Lesson 16 of 24
Vocabulary: precision and collocations
Express the feature you mean
“Nice,” “good” and “interesting” are valid words, but they may leave an important detail unexplained. A “good” room could be spacious, quiet, affordable or well lit. Choose the feature relevant to the answer rather than replacing every common word with a rare synonym.
Original improvement: “The workshop was good” becomes “The workshop was practical: we tried each repair ourselves instead of only watching a demonstration.” Precision comes from the explanation as much as from the adjective.
Learn words in useful combinations
| Topic | Useful combinations | Original sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Learning | gain confidence, make progress, receive feedback | “Specific feedback helped me make progress.” |
| Work | meet a deadline, manage a workload, take responsibility | “I learned to manage my workload more carefully.” |
| Places | within walking distance, limited space, easy access | “Easy access matters for people with limited mobility.” |
| Habits | keep a routine, put something off, set aside time | “I set aside time for reading before bed.” |
| Change | become more common, adapt to change, have an impact | “Flexible working has had an impact on my routine.” |
| Objects | sentimental value, signs of wear, serve a purpose | “The marks give it sentimental value.” |
Check combinations in a reliable learner’s dictionary, including meaning, pronunciation and an example. Write a new sentence about your life, then use it in a fresh answer. A notebook full of isolated translations is harder to retrieve in conversation.
Idiomatic language should fit
Natural phrasal verbs and familiar expressions can communicate efficiently: “put off a task,” “pick up a skill,” or “get the hang of something.” There is no fixed idiom quota. An expression you do not understand can distort meaning or sound forced. The high-band descriptors emphasise flexible, appropriate vocabulary and awareness of style and collocation. Official descriptors.
Practice: replace three vague adjectives in a recording with precise details. Keep an ordinary word if it already does the job well.