Break & Take Collocation

On this page there are break and take collocation exercises.

Learning other phrases apart from the common meanings of the words will help your IELTS as the examiner is trained to listen for your ability to collocate in the speaking and take account of it in your writing.

Take and break are commonly used in English so you should make sure you understand the different meanings.

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Take Collocation

The commonly known meaning of the word take is when we talk about removing or moving something (sometimes without permission) or accepting something.

For example, he took my book; take your lunch to work; do they take (accept) credit cards here?

However, there are other take collocations.

Have is also a common meaning of the word, but there are other common examples:

Take Collocation	Meaning
Take someone's place	Substitute / stand in for someone/thing else
Take place	Happen / occur
Take notes	Record what is observed or heard
Take a chance	Risk something in the hope of a favorable outcome
Take an exam/a test	Have / sit an exam or test
Take care of	Look after someone/thing
Take a look	Have a look at / examine something carefully
Take a break	Have a short rest from something
Take a holiday	Have a holiday
Take a rest	Have a rest

Take Collocation Exercise

Now practice these words by deciding which take collocation fits in the gap:

1. At work during the morning I usually take between 11:00 and 11:30.

2. I’m going to take in June. I’m going to Spain.

3. Take at the view; it’s really beautiful.

4. I’ve taken twice now.

5. The meeting between the delegates took last Friday.

6. I was up really late last night. I need to take .

7. He takes his grandmother as she is not well..

8. I can’t go to the conference anymore. Do you want to take ?

9. If I leave now I’m not sure I’ll catch the bus, but I’ll take .

10. Take when you attend a lecture or you will forget what you heard.

Score =

Take Collocation Exercises - Correct answers:

Break Collocations

Break is commonly known for it's literal meaning which is to break (i.e. smash / damage) something e.g. to break a window, break a pencil, break a leg. These are collocations that you will probably be more familiar with.

However, it can be used in other ways. For example you can break a law or break a heart.

Below is a list of some common collocations with break, followed by an exercise to practice them.

Break Collocation	Meaning
Break someone's heart	Cause deep emotional pain and grief to somebody
Break a law	To do something illegal
Break a promise	Not keeping a promise
Have a break	To have a short rest from work/study
Break a record	Set a new record
Break the news	To make known new information
Break free	To get s/th out of the hold of s/th else
Break the rules	Disregarding rules
Big break	Significant good fortune or opportunity
Break the deadlock	End the inability to proceed with something