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AH020387 Posted 16 years ago
Vocabulary
Collocation
Here is the definition of the word 'collocation' from an online dictionary:
a word or phrase which is often used with another word or phrase, in a way that sounds correct to people who have spoken the language all their lives, but might not be expected from the meaning
In the phrase 'a hard frost', 'hard' is a collocation of 'frost' and 'strong' would not sound natural.
I understand everything in the definition except the part where it says:
'but might not be expected from the meaning'
I don't understand what it means by that can someone please clarify it for me?
a word or phrase which is often used with another word or phrase, in a way that sounds correct to people who have spoken the language all their lives, but might not be expected from the meaning
In the phrase 'a hard frost', 'hard' is a collocation of 'frost' and 'strong' would not sound natural.
I understand everything in the definition except the part where it says:
'but might not be expected from the meaning'
I don't understand what it means by that can someone please clarify it for me?
Top answer
'But might not be expected from the meaning' = but is somewhat idiomatic. The more common definitions of 'hard' do not suggest clearly that the word might be used with 'frost'. However, that clause is not a necessary qualification of 'collocation'.
- 'But might not be expected from the meaning' = but is somewhat idiomatic.
- The more common definitions of 'hard' do not suggest clearly that the word might be used with 'frost'.
- However, that clause is not a necessary qualification of 'collocation'.
- A high or close collocation need only be often used naturally with another word.
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1 Answers
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'But might not be expected from the meaning' = but is somewhat idiomatic. The more common definitions of 'hard' do not suggest clearly that the word might be used with 'frost'.
However, that clause is not a necessary qualification of 'collocation'. A high or close collocation need only be often used naturally with another word.
However, that clause is not a necessary qualification of 'collocation'. A high or close collocation need only be often used naturally with another word.
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