of the words and make a poster of their meanings with one sentence each.

As I walked through the desolate landscape, I stumbled upon a quaint little village. The villagers were fastidious about their work, carefully crafting each piece of furniture. The air was filled with the pungent smell of freshly baked bread. As I sat down to rest, I noticed a serene lake in the distance, its calm waters reflecting the beauty of the surrounding mountains. There was a languorous feeling throughout.

Synonyms They are words that are nearly similar in meaning to another and can be used interchangeably. It is one way of learning vocabulary to help improve our communication. Read the examples that follow to learn more.

Examples

a. Big – Large, enormous, huge, massive

b. Happy – Joyful, cheerful, content, delighted

c. Fast – Quick, speedy, rapid, swift

d. Important – Significant, essential, vital, crucial

e. Start – Begin, commence, initiate, launch

f. Old – Ancient, elderly, aged, senior

g. Beautiful – Pretty, attractive, stunning, gorgeous

h. Angry –Irritated, furious, irate, enraged, mad

i. Smart – Intelligent, clever, bright, brilliant j. Small –Tiny, little, miniature, minute Having awareness of synonyms of words will help you acquire vocabulary with ease.

Antonyms You can also learn about vocabulary in context through antonyms. Antonyms are words that are opposite in meaning to another. Look at the examples to learn about words and their antonyms.

Examples

a. Big – Small, little, tiny

b. Happy – Sad, upset, miserable

c. Fast – Slow, sluggish, unhurried

d. Important – Trivial, unimportant, insignificant

e. Start – End, finish, stop

f. Old – New, young, fresh

g. Beautiful – Ugly, unattractive, plain

h. Angry – Calm, peaceful, happy

i. Smart – Dull, foolish, unintelligent j. Easy – Hard, difficult, challenging When you want to learn vocabulary, don’t only consider the meaning of the word but also how that word can express ideas that are nearly opposite in meaning.

Now, study the picture below to look at words, their synonyms and antonyms.

Figure 15.9: An image of some words with their synonyms and antonyms The activity below will help test your knowledge on synonyms and antonyms of words.

Activity 15.6 Finding Word Relations Such as Synonyms and Antonyms

1. Find two words each that are synonyms and antonyms of the words in the table.

Form one sentence each to illustrate synonyms and antonyms.

2. Was that trickier than you expected? Continue to read online about other ways we can learn about vocabulary in context as we continue our discussion.

Homonyms Homonyms are also some of the aspects of vocabulary. They are words that are spelled and often pronounced the same but have different meanings.

Examples

a. Mean (not nice), mean (average)

b. Rock (stone), rock (genre of music)

c. Pen (place for keeping animals), pen (writing instrument)

d. Bark (the sound a dog makes), bark (a tree outer layer)

e. Book (something to read), book (making reservation)

f. Current (up to date), current (flow of power)

g. Bank (financial institution), bank (shore of a river/sea)

Note: Click the YouTube video link below to learn more on homonyms.

https://youtu.be/fDuX7GwqUkM?t=31 Homophones They are words that are pronounced the same but often have different spellings and meanings.

Examples

a. Sea (ocean), See (to look).

b. Buy (to purchase), By (near), Bye (farewell).

c. Mail (post), Male (gender).

d. Flour (used in baking), Flower (a plant bloom)

e. Principle (rule), Principal (head of a school).

f. Night (period of darkness), Knight (a title of honour)

g. Two (the number), Too (adverb meaning ‘also’), To (preposition).

h. Plain (simple), Plane (aircraft).

i. Meet (to encounter), Meat (food).

Idioms They are phrases or expressions with figurative meanings. Often used in informal language, they are culturally specific, and their meanings cannot be gleaned from the individual words alone. They are used to add colour, wit and richness to a language, making it more expressive and engaging.

Table 15.3: Examples

Having knowledge of idioms and idiomatic expressions will help enrich your communication. Assess your progress by performing Activity 15.7.

Activity 15.7 Forming idioms and idiomatic expressions Combine the words on the flash cards to form the appropriate idioms or idiomatic expressions. Use each of them to form a sentence. Have fun!

Let us continue our discussion on vocabulary in context.

Connotations They refer to the meanings or ideas words convey beyond the literal. They have symbolic and cultural associations or representations which can be positive (that is words that evoke pleasant associations), negative (that is words the evokes unpleasant associations) or neutral (words that carry neither positive nor negative emotions).

