Advanced English Collocations in Use | Unit 10

Communicating

Complete each sentence with the appropriate word.

I wouldn't say __ to a nice cup of tea. [informal: I'd really like]

I wouldn't say no to a nice cup of tea. [informal: I'd really like]

Complete each sentence with the appropriate word.

__ to say that the workers voted in favour of the wage increase. (completely unnecessary)

It goes __ saying that the workers voted in favour of the wage increase.

Needless to say that the workers voted in favour of the wage increase.

It goes without saying that the workers voted in favour of the wage increase.

Complete each sentence with the appropriate word.

Jana didn't say a __ when I told her I was leaving.

Jana didn't say a word when I told her I was leaving.

Complete each sentence with the appropriate word.

__ speaking, people are aware of the environmental consequences of their actions. (overall)

Generally speaking, people are aware of the environmental consequences of their actions. (overall)

Complete each sentence with the appropriate word.

__ speaking, a tomato is a fruit and not a vegetable because it contains seeds. (being completely accurate)

Strictly speaking, a tomato is a fruit and not a vegetable because it contains seeds. (being completely accurate)

Complete each sentence with the appropriate word.

She always speaks very __ of you. [says good things about you]

She always speaks very highly of you. [says good things about you]

Complete each sentence with the appropriate word.

Charlie, stop mumbling and speak __. I can't understand a word you're saying.(generally used by parents or teachers to children, not between adults)

Charlie, stop mumbling and speak properly. I can't understand a word you're saying.(generally used by parents or teachers to children, not between adults)

Complete each sentence with the appropriate word.

Now we've got to know each other, I think it's time we talked __.

Now we've got to know each other, I think it's time we talked business.

Complete each sentence with the appropriate word.

At first, Andrew appears to be talking (1)__ but after a while you realise he's actually talking a lot of (2) __.
(1) to say things that are not reasonable or have no meaning;

(2) to speak in a reasonable way

At first, Andrew appears to be talking nonsense but after a while you realise he's actually talking a lot of sense.

Complete each sentence with the appropriate word.

I'll tell you a __ but please don't tell anyone __.

I'll tell you a secret but please don't tell anyone else.

Complete each sentence with the appropriate word.

The old woman looked at Glen's palm and began to tell his __. [predict his future life]

The old woman looked at Glen's palm and began to tell his fortune.

Complete the sentence using an appropriate collocation meaning communicate.

I asked why she didn't trust him but she wouldn't __ me __.

NOT say a reason

give a reason

Complete the sentence using an appropriate collocation meaning communicate.

The charity __ as being to help underprivileged children.

(formal) also state your purpose/goal

states its aim

Complete the sentence using an appropriate collocation meaning communicate.

The staff on reception required each visitor to __ before issuing them with an entry permit.

(formal) = say what their intentions are

state their business

Complete the sentence using an appropriate collocation meaning communicate.

In her lecture Lucia __ her trip to the Andes.

= describe

gave an account of

Complete the sentence using an appropriate collocation meaning communicate.

The speech __ about the policy changes __.

(informal) = conveyed the idea

got the message across

Complete the sentence using an appropriate collocation meaning communicate.

I __ Hiroshi Yamamoto __ the gold medal.

(formal) statement made at the time of the win

I declare Hiroshi Yamamoto the winner of the gold medal.

Complete the sentence using an appropriate collocation meaning communicate.

He was __ at 1.10.

(formal) used when making an official statement of death

pronounced dead

Complete the sentence using an appropriate collocation meaning communicate.

The old man tried to __ his __ to his sons.

(formal) = transfer knowledge; also impart wisdom

The old man tried to impart his knowledge to his sons.

Complete the sentence using an appropriate collocation meaning communicate.

That journalist gets amazing stories but he won't __.

(formal) = make something secret known; also divulge a secret

divulge his sources.

Complete the sentence using an appropriate collocation meaning communicate.

The Internet is a powerful means of __.

(formal) = spreading information to a lot of people

The Internet is a powerful means of disseminating information.

Complete the sentence using an appropriate collocation meaning communicate.

We __ the police of the burglary.

(formal) = officially informed

We notified the police of the burglary.

Complete the sentence using an appropriate collocation meaning communicate.

Although found guilty, Robson continued to __.

(formal) = insist he was not guilty

Although found guilty, Robson continued to protest his innocence.

Complete the sentence using an appropriate collocation meaning communicate.

He __ of the dent to the car but I think he was lying.

(formal) = claimed – perhaps insincerely - that he did not know

He professed ignorance of the dent to the car but I think he was lying.

Complete the sentence using an appropriate collocation meaning communicate.

Did you __ to her that her mother is in prison?

used for news that is very upsetting

Did you break the news to her that her mother is in prison?

Complete the sentence with the appropriate form of ‘say’, ‘speak’, ‘talk’ or ‘tell’.

