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Some pairs of words often occur together. If you meet one, you can expect the other. This makes it easier for ESL students to understand written and spoken language, and build their vocabulary as well. Word partnerships are seen in ESL classes which become useful and necessary for everyday language. Higher level ESL programs also present this type of vocabulary, but they add other more complex or specialized word combinations. ESL students have a chance to see them, practice them, and use them in everyday situations.

Below you will see different combinations of word partnerships:

Verb – noun combinations

1. Answer the phone
2. Appoint a new manager
3. Arrange a meeting
4. Export goods
5. Pay tax
6. Solve a problem
7. Type a letter
8. Welcome a visitor
9. Fill a vacancy
10. Interview an applicant
11. Offer a discount
12. Owe some money
13. Rent office space
14. Run a business
15. Send a fax
16. Sign a contract
17. Address a meeting
18. Arrange a demonstration
19. Consider a proposal
20. Fire an employee
21. Keep a record
22. Pay an invoice
23. Place an order
24. Phone a client
25. Build a factory
26. Cash a cheque
27. Dispatch goods
28. Express thanks
29. Postpone a meeting
30. Reach an agreement
31. Reduce costs
32. Settle disputes

EXAMPLES

1.    They might offer you a discount if you pay within ten days.
2.    Do you need a license to export goods to the Soviet Union?
3.    Don’t forget we have to pay tax on the profit we made.
4.    I’m trying to arrange a meeting with my bank manager next Tuesday.
5.    They hope to reduce costs by employing fewer staff.
6.    Could you arrange a demonstration so we can see exactly how it works?
7.    It’s not always easy to settle disputes between management and staff.
8.    They’re going to build a factory on some vacant land nearby.

Adjective – noun combinations

33. Annual conference
34. Early retirement
35. Extended credit
36. Limited liability
37. Natural resources
38. Occupational pension
39. Private offer
40. Unfair dismissal
41. Effective communication
42. Financial difficulties
43. High priority
44. Introductory offer
45. Skilled workers
46. Sound investment
47. Vacant property
48. Wide range
49. Continuous supply
50. Fundamental disagreement
51. Illustrated brochure
52. Multi-national company
53. Potential customer
54. Prompt reply
55. Strict control
56. Visual aid
57. Advanced technology
58 .Alternative arrangements
59. Close attention
60. Competitive quote
61. Considerable expense
62. Essential requirement
63. Manual labor
64. Raw materials

EXAMPLES

1.    As a special introductory offer, they’re selling two for the price of one.
2.    I’m going to the annual conference of our trade union.
3.    He was only 50 but he decided to take early retirement.
4.    There is a shortage of skilled workers for this kind of work.
5.    We can’t use the hall so we’ll have to make alternative arrangements.
6.    They were recently taken over by a multi-national company.
7.    I’d like you to meet her. She could be a potential customer.
8.    I want you to pay close attention to everything he does.

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It is sometimes difficult to remember which preposition comes after each adjective. The only way to remember is through practice; the more we practice the easier it becomes for us to use them later on. We feel more confident we are choosing the right preposition because it “feels” right.

Correct usage of English grammar mainly involves lots of study and practice. For this reason, English schools or language institutes are constantly developing grammar booklets for practice as well as online exercises. Business travelers need a continuous practice and their needs become more demanding as they advance in their English studies and gain more and more self-confidence with the language. Every area of the language should be learned through repetition in diferent contexts. Through dynamic activities, students will feel motivated.   Fluency and automatic responses start to come naturally.

One of the things ESL students need to study and practice are adjectives and prepositions as well as other combinations with prepositions.  ESL programs include many practice exercises and practice tests so students will feel more confident when it comes to using the adjectives correctly.

Below you’ll see adjectives and the prepositions that follow them, as well as some examples used in business English:

-    Familiar with: I’m sure they must be familiar with our products as they’re used all over the world.
-    Eligible for: If you pay within seven days you will be eligible for a discount.
-    Available for: I will be available for an interview at any time.
-    Envious of: The other salespeople were all envious of her success and so they were pleased when she left.
-    Contrary to: Contrary to expectations, our sales figures went down last month.
-    Popular with: Our new range of toys has proved very popular with children who have watched the television program.
-    Consistent with: Any decision made must be consistent with the company’s overall marketing strategy.
-    Responsible for: The maintenance engineer is responsible for checking every machine at least once a week.
-    Aware of: I’m not aware of any regulations that should prevent us from exporting to those countries.
-    Capable of: We need somebody who is capable of understanding German.
-    Relevant to: That’s an interesting point but it isn’t really relevant to our discussion.
-    Accustomed to: It took me some time to become accustomed to using the new system.
-    Acceptable to: They will only sign if the terms are fully acceptable to them.
-    Dependant on: It’s risky to be dependant on only one supplier.
-    Proud of: He was so proud of his firm’s achievements that he talked about them to everyone he met.
-    Well known for: This company is well known for the high quality of its products.

Bear in mind that there are no easy to follow rules regarding which preposition goes with which adjective. Extended practice will make you more confident as to which to use. ESL programs usually provide the right resources and guide you in your practice.

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention www.englishlci.com as the original source).