Table 15.4: Examples

Register Register deals with the differences in the use of vocabulary based on the situation or context (formal and informal). For instance, register will help you know the choice of words or vocabulary to use when speaking to your school principal and the word choice when having conversation with your friends. Register is the use of language to suit different situations and levels. (Refer to notes from previous section for more information).

Figure 15.10: A picture displaying the linkages of Register Semantic Relationship It refers to the connection in meaning between words and phrases. The connection explains how words are linked based on meaning, thereby helping in making an impact in speech or writing. Semantic relationships are foundational in linguistics, vocabulary learning, and fields like information retrieval and artificial intelligence.

Examples

a. Synecdoche – It is using a part of an object to represent a whole.

Table 15.5: Examples

b. Metonymy is a word or phrase used to refer to something closely associated with it, rather than directly naming it. This is not a part-whole relationship but one of association or substitution.

Examples

a. Crown to represent monarchy or rulership

b. Suit to refer to a businessperson

c. The Jubilee House represents Ghana’s seat of government This should have been a fruitful discussion. You have learned about cultural perspectives in communication and vocabulary in context. You are encouraged to read more about the two areas to learn more on your own. Before we end, perform the activity below.

Activity 15.8 Underline the word that matches the meaning expressed

1. Something large: a) curious b) enormous c) list d) discover

2. To find something: a) charity b) invited c) discover d) measure

3. To do something over and over again:

a) ignore b) clam c) miserable d) repeat

4. To be sad or upset: a) miserable b) control c) decide d) instead

5. Something that is not true: a) fade b) false c) enable d) engage

In this section, we will turn our attention to an essential aspect of language: vocabulary, with a special focus on synonyms. Understanding synonyms will not only enrich your language but also enhance your communication skills, allowing you to express yourself more precisely and creatively. By exploring words that have similar meanings, we can expand our vocabulary, improve our writing and make our conversations more engaging. Throughout this lesson, we will focus on various examples of synonyms, practise identifying them in different contexts and discuss how to incorporate them effectively into our speech and writing. Mastering the use of synonyms is a valuable tool in your linguistic toolkit. Get ready to discover the power of synonyms and how they can transform your expression.

KEY IDEA

Synonyms are words that have the same meaning as other words.

Synonyms A synonym is a word or phrase with the same or nearly the same meaning as another word or phrase. In other words, synonyms are words/phrases that can be used interchangeably in a particular context without altering the meaning of the sentence.

For example, the adjective ‘beautiful’ can be varied in an essay by using synonyms like stunning, lovely, gorgeous and attractive. Study the images below, which show some examples of synonyms.

Figure 18.1: Images showing some examples words and their synonyms Are synonyms meaningful in our day-to-day speaking and writing? Yes, they are. Let us study the importance of using synonyms.

Importance of Synonyms

₁. Use of synonyms is a demonstration of extended vocabulary. This knowledge helps you to vary your expressions by using alternative words.

2. The use of synonyms enhances communication as repetition is avoided, bringing clarity and quality to your expressions or essays.

For example:

Repeated use Enhanced use The teacher was happy because the students were happy.

The teacher was delighted because the students were happy.

The big house was huge and big. The big house was enormous and spacious.

3. The use of synonyms helps communicate exact meaning. Synonyms convey different shades of meaning as there are some fine distinctions between words, even between synonyms. The use of synonyms therefore enhances precision and accuracy in speech and writing.

For example:

Sentence: The new policy was difficult to implement.

Nuanced: The new policy was challenging to develop, but difficult to implement.

4. The use of synonyms adds depth and creativity to expressions, especially in storytelling, poetry and writing. For example, when you replace ‘walk’ with ‘stroll’, you create a more vivid image of a leisurely pace.

Other examples Word Synonym Depth of meaning Look Gaze Glance A steady, intent stare A quick, fleeting look Say Whisper Murmur A soft quiet tone A low, indistinct sound Run Sprint Dash A short, intense burst of speed A quick, energetic movement That was an interesting lesson. Let us do some activities.

Activity 18.1 Identification of Synonyms

1. Match words in group A to those of group B and C:

Serene Exact Peaceful

Resilient Tranquil Accurate

Vigilant Agile Alert

Nimble Watchful Persistent

Precise Tenacious Quick

2. What do you observe about the meanings of the words?

3. Share your findings with your peers.

Activity 18.2 Identification of Nuances of Meanings in Synonymous Words

1. With your peers, use a thesaurus, a dictionary or an online dictionary to look up the meanings of the words in each group.

2. Discuss the similarities and differences in meaning.

3. Are all the words that are similar in meaning truly the same? Use them in sentences.

Note: The more you consider the types of vocabulary usage here, the more clarity you can introduce into your speech and writing.