Strictly …, you shouldn't be here.

speaking

Complete the sentence with the appropriate form of ‘say’, ‘speak’, ‘talk’ or ‘tell’.

Peter … me a secret and made me promise not to pass it on to anyone else.

told

Complete the sentence with the appropriate form of ‘say’, ‘speak’, ‘talk’ or ‘tell’.

It goes without … that we'll invite you to our wedding.

saying

Complete the sentence with the appropriate form of ‘say’, ‘speak’, ‘talk’ or ‘tell’.

I spend most days with my three-year-old son, so forgive me if I start … nonsense

talking

Complete the sentence with the appropriate form of ‘say’, ‘speak’, ‘talk’ or ‘tell’.

The teachers always … very highly of my son's abilities.

speak

Complete the sentence with the appropriate form of ‘say’, ‘speak’, ‘talk’ or ‘tell’.

I had my fortune … at the fair yesterday.

told

Complete the sentence with the appropriate form of ‘say’, ‘speak’, ‘talk’ or ‘tell’.

It's so hot. I wouldn’t … no to an ice cream, would you?

say

Complete the sentence with the appropriate form of ‘say’, ‘speak’, ‘talk’ or ‘tell’.

Shall we have lunch first and then sit down to … business?

talk

Complete the sentence with the appropriate form of ‘say’, ‘speak’, ‘talk’ or ‘tell’.

I think that, generally …, it's better to use public transport than drive yourself.

speaking

Rewrite the underlined part of the sentence to make it more formal.

The victim was asked why he had not told the police sooner about the mugging.

notified

Rewrite the underlined part of the sentence to make it more formal.

The older generation has always attempted to pass its wisdom on to young people.

impart its wisdom

Rewrite the underlined part of the sentence to make it more formal.

Stockman has always insisted that he is innocent.

protested his innocence

Rewrite the underlined part of the sentence to make it more formal.

Robert claimed that he knew nothing of the damage to the car.

professed ignorance

Rewrite the underlined part of the sentence to make it more formal.

The reporter had no option but to explain where he had got his information from.

divulge his sources

Rewrite the underlined part of the sentence to make it more formal.

The doctors said he was dead when they arrived at the scene of the accident.

pronounced him

Rewrite the underlined part of the sentence to make it more formal.

The judges said that Magda Karlson had won the competition.

declared Magda Karlson the winner of

Rewrite the underlined part of the sentence to make it more formal.

The charity does a great deal to inform people about its activities.

disseminate information

Is this sentence correct or incorrect? If it is incorrect, correct it.

Do you think I managed to give the message across in my speech?

incorrect

get the message across

Is this sentence correct or incorrect? If it is incorrect, correct it.

Needless to say, he didn't tell a word to his parents about what had happened.

incorrect

say a word

Is this sentence correct or incorrect? If it is incorrect, correct it.

You can't chew gum and say properly at the same time.

incorrect

speak properly

Is this sentence correct or incorrect? If it is incorrect, correct it.

He refused to say his reasons for turning down our invitation.

incorrect

give his reasons

Is this sentence correct or incorrect? If it is incorrect, correct it.

She was devastated when we dropped the news to her.

incorrect

broke the news

Is this sentence correct or incorrect? If it is incorrect, correct it.

In your report we would like you to give a detailed account of what happened.

correct

Is this sentence correct or incorrect? If it is incorrect, correct it.

I really like this documentary maker, he tells a lot of sense.

incorrect

talks a lot of sense

Is this sentence correct or incorrect? If it is incorrect, correct it.

At the beginning of your dissertation you must say your goals clearly.

incorrect

state your goals

Use a dictionary to find a noun to complete these phrases based on collocations.

… of innocence in the face of evidence to the contrary

protestation of innocence

(The noun ‘protest’ is not accurate here because it carries a meaning of opposition. ‘Protestation’, however, means a declaration, which echoes the meaning of ‘protest’ in the collocation ‘protest one's innocence’, meaning to declare one's innocence.)

Use a dictionary to find a noun to complete these phrases based on collocations.

a company’s … of aims

a statement od aims

Use a dictionary to find a noun to complete these phrases based on collocations.

… of information among the population

dissemination of information

Use a dictionary to find a noun to complete these phrases based on collocations.

… of a crime to the police

notification of a crime to the police

Use a dictionary to find a noun to complete these phrases based on collocations.

… of the winner of a competition

declaration of the winner

Use a dictionary to complete this collocation fork.

declare

• 1 someone a winner

• 2

• 3

• 4

declare

1. someone a winner

2. war on

3. independence

4. support for

Use a dictionary to complete this collocation fork.

impart

• 1 knowledge

• 2 wisdom

• 3

• 4

• 5

impart

1. knowledge

2. wisdom

3. bad news

4. facts

5. a secret

Use a dictionary to complete this collocation fork.

divulge

• 1 sources

• 2

• 3

divulge

1. sources

2. secrets

3. confidential details