Verb and noun partners
These pairs are everywhere in exams and in real writing. The noun fixes the verb, and the wrong verb sounds odd even when the meaning is clear.
pay / catch / keep
- pay attention
- pay a compliment
- catch a cold
- catch a busAlso 'take a bus'.
- keep a promise
- keep a secret
- keep in touch
break / tell / miss
- break the law
- break a promise
- break the ice · idiomIdiom: make people feel relaxed at the start of a meeting.
- tell the truth
- tell a lie
- tell a joke
- miss the bus
- miss a deadline
meet / reach / draw / hold
- meet a deadline
- reach a decision
- reach an agreement
- draw a conclusion
- hold a meeting
- gain experience
- raise a question
Now try it
8 gap-fill questions on this set.