Now, pay attention to how to use synonyms effectively.

How to Use Synonyms Effectively

₁. You must understand the exact meanings of synonyms. As hinted earlier, words have different shades of meaning to the extent that seemingly similar words may have slight differences in meaning. For example, the words fast, quick, swift, rapid and brisk have a general meaning of speed but with subtle differences as explained below:

a. Fast – a general sense of speed

b. Quick – a sense of suddenness or promptness

c. Swift – a smooth or effortless speed

d. Rapid – a steady or continuous speed

2. Be guided by context. Choose synonyms that suit the context and tone of the speech or writing. Let us consider these two sentences:

a. The employee was very happy with the job offer.

b. The new employee was thrilled with the job offer.

It is observed that the synonym thrilled is used in the second sentence to convey a stronger sense of excitement and enthusiasm, which is more suitable for the context of receiving a job offer.

3. Do not overuse synonyms. Inasmuch as synonyms are important to vary language, overuse may render language artificial.

4. Use resources such as thesaurus, online dictionaries (such as Merriam-Webster Dictionary (an American dictionary which can give insight into US usage), the Oxford English Dictionary, Chambers Dictionary, (famed for its occasionally witty definitions), mobile applications (such as Thesaurus Rex, synonyms) and Browser extensions [such as Grammarly, Thesaurus (Chrome), Synonyms (Firefox)] to identify synonyms of words. But owing to nuances of meaning of words, be guided by the context of use to choose the correct or appropriate synonym.

5. Practise the use of synonyms in different contexts in speech and writing.

Click on the link below to learn more about synonyms https://englishgrammarhere.com/synonyms/60-synonyms-list-english-synonym- vocabulary-list/

Activity 18.3 Usage of Synonyms

1. Choose a word from the list provided. (angry, sad, excited, strong, slow, hungry)

2. Act out the word without speaking. You can use gestures, facial expressions and body language to convey the meaning. (This game is called Charades.)

3. Your friends will try to guess the word you are acting out.

4. Once someone correctly guesses the word, ask them to provide at least two synonyms for the word.

5. Repeat the process with different words and actors.

Note

• Be creative and have fun with your acting.

• Pay attention to your peers' guesses and provide feedback.

• Think of as many synonyms as possible for each word.

We continue our language journey. Here, we will grapple with the fascinating world of grammar, focusing on vocabulary, specifically antonyms. Understanding antonyms is crucial for enriching our language skills and enhancing our communication. Antonyms are words that have opposite meanings and they play a vital role in expressing contrast and nuance in our conversations and writing. By exploring various pairs of antonyms, we will learn how to use them effectively to convey our thoughts more clearly and vividly. Your ability to know how to use antonyms effectively can help you expand your vocabulary and enhance your communication skills. Prepare to engage in interactive

activities, discussions and exercises designed to help you identify and utilise antonyms in context. Let’s embark on this exciting exploration of words and their opposites and discover how they can add depth to or shape our language skills!

Key Ideas

• Antonyms are words that are opposite or nearly opposite in meaning to other words.

• Gradable antonyms are antonyms with several shades of meaning.

• Complementary antonyms are words with corresponding opposites. The presence of one implies the absence of the other.

• Relational antonyms describe the interconnectedness between words from opposite perspectives.

Antonyms are words that contrast each other in meaning. Hence, they are used to express opposition in language or words with contradictory connotations. Knowledge of antonyms will guide you to make comparisons between two different items or describe things from different perspectives. In this lesson, we are going to analyse the various types of antonyms and when to use them. The pictures below show words and their corresponding antonyms. Read through them and think about other examples of your own.

Figure 19.1: A picture showing definition and examples of antonyms Explore Activity 19.1 to assess your knowledge of antonyms. Have fun!

Activity 19.1 Identification of Antonyms

1. Study the word puzzle below carefully and search for the antonyms of the vocabulary on the word cards below.

2. Use each of the antonyms identified from the puzzle to form meaningful sentences and share with your friend or classmate.

I Y C C O W A R D T R T N T U T H T F A C Q T L D R C O N T R A C T T A I F W R Y F F D P H Q I F D G G E S Y G G T T N F C P I S H Q I H H G E E C R Q T F L Q W G G D R G T R T N T W T Y H G E P O F A R E T R E A T N W T E T Y H T H G D F C E M G O B S E C U R E E R T U Q P P T C V V B Was that complex in Activity 19.1? Now that we know what antonyms are, let’s look at the types with examples.

