Page 90 - English for Constitutional Law

Vocabulary Practice

Collocations

Do you know what collocations are? They seem challenging, don't they?

Collocations are necessary for speaking English, and we must learn them just like any
other vocabulary word. However, they are not difficult to learn. Collocation simply refers to a
"conventional word combination," therefore we might say “happy birthday” and not joyful
birthday. Or, long weekend rather than extended weekend.

Collocations are useful for General English because they make our language sound
more natural and help us comprehend what native English speakers are saying.

For instance, we speak of heavy rain as opposed to weighty rain; however, a weighty
issue as opposed to a heavy issue. And while we might say "thank you very much," "many
thanks," or "thanks a lot," we don't actually say "thank you a lot" or "lots of thanks."

The language of law is rife with collocations. They could be:

Verb + noun: do you accept liability?
Noun + verb: The gap has widened between them.
Verb + adverb: Could we please discuss this matter rationally?
Adjective + noun: She made a fatal error.
Adverb + adjective: This is a highly contentious dispute.

Exercise 1. Match these nouns in the box with the appropriate verbs. One verb may contain
one or more nouns. Number 1 has done for you as an example.

A contract Someone’s trust A command A patent Precedent
Someone’s trust A treaty A court order Privacy The case
Confidentiality A rule A right Sanctions Legal action
Security Speed limits Copyright Human rights The witness
The law An order A trademark A decision Judgment

1 Break the law
.
.
2 Breach
3 Infringe
.
.
4 Violate
5 . Disobey
.
6 Follow
.
7 Set
8 Hear
.
9 Take
.
1 0. Question
1 1. Pronounce

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