3.1. Collocations
Focus on
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What comes now may sound strange but it is something that we have in every language, including Spanish, of course. It is the reason why we say "poner la mesa" and not "colocar la mesa" o "instalar la mesa" when we put a tablecloth, plates, glasses, cutletry. etc, on a table
With the expression collocations we refer to a group of words that usually go together. They can form a group of:
- verb + noun,
- adj + noun,
- noun + noun,
etc...
- miss the bus (not lose the bus)
- make a mistake (not do a mistake)
- a serious illness (not a big illness or a strong illness)
To use a word naturally you have to learn the other words that often go with it.
Top tips
You have a very good explanation of collocations here.
Do it yourself
Match the words with their partners to make common collocations. They are all expressions from a job advertisement.
| required (three times) | motivated | pay | in person | training |
| work schedule | environment | salary | available | transportation |
In English, as in many other languages including Spanish, we use suffixes to form other words. Suffixes change word class, e.g. from verb to noun or noun to adjective but sometimes they can also change meaning. Profession names are often formed by adding a suffix to a verb or a noun.
Unskilled or semi-skilled job-holders are often denoted with …er, whilst those in scientific or medical professions are often designated with …ist. But there are many exceptions.
The …er suffix is very common, but so is …or. The …ist ending is also quite common, but so is …an. We also have …ant, …man , …ess …ee and …ive.
The most important suffixes for profession names are the following:
-er: singer, manager, dancer, baker, bus driver, swimmer, writer, engineer, gardener, cleaner, photographer, programmer, shoemaker, farmer, waiter, teacher, etc.
-ess: waitress, actress. This suffix is the feminine of -er but is only used for a few jobs. Note that there are very few jobs where we use this ending. In many places, actor is used for men and women.
-or: actor, sculptor, director, sailor, tailor, operator, etc.
-ist: violinist, pianist, cyclist, typist, receptionist, economist, dentist, scientist, journalist, psychologist, etc.
-an: electrician, politician, technician, musician, beautician, etc.
-man, -woman: fireman, policewoman, fisherman, camerawoman, postman, businessman, dustman, saleswoman, etc.
-ant: accountant, civil servant, flight attendant, etc.
-ee: trustee, trainee, etc.
-ive: executive, sales representative, etc.
To avoid gender issues nowadays it is very common to use words which are not gender marked as chairperson, salesperson, police officer, firefighter.
The noun and verb forms relating to common occupations ending in …er and …or are closely linked: teachers teach, writers write, actors act, supervisors supervise, directors direct, bus and truck drivers drive their buses and lorries, sailors sail, etc.
Also the …er /…or suffixes are also used for machines and equipment that do a particular job:
My kitchen is full of the latest gadgets: dishwasher, gas cooker with five burners, electric toaster, electric can opener, blender / liquidiser - you name it, I've got it.
My son's got all his stuff in his bedroom: DVD player, video recorder, camcorder, film projector.
Other profession names, as in Spanish, do not come from a verb or noun, but they are a different, independent noun:
secretary, coach, doctor, surgeon, nurse, chef, mechanic, clown, architect, veterinary, cook, bishop, matron, pilot , etc.
IMPORTANT: Remember to use the indefinite article when you talk about your job:
A: What do you do?
B: I'm a doctor/an accountant
Do it yourself
Try and guess who does these jobs.