Types of Antonyms

1. Gradable antonyms Gradable antonyms are opposite words that exist on a scale and have degrees or shades of meaning. For example, between the antonyms, happy and sad, there are degrees of meaning like joyful and pleased (for happy) and, unhappy and depressed (for sad). It is observed in the examples that there is a gradual move from one extreme of meaning – ‘happy’ to another extreme – ‘sad’. Consider the examples that follow. Other examples can be seen in Table 19.1.

Table 19.1: Gradable antonyms Word Antonym Gradable Antonyms Clean Dirty Spotless, tidy, messy, filthy Old Young Ancient, elderly, middle-aged, juvenile Quiet Loud Silent, soft, moderate, noisy Expensive Cheap Costly, pricey, affordable, inexpensive Fast Slow Rapid, swift, moderate, sluggish

Figure 19.2: A picture illustration of gradable antonyms

2. Complementary Antonyms

They are words that are absolute opposites. There is no in-between; the absence of one implies the presence of the other. For example, alive and dead; once something or someone is dead, it is no longer alive.

Figure 19.3: A picture displaying the opposite of the word complementary Other examples

a. True and false

b. Single and married

c. Present and absent

d. Open and closed.

3. Relational Antonyms

Figure 19.4: A picture explaining relational antonyms Relational antonyms are words that describe a relationship from opposite perspectives. For example, there is an opposing relationship between a teacher and a student; while the teacher teaches, the student learns.

Other examples

a. Employer/ employee (an employer hires while an employee is hired.)

b. Doctor/ patient (a doctor treats while a patient is treated).

c. Parent/ child (a parent gives care while a child is cared for.)

d. Leader/ a follower (a leader guides while a follower is guided).

e. Landlord/ tenant (a landlord rents out while a tenant rents.)

We have just looked at the types of antonyms and you should be able to differentiate between them with examples. Before we continue the discussions on antonyms, you are encouraged to perform the activity below with your friends or classmates.

Activity 19.2 Role-Playing Certain Words to Predict Their Antonyms Role-play the vocabulary on the word cards and ask your friends or classmates to predict their antonyms. Have fun!

Let us extend our discussions to the functions of antonyms.

Functions of Antonyms

Antonyms play an important role in enhancing communication in general. They enable us to express ourselves with precision, show contrast in ideas and improve our vocabulary. This helps us build a deeper understanding and have impact communication.

1. The use of antonyms helps to bring out contrasts between words (communicating ideas, objects and concepts).

Examples

a. The new policy is a significant improvement over the old one. The old one was slow and inefficient, whereas the new one is fast and streamlined.

b. The dry harmattan weather is a stark contrast to the wet rainy months.

2. The use of antonyms provides precision and clarity. Knowledge of antonyms boosts vocabulary, which is being clarified.

Examples

a. The instructions were clear: if the light is red, stop; if it's green, go.

b. The doctor explained that the patient was alive, not dead, despite the initial reports.

3. Antonyms can be used to highlight a standpoint and intensify contrasting emotions or perspectives.

Examples

a. Loud music is not allowed in the quiet library atmosphere.

b. The delicious cake was a welcome treat after the bitter medicine.

4. Antonyms are used to facilitate debate and argument. They are used to present contrasting standpoints, thereby clarifying arguments and debates.

Examples

a. Some argue that capitalism is the best economic system, while others believe that socialism is more equitable.

b. The argument was over whether standardised testing is beneficial or harmful.

5. Antonyms are used to create and enhance literary and poetic devices like irony.

Examples

a. The dark and stormy night was the perfect setting for the bright and hopeful ending.

b. The sweet melody was a stark contrast to the bitter lyrics.

Figure 19.5: Examples of antonyms Wonderful! Soon, we have come to the end of our lesson on antonyms. You are encouraged to read more about antonyms to enhance your vocabulary and communication. Before we end, perform the Activity 19.3.

Activity 19.3 Understanding Different Pairs of Antonyms

1. Rearrange the words in Groups B and C to form the antonyms of the words in Group A Group A Group B Group C NEW Affordable Superficial DEEP Antiquated sluggish FAST Shallow old EXPENSIVE Leisurely cheap

2. Use each of the words in Group A with their corresponding words in Group B or C to form meaningful sentences.

3. Write your sentences on a flip chart and make a presentation to your friends or classmates.

Did you find the ideas here surprising? Keep being aware of antonyms when you are speaking and particularly when debating. Do not forget to answer the review questions.

