English Grammar | Verb Collocations
- They have made a lot of progress in improving working conditions. [correct]
- They have achieved a lot of progress in improving working conditions. [incorrect]
- Poor diet in childhood can have a long-term effect on health. [correct]
- Poor diet in childhood can leave a long-term effect on health. [incorrect]
There are many common verb + noun combinations [colocations] in English:
make progress: I think the team have made progress this season.
make an impression: It is important to make a good first impression.
make a difference: We believe we can make a difference to children's lives.
make someone | something happy, comfortable, effective etc.:
She made her mother very happy with her gift.
They put a cushion on the chair to make it more comfortable.
With a few changes they made the process much more efficient.
have an effect:
This incident will have a negative effect on tourism.
have time:
Retired people have more time to spend on their hobbies.
have an advantage:
Online university degrees have some advantages.
have a benefit:
Tea is believed to have health benefits.
give a reason / give an explanation:
He didn't give any explanation for his outrageous behavior.
give someone a chance / give someone an opportunity:
We need to give young peope a chance to learn creative skills.
deal with a problem / deal with a situation:
There are several enviornmental problems we need to deal with.
commit a crime:
His lawyer proved that he didn't commit the crime.