Mastering Advanced VERB + NOUN Collocations for Natural English
Introduction
To speak English with clarity and sophistication, you need more than a large
vocabulary—you need collocations,
natural word combinations that native speakers use effortlessly. Among these, verb + noun collocations are especially
powerful because they allow you to express complex ideas in smooth, idiomatic
English. Instead of constructing sentences word-by-word, you speak in
meaningful units or chunks, which greatly
enhances fluency.
In this post, we explore high-value
collocations such as shoulder responsibility,
swallow one’s pride, pose a threat, voice concerns, pay
tribute, and the nuanced take
advantage of. You’ll learn their meanings, sentence examples, real-use
paragraphs, and a dialogue that mirrors everyday conversations. By the end, you
will not only understand these collocations—you’ll be ready to use them
confidently.
1. Shoulder Responsibility
Meaning:
To accept and carry the burden of
responsibility, especially when the situation is demanding.
Examples:
· As senior teachers, we often have to shoulder responsibility beyond our job
descriptions.
· When crises arise, true leaders step forward and
shoulder responsibility without
hesitation.
Real-use
Paragraph:
In many South Asian households, children grow
up watching their parents work tirelessly to provide for the family. As they
grow older, these children gradually learn to shoulder responsibility—from supporting siblings to
making significant decisions. Though the weight is heavy, it often becomes the
foundation of their resilience and maturity.
2. Swallow One’s Pride
Meaning:
To do something that makes you feel
embarrassed or lowers your dignity, usually to maintain peace or restore
harmony.
Examples:
· She decided to swallow her pride and apologise to her best friend.
· Sometimes we must swallow our pride to rebuild relationships that matter.
Real-use
Paragraph:
After their disagreement, Prakash felt torn.
He knew he had overreacted, but apologising felt like losing the battle. Later,
seeing his colleague quietly packing her things, he realised kindness mattered
more than ego. He gathered his courage, swallowed
his pride, and walked over to make things right.
3. Pose a Threat
Meaning:
To create a danger, challenge, or potential harm.
Examples:
· Rapid urbanisation poses a threat to fragile ecosystems.
· Fake news can pose a threat to social stability.
Real-use
Paragraph:
Experts warn that continued illegal mining may
pose a serious threat to the
region’s water sources. Rivers that once flowed abundantly are now shrinking,
affecting not only wildlife but thousands of families who depend on them.
4. Voice Concerns
Meaning:
To express worries, doubts, or dissatisfaction
openly, often in public or formal settings.
Examples:
· Parents voiced
concerns about the rising school fees.
· Doctors have repeatedly voiced concerns about the shortage of essential
medicines.
Real-use
Paragraph:
During the district meeting, villagers bravely
voiced their concerns about the increasing
number of landslides. They demanded long-term solutions rather than temporary
fixes, urging authorities to take preventive measures before tragedy strikes.
5. Pay Tribute
Meaning:
To publicly show respect, admiration, or
gratitude.
Examples:
· The nation gathered to pay tribute to frontline workers.
· The school organised a programme to pay tribute to its founders.
Real-use
Paragraph:
When the legendary writer passed away,
thousands came to pay tribute to
his unmatched contribution to Nepali literature. People lit candles, read his
poems aloud, and reflected on how his words had shaped their understanding of
life.
6. Take Advantage Of —
Understanding Its Two Meanings
The collocation take advantage of is particularly valuable because it
carries two distinct meanings,
but only one of them is typically considered advanced, formal, and academic.
(A)
Advanced, Positive Meaning — Using an Opportunity Wisely
Meaning:
To use an opportunity, situation, or resource in a beneficial or strategic way.
Level: C1 (advanced)
Use: Academic writing,
professional discussions, IELTS, formal essays.
Examples:
· Students should take advantage of free digital learning tools.
· Countries can take advantage of favourable policies to improve trade.
· You must take
advantage of every chance to develop your skills.
Real-use
Paragraph:
Many learners wish to improve their English
but fail to take advantage of
the resources around them—books, videos, mentors, and online platforms. Those
who succeed are not necessarily the most talented; they are the ones who
actively use every opportunity to grow.
(B)
Conversational, Negative Meaning — Exploiting Someone
Meaning:
To unfairly use someone or something for personal gain.
Level: B2 (upper-intermediate)
Examples:
·
Don’t let anyone take advantage of your generosity.
·
Some employers take advantage of workers by paying unfair wages.
While useful, this meaning is more common in
everyday conversation.
For advanced speaking and writing, the
positive, strategic meaning is far more valuable.
7. Raise Awareness
Meaning:
To increase people's understanding or
consciousness of an issue.
Examples:
·
Campaigns aim to raise awareness about environmental protection.
·
Schools often conduct programmes to raise awareness about mental health.
8. Cast Doubt
Meaning:
To make something seem uncertain,
questionable, or unreliable.
Examples:
· The inconsistency in his statements casts doubt on his honesty.
· Delayed reports cast doubt on the transparency of the investigation.
9. Make Amends
Meaning:
To correct a mistake or compensate for harm
caused.
Examples:
· After the misunderstanding, she tried to make amends by explaining everything
calmly.
·The organisation promised to make amends for the inconvenience
caused.
10. Draw Inspiration
Meaning:
To gain ideas, motivation, or creativity from
someone or something.