We will study grammar with a specific focus on vocabulary, particularly word collocation. Understanding collocations - how words naturally pair and combine- can greatly enhance your language skills and make your speech and writing sound more fluent and natural. In this lesson, we will explore various common collocations, their meanings and how they function within sentences. You will learn to recognise patterns in word usage, which will not only expand your vocabulary but also improve your overall communication abilities. You will be equipped with practical strategies to incorporate collocations into your language practice effectively. Get ready to engage with interactive activities and exercises designed to reinforce your understanding and application of this essential grammatical concept.

KEY IDEA

Collocation refers to the combination of words in a manner that is natural and conforms to the principles of a language.

Collocation refers to the association between words. Collocation is made up of two or more words that are commonly used together in English. Usually, words move together, but they are not combined haphazardly. Instead, there are rules that govern how words are put together. They are how words conform to habitual usage and certain principles of the language. Some common collocations in English can be found in Table 22.1, which highlights their usage in various contexts.

Table 22.1: Collocations and their usage To make the bed I need to make the bed every day To do homework Perfect does her homework after dinner To take a risk Some people do not take enough risks in life To give someone advice The teacher gave us some advice on taking a test Collocations are often governed by patterns of habitual use rather than strict grammatical rules. The combinations are rooted in the natural flow and cultural norms of the language. Notwithstanding, certain principles can help to understand how words collocate.

Key Principles for Understanding Word Collocation

Words are put together based on grammatical compatibility. Words often follow predictable grammatical patterns or structure. Thus, a verb can move with a noun or a preposition.

Examples

1. Verb + Noun – Take a risk, write a letter, make a phone call, give a speech, have a meeting.

Figure 22.1: Some examples of collocations

2. Adjective + Noun – Heavy rain, Deep regret, beautiful day, difficult decision, new computer.

Figure 22.2: An image showing adjective + noun collocation

3. Verb + Preposition: Rely on, succeed in, apply for, wait for, wait on, deal with, look forward to.

Figure 22.3: An image showing verb + preposition collocation

4. Noun + noun – a bar of soap, garden chair, television set, gold watch, wooden bowl, kitchen table.

5. Adverb + adjective – perfectly normal, completely exhausted, totally fascinated, seriously ill, thoroughly enjoyable.

Figure 22.5: An image showing adverb + adjectives collocation

6. Verb + adverb – think critically, act wisely, play skilfully, analyse critically, write legibly Exciting lesson on word collocation! Let us do Activity 22.1.

Let us look at how important word collocation is in writing and speaking.

Importance of Collocations

₁. The correct use of collocations makes language sound natural and fluent.

Example

a. Natural – He made a mistake during the test.

b. Unnatural and wrong – He did a mistake during the test.

2. Collocations communicate meanings more accurately than individual words.

Example

Heavy rain, deserted town, intriguing story, socially awkward

3. Knowledge of collocations enriches vocabulary, enabling improved and effective expressions.

4. Recognising collocations boots understanding spoken or written language.

5. Knowledge of collocation allows for correct combinations of words thereby avoiding errors and miscommunication.

Activity 22.1 Identification of Types of Collocations

1. Match the words on the left with the words on the right to form common collocations:

Column A Column B

Dress interest Extremely a product look house Launch Up to Show Library Glass appropriately Quiet Fast

2. Identify the types of collocation. One has been done for you:

Dress appropriately V + Adv

Activity 22.2 Understanding and Identification of Collocation

1. Follow instructions to create a mind map with your friends like the visual below:

Instructions:

a. Start with a central word travel.

b. Branch out to related words (e.g., plane, hotel, tourist, car, and so on).

c. Connect these words to collocations (e.g., take a plane, book a hotel, be a tourist).

d. Continue branching out to more related words and collocations.

e. You can use colours, symbols and images to make the mind map visually appealing.

2. Discuss the questions below with your peers:

a. How do the words relate to each other?

b. What collocations can you identify?

c. Use collocations identified in sentences?

Activity 22.3 Forming Collocations and Usage

1. Use online mind mapping tools or applications to create a digital mind map.

2. With your friends, create a collaborative mind map.

3. Create a mind map on any of the themes – food, sports or music.

4. Gather your friends and act out a business meeting where ‘discussions are had’, ‘concerns are raised’, ‘consensus is reached’ or ‘decisions are taken’. Use specific word collocations.

Note

Click on the following links to learn more about collocation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hlv9HNKui4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwzzqCsYZeA https://www.thoughtco.com/collocation-examples-1210325 (You will hear English being spoken here with a North of England accent. English has a huge variety of accents which you will hear when you travel or from the media.)