Words with fixed partners
A collocation is a habitual pairing of two words. Usually the noun carries the meaning, while the verb is almost empty yet still fixed. English is rarely a reliable guide: make, take, pay and ask turn into quite different verbs in Spanish.
Mañana tomamos una decisión.
We'll make a decision tomorrow.
Después de comer damos un paseo por el puerto.
After lunch we'll take a walk around the harbour.
No prestaste atención a lo que dije.
You didn't pay attention to what I said.
Verb + noun
A handful of verbs carry most collocations. Each one has its own field of partners.
Common partners
| Verb | Partners | English |
|---|---|---|
| tomar | una decisión, medidas, el sol | make a decision, take measures, sunbathe |
| dar | un paseo, las gracias, miedo | go for a walk, say thank you, scare |
| hacer | una pregunta, caso, cola | ask a question, pay heed, queue |
| prestar | atención, ayuda | pay attention, give help |
| echar | de menos, una mano, un vistazo | miss, lend a hand, take a look |
| cometer | un error, un delito | make a mistake, commit a crime |
| tener | lugar, en cuenta | take place, bear in mind |
Nunca me hace caso cuando le digo que descanse.
He never listens when I tell him to rest.
Echo de menos el mar desde que vivo en Madrid.
I've missed the sea since I moved to Madrid.
In Latin America, usually extrañar.
¿Puedes echar un vistazo al contrato antes de que lo firme?
Can you take a look at the contract before I sign it?
La reunión tendrá lugar en la sala tres.
The meeting will take place in room three.
Adjective + noun, adverb + adjective
Intensifiers have fixed partners too. An error garrafal is a huge blunder, a fumador empedernido a chain smoker. With the right intensifier you sound precise rather than long-winded.
Mandar ese correo fue un error garrafal.
Sending that email was a huge blunder.
Mi abuelo era un fumador empedernido.
My grandfather was a chain smoker.
El estreno fue un éxito rotundo.
The premiere was a resounding success.
Soy plenamente consciente del riesgo.
I'm fully aware of the risk.
Everyday and official language
Many collocations have a formal twin. In a report or a letter to an authority, an elevated verb replaces the everyday one while the noun stays the same.
Same noun, different verb
Everyday
Hicimos un estudio con cien pacientes.
We did a study with a hundred patients.
Voy a poner una queja.
I'm going to complain.
Formal
Se llevó a cabo un estudio con cien pacientes.
A study was carried out with a hundred patients.
Deseo presentar una reclamación.
I wish to file a complaint.
