Tutorial Transcript

Hi everyone and welcome back to my channel! Today we are talking about collocations. What is a collocation? It's a frequent association between two or more words in a sentence. We'll be looking at collocations between verbs and nouns today. I think collocations are extremely useful to speak naturally. Thanks to collocations we can express ideas more precisely, and our sentences can easily be recognized by native speakers. So, let's have a look in details at what a collocation is. For example: the first collocation I've listed is ESPRIMERE UN DESIDERIO "to make a wish". The verb "ESPRIMERE" and the noun "DESIDERIO" are always used together, there is a frequent association between them when speaking. What does it mean? It means that it's not possibile to replace "ESPRIMERE" with any other verb in order to convey this meaning. "To make a wish" in Italian can only be said using this collocation, so "ESPRIMERE UN DESIDERIO". "DESIDERIO" can also be found together with another verb, which is "ESAUDIRE", but it gives a different meaning to collocation, "ESAUDIRE" means "to make something come true". So we have two collocations with the noun "DESIDERIO": ESPRIMERE UN DESIDERIO, ESAUDIRE UN DESIDERIO. Then, the second collocation is "MANTENERE UNA PROMESSA". With "PROMESSA" we can also form another collocation, that is "FARE UNA PROMESSA". The verb "PROMETTERE" (to promise) is more frequently used, though. "Promise me" is more frequently said than "fammi una promessa". The collocation I want you to know is "MANTENERE UNA PROMESSA", the verb "MANTENERE" together with the noun "PROMESSA". The verb "MANTENERE" can also be found in the third collocation, which is "MANTENERE UN SEGRETO". A secret is kept, so "to keep a secret". A secret can also be told, "RIVELARE UN SEGRETO", meaning "to tell a secret". So we have two collocations for "SEGRETO" as well: MANTENERE UN SEGRETO, RIVELARE UN SEGRETO. Then, collocation number 4 is very important, "PRENDERE UNA DECISIONE". To make a decision. Be careful not to translate it as "fare una decisione", because a decision is not made, a decision is taken in Italian. But you can "fare una scelta" in Italian, so "to make a choice" is the 5th collocation. The 6th collocation is "SCATTARE UNA FOTOGRAFIA", "to take a photograph". It is possibile to say "fare una fotografia", but what's the difference between "scattare una fotografia" and "fare una fotografia"? "Scattare una fotografia" is the exact collocation, it is precise. You can say "fare una fotografia", it's okay to use, but the verb "fare" is a verb which can be used in various collocations, making them and the sentences quite generic. "SVOLGERE UN ESERCIZIO / UN COMPITO", this collocation is very used in school and at university, to do an exercise you find in a book. You can use "fare" with this one as well, but it's not exactly the same thing, as I was saying, "fare" is a generic verb that can be used in many collocations. The correct collocation is "svolgere un esercizio". Collocation number 8 is "FARE UNA TELEFONATA", to make a call. Very simple, it is used in everyday conversations. Also collocation number 9 is very used in everyday conversations: "FARSI UNA DOCCIA". To have a shower. Here we have the reflexive version of verb "fare", which is "farsi", to have a shower. Then we have collocation number 10, very used as well, "FARE COLAZIONE". To have breakfast, in Italian you need to use verb "fare" with this one, not "eat" nor "have", it is "fare colazione". So you say "this morning I had breakfast". Then, number 11 can be useful, "SBRIGARE UNA FACCENDA", in English "to run an errand", but also "to take care of a situation". Collocation number 12 is "RISOLVERE UN PROBLEMA" and this is very simple, easy. To solve a problem. Then, "EFFETTUARE UN PAGAMENTO". "How would you like to make the payment, by cash or credit card?". Collocation number 14 is "PERDERE UN'OCCASIONE", to miss an opportunity/a chance. "I missed a great opportunity". "PERDERE" here means exactly "to miss", so it's similar to English. Then we have number 15, "COMMETTERE UN ERRORE", to make a mistake. "Commettere un errore". You've probably heard "fare un errore", but we now know that "fare" is generic, so the exact verb to be used with noun "errore" is "commettere". To make a mistake. I've made a huge mistake. Collocation number 16: "PRESTARE ATTENZIONE", to pay attention, Number 17: "IMBOCCARE UNA STRADA", to take/enter a road. You might know this one if you have got a driving license here in Italy. "Imboccare una strada" means to enter a road driving a car. to enter a road. Then, number 18: "PROVARE UN SENTIMENTO" or "NUTRIRE UN SENTIMENTO". To harbour feelings for someone. "Provo un sentimento molto forte nei suoi confronti" "nutro un sentimento molto forte nei suoi conronti". "Nutrire un sentimento" is more poetic, "provare un sentimento" is the collocation the collocation we normally use. Number 19, "PRENDERE UN IMPEGNO", Prendere un impegno. To take on a commitment. And then the last one, number 20, we have arrived to the end of this video! Collocation number 20 is "DISPUTARE UNA PARTITA" or "DISPUTARE UN INCONTRO", for example. It is used when you compete for a victory or a trophy. I hope you have learned something new with today's video. Again, I highly recommend you learn these collocations and search for new ones, because using collocations can make your speech sound more precise and natural. Sometimes it can be hard to speak naturally, "how would a native speaker say this?" "or that?". Collocations help us with this. Thank you for watching this lesson and I'll see you in my next one. Ciao!