Examples:
· Writers often draw inspiration from personal experiences.
· I draw
inspiration from people who stand strong despite adversity.
A Dialogue Using All the Key
Collocations
Rita:
You seem overwhelmed today. Everything okay?
Arjun: The principal wants me to
shoulder the responsibility of
organising the annual programme. It’s a huge task.
Rita: True, but you can handle
it. Just don’t hesitate to take advantage
of the team’s strengths.
Arjun: I know. Some teachers
have already voiced their concerns
about the budget. It might pose a threat
to our plans.
Rita: Challenges come and go. If
needed, swallow your pride and
ask for more support.
Arjun: You’re right. By the way,
we also need to pay tribute to
Mr. Sharma for his 40 years of service.
Rita: That’s wonderful. We
should create a short documentary—it will also raise awareness about his contributions.
Arjun: I think I upset him last
week. I really want to make amends.
Rita: Don’t worry. We can design
a heartfelt programme and draw
inspiration from last year’s event.
PRACTICE EXERCISES
A. Fill in the Blanks
Choose the correct collocation from the list
below:
shoulder
responsibility • swallow one’s pride • pose a threat • voice concerns • pay
tribute • take advantage of (positive) • take advantage of (negative) • raise
awareness • cast doubt • make amends • draw inspiration
1.
The sudden rise in COVID cases could ____________ to
rural health systems.
2.
The journalist’s report helped ____________ about
environmental destruction.
3.
After realising he was wrong, he decided to
____________ and apologise.
4.
As project leader, she had to ____________ for the
entire team’s performance.
5.
Scientists say the new data may ____________ on the
effectiveness of the vaccine.
6.
During the meeting, several students ____________ about
online exam stress.
7.
If you study regularly, you can ____________ the
resources available online.
8.
Some unethical companies ____________ workers by paying
unfair wages.
9.
Artists often ____________ from nature when creating
masterpieces.
10. The
community gathered to ____________ to the firefighter who saved many lives.
11. After
the disagreement, he wanted to ____________ by planning a surprise visit.
B. Match the Sentences
Match the situation with the correct
collocation.
A. They organised a memorial programme.
B. She benefited from a rare scholarship opportunity.
C. The government explained why fake news is dangerous.
D. He admitted wrongdoing even though it embarrassed him.
E. Parents complained about rising school fees.
Collocations:
1.
swallow one’s pride
2.
raise awareness
3.
voice concerns
4.
pay tribute
5.
take advantage of
C. Rewrite the Sentences
Using the Collocation
Rewrite each sentence using the collocation in
brackets.
1.
He used the free training programme to improve his
English.
(take advantage of – positive meaning)
2.
The new evidence makes people unsure about the police
report.
(cast doubt)
3.
She felt extremely embarrassed, but she apologised
first.
(swallow one’s pride)
4.
Many young people have to accept difficult duties at
home.
(shoulder responsibility)
5.
The NGO organised a campaign to inform people about
floods.
(raise awareness)
D. Choose the Correct
Meaning
For each sentence, decide whether take advantage of is used in the positive (strategic) or negative (exploitative) sense.
1.
He took advantage of her kindness and borrowed money
without returning it.
2.
Students should take advantage of every learning
opportunity.
3.
The company took advantage of new government policies
to expand rapidly.
4.
Some people take advantage of naïve tourists.
ANSWER KEY
A. Fill in the Blanks –
Answers
1.
pose a threat
2.
raise awareness
3.
swallow one’s
pride
4.
shoulder
responsibility
5.
cast doubt
6.
voiced concerns
7.
take advantage of
(positive)
8.
take advantage of
(negative)
9.
draw inspiration
10. pay tribute
11. make amends
B. Match the Sentences –
Answers
A → 4.
pay tribute
B → 5. take advantage of
C → 2. raise awareness
D → 1. swallow one’s pride
E → 3. voice concerns
C. Rewrite the Sentences
Using the Collocation – Answers
1.
He took advantage
of the free training programme to improve his English.
2.
The new evidence casts
doubt on the police report.
3.
She swallowed her
pride and apologised first.
4.
Many young people have to shoulder responsibility at home.
5.
The NGO organised a campaign to raise awareness about floods.
D. Choose the Correct
Meaning – Answers
1.
Negative meaning
2.
Positive meaning
3.
Positive meaning
4.
Negative meaning
Conclusion
Mastering advanced verb + noun collocations is one of the most effective
ways to elevate your English from competent to truly compelling. These
expressions allow you to communicate ideas with precision, confidence, and a
natural flow that mirrors the speech of educated native speakers. Whether you're
writing academic essays, engaging in professional discussions, or simply trying
to express your emotions more clearly, collocations like shoulder responsibility, pose
a threat, voice concerns, and take advantage of enrich your language with
nuance and power.
The goal isn’t just to memorise them — it’s to
use them deliberately in your speaking and writing. The more you practise, the
more these chunks will become part of your internal language system, enabling
you to express complex ideas effortlessly.
Keep practising, keep experimenting, and keep polishing your fluency. Over time, these advanced collocations won’t just improve your English — they will transform the way you communicate your thoughts, your experiences, and your identity as a confident English user.
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Have a look at my next post: C1 Level phrases in context
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