Natural Word Pairing
Which words naturally go together?
Signification
A conventional pairing or group of words that native speakers expect together more often than random alternatives.
Comment le repérer
Look for combinations that sound natural even when many synonyms would be grammatically possible.
Exemples
make|take|strong|heavy|high
make a decision|strong coffee|heavy rain
We made a decision yesterday.
Visual guide
word 1 chooses a partner make -> a decision strong -> coffee heavy -> rain natural = sounds expected not just grammar
Cross-language frame Meaning: decide EN: make a decision L1: [local verb] decision Meaning: intense rain EN: heavy rain L1: [local adjective] rain
Vue par langue
Dans votre langue maternelle
French collocations often differ from English, such as prendre une décision.
Nous avons pris une décision.
We took a decision.
Dans votre langue d’apprentissage
L’anglais a de nombreuses associations de mots préférées qu’il faut apprendre comme des habitudes d’usage.
make a decision
make a decision = association de mots naturelle en anglais
Les apprenants traduisent parfois mot à mot et disent par exemple do a decision au lieu de make a decision.
Same block, different coding
Both languages use this block strongly, but they signal it differently. Focus on form changes, not only meaning.