IELTS Verb + Noun Collocations | Band 7-9 Word Partnerships

IELTS Verb + Noun Collocations Masterclass

Essential word partnerships for natural, high-band English – learn whole phrases, not isolated words.

Why Collocations Matter

Native speakers don't say "make a research" – they say "conduct research". Using correct verb + noun pairs is a hallmark of Band 7-9 candidates. This guide covers the most essential collocations for IELTS topics.

Topic-Based Collocations

🌍 Environment

tackle climate change
"Governments must tackle climate change urgently."
reduce carbon footprint
"Using public transport reduces your carbon footprint."
conserve natural resources
"Recycling helps conserve natural resources."
protect endangered species
"Laws are needed to protect endangered species."
generate renewable energy
"Solar panels generate renewable energy."
raise environmental awareness
"Campaigns raise environmental awareness among youth."

🎓 Education

acquire knowledge
"Students acquire knowledge through research."
develop critical thinking skills
"Debates help develop critical thinking skills."
pursue higher education
"Many graduates pursue higher education abroad."
broaden horizons
"Travelling broadens your horizons."
meet academic requirements
"He worked hard to meet the requirements."
bridge the education gap
"Online courses can bridge the education gap."

💼 Work & Careers

land a job
"She landed a job at a top firm."
climb the career ladder
"Networking helps you climb the career ladder."
achieve work-life balance
"Remote work helps achieve work-life balance."
gain valuable experience
"Internships help gain valuable experience."
boost job satisfaction
"Recognition boosts job satisfaction."
face fierce competition
"Graduates face fierce competition for jobs."

💻 Technology

bridge the digital divide
"Governments must bridge the digital divide."
protect data privacy
"Users want companies to protect data privacy."
keep up with technology
"It's hard to keep up with rapid changes."
embrace innovation
"Successful companies embrace innovation."
automate repetitive tasks
"AI can automate repetitive tasks."

🏥 Health

boost immune system
"Vitamin C helps boost your immune system."
maintain a healthy lifestyle
"Regular exercise helps maintain a healthy lifestyle."
seek medical advice
"Always seek medical advice for symptoms."
reduce stress levels
"Meditation reduces stress levels."
suffer from chronic illness
"Many elderly suffer from chronic illness."

💰 Economy

boost economic growth
"Investment boosts economic growth."
create employment opportunities
"Small businesses create employment opportunities."
reduce income inequality
"Progressive taxes reduce income inequality."
generate revenue
"Tourism generates revenue for the city."
incur huge costs
"The project incurred huge costs."

Common Verbs with Their Noun Partners

🔨 Make / Do / Take

make a decision
"We need to make a decision by Friday."
make a mistake
"Everyone makes mistakes sometimes."
make an effort
"She made an effort to improve."
do research
"Scientists do research on climate change."
do business
"They do business internationally."
take responsibility
"Leaders must take responsibility."
take advantage of
"Take advantage of opportunities."

📊 Have / Give / Get

have an impact
"Social media has a huge impact on youth."
have access to
"Everyone should have access to education."
give a presentation
"She gave a presentation on climate change."
give permission
"The teacher gave permission to leave."
get a degree
"He got a degree in engineering."
get a promotion
"She worked hard to get a promotion."

Common Collocation Mistakes & Fixes

❌ Wrong → ✅ Correct

make a photo → take a photo
do a mistake → make a mistake
listen music → listen to music
strong rain → heavy rain
get a salary → earn a salary
say yes/no → answer yes/no

Band 9 Sample Paragraph

📝 Collocations in Action

"To tackle climate change, governments must invest in renewable energy and reduce carbon emissions. Individuals can also play a vital role by making sustainable choices – for example, cutting down on plastic waste and using public transport. If we take collective action, we can achieve meaningful progress."

Collocations used: tackle climate change, invest in renewable energy, reduce carbon emissions, play a vital role, make sustainable choices, cut down on plastic waste, use public transport, take collective action, achieve meaningful progress.

Practice Exercise

📝 Fill in the blanks

Complete the sentences with the correct verb + noun collocation:

1. We need to __________ a decision by tomorrow. (make / do / take)
2. Scientists __________ research on the new vaccine. (made / did / took)
3. Parents should __________ responsibility for their children's education. (make / do / take)
4. Social media __________ a huge impact on young people. (has / gives / gets)
5. She __________ a presentation on environmental issues. (made / gave / took)