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C1 ADVANCED · VOCABULARY · PART 1

Collocations

Advanced word partnerships, like reach a compromise or fierce competition.

Finn the puffin with glasses and a book, your vocabulary teacher
Finn says

At C1, collocations are what make your English sound natural rather than just correct. You can reach a compromise, pose a threat and draw a conclusion – but not 'arrive at a threat' or 'make a conclusion'. In Part 1, all four options often have a similar meaning, and the collocation decides which one is right.

Verbs + nouns

reach
reach a compromise · a verdict · an agreement · a conclusion
After hours of talks, they reached a compromise.
pose
pose a threat · a risk · a question · a challenge
Rising sea levels pose a threat to coastal towns.
draw
draw a conclusion · a comparison · a distinction · attention to
It's too early to draw any conclusions.
strike
strike a balance · a deal · a chord · a nerve
It's hard to strike the right balance between work and family.
meet
meet a deadline · a demand · a need · expectations
We worked all night to meet the deadline.
raise
raise awareness · concerns · questions · funds
The campaign aims to raise awareness of the issue.

Adjectives + nouns

fierce
fierce competition · criticism · opposition
The plan faced fierce opposition.
vast
the vast majority · a vast amount
The vast majority of people agreed.
heated
a heated debate · argument · discussion
The issue led to a heated debate.
sheer
sheer luck · size · determination
It was sheer luck that nobody was hurt.
sweeping
sweeping changes · reforms · statements
The new manager made sweeping changes.
bitter
bitter disappointment · cold · rivals
Losing the final was a bitter disappointment.

Adverbs + adjectives

At C1, adverbs have their partners too.

highly
highly unlikely · successful · recommended
It is highly unlikely to rain today.
deeply
deeply rooted · concerned · moved
The tradition is deeply rooted in the culture.
widely
widely regarded · available · believed
She is widely regarded as the best in her field.
bitterly
bitterly disappointed · cold · opposed
Fans were bitterly disappointed.

How it comes up in Part 1

In Part 1 you choose the word (A, B, C or D) that best fits each gap. The four options often have similar meanings, so knowing which words go together is what gets you the mark.

The two sides finally reached an agreement late last night.
A reached B arrived C got D came

Reach an agreement. "Arrive" and "come" would need "at" or "to".

The vast majority of students passed the exam.
A vast B wide C large D huge

The vast majority is the fixed collocation.

The film is widely regarded as a masterpiece.
A widely B broadly C largely D vastly

Widely regarded means that many people think so.

Common mistakes

  • ✗ They made a conclusion from the data.✓ They drew a conclusion from the data.We draw (or reach) a conclusion.
  • ✗ The storm makes a threat to the island.✓ The storm poses a threat to the island.Pose a threat.
  • ✗ There was strong competition for the job.✓ There was fierce competition for the job.'Strong competition' is possible, but fierce competition is the typical C1 collocation.
  • ✗ It's highly impossible.✓ It's completely impossible.Highly goes with likely/unlikely, but not with 'impossible'.
Finn the puffin, smiling kindly
Finn's exam tip

When all four options mean roughly the same, the question is testing a collocation. Read the noun or adjective next to the gap and ask: which word would a native speaker put with this? Reading widely – news articles, reviews, opinion pieces – is the best way to absorb these partnerships.

Quick check

Choose the word that best fits each gap.

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