Basics of verb-noun collocations. 45 questions on high-frequency collocations with make, do, have, take, and give.
What this test covers
- Collocations with make and do
- Collocations with have and take
- Collocations with give and get
Answer the 45 questions below. Each answer is checked straight away, with an explanation. Press Submit at the end to get your score and save it to your dashboard. Answers are not kept if you leave before submitting.
All 45 questions with answers
Pick an answer for each question to see if you are right, with the explanation. Submit when you are done; you can submit before answering them all.
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Q1You need to ___ your homework before you can watch TV.
Answer: B. do
In English, we use 'do' for tasks, work, and chores. Homework is a task, so we always 'do homework.' We do not 'make' homework because we aren't creating it from materials.
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Q2I would like to ___ a complaint about the service in this café.
Answer: A. make
We use 'make' for speaking or communicating ideas, like 'make a complaint,' 'make a suggestion,' or 'make a promise.' We do not 'do' a complaint.
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Q3We are going to ___ a rest after we finish cleaning the house.
Answer: B. have
The natural phrase for relaxing is 'have a rest.' We never 'do,' 'catch,' or 'make' a rest.
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Q4Please ___ a seat while the doctor prepares the room.
Answer: D. take
The standard phrase for sitting down is 'take a seat.' It is a polite way to invite someone to sit. We do not 'pull,' 'do,' or 'make' a seat.
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Q5Could you ___ me a favour and help me move this table?
Answer: D. do
When you ask someone for help, the common phrase is 'do a favour.' We do not 'make' or 'have' a favour in this context.
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Q6The manager needs to ___ a decision about the new office budget.
Answer: D. make
Choosing between different options is called 'making a decision.' We do not 'choose,' 'have,' or 'do' a decision.
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Q7Did you ___ a chance to speak to the teacher today?
Answer: C. have
If you have the opportunity to do something, we say you 'have a chance.' For example: 'I didn't have a chance to call you.'
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Q8You should ___ a course in photography if you enjoy taking pictures.
Answer: C. take
When you sign up for a series of lessons, you 'take a course.' 'Get a course' is not a standard collocation.
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Q9It is important to ___ your best when you prepare for an interview.
Answer: C. do
When you try as hard as you can, the phrase is 'do your best.' We never use 'make' with 'your best.'
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Q10I need to ___ a phone call to my brother before we leave.
Answer: C. make
Using the phone to talk to someone is 'making a phone call.' We use 'make' because we are starting the action.
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Q11We had a lot of fun when we ___ breakfast in the garden.
Answer: D. had
We say 'have breakfast' when we mean eating the morning meal. Since the sentence talks about something that happened in the past, we use the past tense 'had'. 'Make breakfast' means to cook it, and we do not say 'take' or 'do' breakfast.
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Q12Don't ___ a risk by driving on those icy roads tonight.
Answer: D. take
When you do something dangerous, the phrase is 'take a risk.' We do not 'make' or 'do' a risk.
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Q13She ___ a mistake on her math test.
Answer: D. made
When someone does something wrong, we say they 'make a mistake.' Using 'did' is a common error; always use 'made' for mistakes.
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Q14He ___ a photo of the monument during his trip.
Answer: B. took
To use a camera and get a picture, the verb is always 'take.' So, we 'take a photo' or 'take a picture.'
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Q15We will ___ a meeting at 9:00 to discuss the project.
Answer: B. have
When groups of people get together to talk, they 'have a meeting.' We do not 'do' a meeting.
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Q16The principal will ___ a speech at the graduation ceremony.
Answer: A. give
When someone talks to a large audience, they 'give a speech.' We can also say 'make a speech,' but 'give' is very common for formal situations.
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Q17I decided to ___ a job at the local library.
Answer: D. take
When you accept an offer of employment, you 'take a job.' For example: 'I'm going to take the job at the bank.'
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Q18Please ___ an effort to be quiet in the library.
Answer: B. make
When you try hard to achieve something, the phrase is 'make an effort.' We do not 'do' an effort.
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Q19I want to ___ a look at the map before we start driving.
Answer: B. take
The phrase 'take a look' means to check or examine something quickly. 'Draw a look' is not standard English.
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Q20She ___ some research on the internet for her essay.
Answer: C. did
The word 'research' is like 'homework'—it is a task. Therefore, we 'do research.' Many students wrongly say 'make research,' but 'did' is the correct past tense form here.
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Q21He decided to ___ a break for lunch at noon.
Answer: D. take
When you stop working for a short time to rest, you 'take a break.' This is a very common fixed phrase.
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Q22They ___ a conversation about the plan for the weekend.
Answer: A. had
When two or more people talk to each other, they 'have a conversation.' We do not 'make' or 'do' a conversation.
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Q23She ___ a suggestion for the party that everyone liked.
Answer: B. made
When you share an idea for others to consider, you 'make a suggestion.' 'Make' is used for many speaking actions.
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Q24I need to ___ the washing before the guests arrive.
Answer: A. do
Household chores like 'the washing,' 'the dishes,' and 'the laundry' all use the verb 'do.' We 'do the washing' to clean our clothes.
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Q25Correct the error: I did my bed before leaving the room.
Answer: D. I made my bed before leaving the room.
The common phrase for tidying your blankets and pillows in the morning is 'make the bed.' Using 'did' is incorrect here.
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Q26Correct the error: He made business with the company for years.
Answer: D. He did business with the company for years.
In English, we 'do business' with people or companies. 'Make business' is a common mistake for learners. The past tense is 'did business.'
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Q27Correct the error: We made a walk in the park yesterday.
Answer: B. We took a walk in the park yesterday.
The correct phrase is 'take a walk.' We do not 'make' a walk. 'Walked a walk' is also incorrect because 'walk a walk' is simply not an established English collocation — it is the non-idiomatic nature of the phrase, not any grammatical rule about repeating the root, that makes it wrong.
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Q28Correct the error: Can you take me some advice on what to buy?
Answer: C. Can you give me some advice on what to buy?
When you provide a suggestion to someone, you 'give advice.' The phrase 'take advice' means to receive guidance from someone else, not to give it to others.
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Q29Correct the error: I am trying to do some progress with my English.
Answer: C. I am trying to make some progress with my English.
When you improve or move forward, you 'make progress.' Learners often incorrectly use 'do progress,' but 'make' is the only correct verb here.
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Q30Correct the error: She made permission from her boss to leave early.
Answer: D. She had permission from her boss to leave early.
If someone says 'yes' to your request, you 'have permission.' You do not 'make' or 'bring' permission. Her boss 'gave' permission, but she 'had' it.
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Q31Correct the error: I made a test yesterday and it was very difficult.
Answer: C. I took a test yesterday and it was very difficult.
When you are a student sitting for an exam, you 'take a test.' Teachers 'make' (create) or 'give' the test, but students 'take' it. 'Caught' and 'gave' are not valid collocations for sitting an exam.
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Q32Correct the error: I did a strange dream last night.
Answer: C. I had a strange dream last night.
In English, we 'have a dream.' We do not 'do' or 'make' dreams.
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Q33Correct the error: He took a presentation at the conference.
Answer: C. He gave a presentation at the conference.
When you stand in front of people to show information, you 'give a presentation.' This is the standard verb-noun collocation. 'Took a presentation' is incorrect; 'take' is used when receiving or sitting an exam, not when delivering content.
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Q34Correct the error: We did a party for her birthday.
Answer: A. We had a party for her birthday.
The natural phrase for hosting or attending a celebration is 'have a party.' You can also say 'throw a party,' but never 'do a party.'
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Q35Correct the error: Don't make any harm to the plants.
Answer: A. Don't do any harm to the plants.
To cause damage or hurt is 'do harm.' We do not 'make' harm. For example: 'That bug won't do any harm to you.'
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Q36I was late, so I had to ___ an excuse to my teacher.
Answer: C. make
When you give a reason for why something happened (especially to avoid trouble), you 'make an excuse.' We use 'make' because you are creating the reason.
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Q37The teacher will ___ a warning if you talk in class.
Answer: A. give
When someone tells you to stop doing something wrong or a penalty will happen, they 'give a warning.' We do not 'do' or 'make' a warning in this sense.
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Q38I ___ trouble finding the house because it was dark.
Answer: D. had
When you experience a problem or difficulty, we say you 'have trouble.' The past tense is 'had trouble.'
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Q39It is not easy to ___ a profit in this business.
Answer: C. make
In business, when you earn more money than you spend, you 'make a profit.' We do not 'do' a profit.
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Q40He needs to ___ some exercise to stay healthy.
Answer: C. do
We use 'do' for physical activities that don't involve a team or a ball, like 'do exercise' or 'do yoga.' 'Go some exercise' is not grammatical.
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Q41We should ___ a plan for our holiday soon.
Answer: B. make
When you organize or decide what to do in the future, you 'make a plan.' We do not 'do' a plan.
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Q42I ___ the impression that he was angry.
Answer: C. had
An 'impression' is a feeling or thought you get about someone. We say you 'have an impression.' The past tense is 'had the impression.'
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Q43It's important to ___ responsibility for your own actions.
Answer: B. take
When you accept that you are the one who caused something, you 'take responsibility.' This is a fixed phrase.
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Q44Could you ___ me a hand with these heavy boxes?
Answer: C. give
The idiom 'give someone a hand' means to help them. It does not mean giving a physical hand! We do not 'do' or 'make' a hand.
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Q45I usually ___ a nap in the afternoon to feel refreshed.
Answer: C. have
A short sleep during the day is called 'a nap.' We usually 'have a nap' or 'take a nap.' We do not 'do' or 'make' a nap.
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