English-Portuguese and Portuguese-English Collocations Dictionary: Why This Type of Dictionary Does Not Replace a Native Speaker of English
By Author Giljonnys Dias da Silva
In the process of learning a new language, particularly English, one of the most important and challenging aspects for non-native speakers of English is mastering the use of collocations. Collocations are natural combinations of words that are often used together in a particular language. For example, in English, we might say "strong coffee," "make a decision," or "fast car." These combinations may seem simple, but they often don't translate directly from one language to another, and that's where a tool like a collocations dictionary becomes essential.
For the Collocations Incorporated in an English-Portuguese and Portuguese-English Collocations Dictionary Having a Positive Effect on English Learning, They Need to Be Taught Orally, and a Native Speaker of English Is the Best Person to Teach Them: https://www.recantodasletras.com.br/gramatica/8313203
Para as Colocações de Um Dicionário de Colocações Inglês-Português e Português-Inglês Terem Efeitos Positivos na Aprendizagem de Inglês É Necessário Ensiná-Las Oralmente e o Falante Nativo de Inglês É a Melhor Pessoa Indicada para Ensiná-Las: https://www.recantodasletras.com.br/gramatica/8313203
By click the link https://www.recantodasletras.com.br/gramatica/8292138 to read the text "English-Portuguese and Portuguese-English Collocations Dictionary: The Development of a Complete and Comprehensive Linguistic Corpus".
What Is a Collocations Dictionary?
A collocations dictionary, whether it’s an English-Portuguese or Portuguese-English version, is a specialized reference book or resource that lists common word pairings in both languages. The dictionary aims to help English learners understand how certain words naturally combine in English and Portuguese. For example, an English-Portuguese collocations dictionary would provide phrases like “take a break” or “make an effort” in English, along with their Portuguese equivalents like "fazer uma pausa" or "fazer um esforço."
Full access to all English-Portuguese and Portuguese-English collocations dictionary is granted only upon buying the complete version directly from the author.
Noun + Noun
business trip: viagem de negócios
family reunion: reunião de família
school bus: ônibus escolar
soccer match: jogo de futebol
birthday party: festa de aniversário
coffee break: pausa para o café
shopping mall: centro comercial
job interview: entrevista de emprego
data analysis: análise de dados
crime rate: índice de criminalidade
health care: cuidados com a saúde
team spirit: espírito de equipe
sports club: clube esportivo
work environment: ambiente de trabalho
travel agency: agência de viagens
police officer: policial
language barrier: barreira linguística
customer service: atendimento ao cliente
marriage proposal: pedido de casamento
public transport: transporte público
Noun + Preposition
solution to: solução para
reason for: razão para
interest in: interesse por
relationship with: relacionamento com
response to: resposta a
increase in: aumento em
knowledge of: conhecimento sobre
impact on: impacto em
advantage over: vantagem sobre
approach to: abordagem para
contribution to: contribuição para
difference between: diferença entre
focus on: foco em
access to: acesso a
cause of: causa de
need for: necessidade de
attack on: ataque a
knowledge about: conhecimento sobre
pressure on: pressão sobre
dependency on: dependência de
Noun + Verb
a dog barked: um cachorro latiu
a car flipped over: um carro capotou
the house will collapse: a casa ruirá
the student failed: o aluno foi reprovado
a tree bears: uma árvore produz
the car broke down: o carro enguiçou
Verb + Noun
make a decision: tomar uma decisão
take a risk: correr um risco
do your best: fazer o melhor possível
give advice: dar conselho
make a mistake: cometer um erro
take action: tomar medidas
have a conversation: conversar
give a speech: fazer um discurso
make a plan: fazer um plano
do your homework: fazer a lição de casa
take a break: fazer uma pausa
make an effort: fazer um esforço
take responsibility: assumir a responsabilidade
give a presentation: fazer uma apresentação
have an idea: ter uma ideia
take control: assumir o controle
do business: fazer negócios
have an impact: ter um impacto
give permission: dar permissão
Adjective + Noun
strong coffee: café forte
cold weather: tempo frio
big mistake: grande erro
heavy rain: chuva forte
bright light: luz brilhante
tall building: prédio alto
fast car: carro rápido
beautiful view: vista linda
hot soup: sopa quente
rich culture: cultura rica
loud noise: barulho alto
soft pillow: travesseiro macio
expensive watch: relógio caro
clean room: quarto limpo
old house: casa velha
healthy diet: dieta saudável
deep water: água profunda
sharp knife: faca afiada
quiet place: lugar silencioso
friendly person: pessoa amigável
Adjective + Preposition
afraid of: medo de
interested in: interessado em
proud of: orgulhoso de
famous for: famoso por
good at: bom em
tired of: cansado de
worried about: preocupado com
excited about: animado com
angry at: bravo com
keen on: a fim de, interessado em
disappointed with: decepcionado com
satisfied with: satisfeito com
crazy about: louco por
bad at: ruim em
similar to: semelhante a
jealous of: invejoso de
bored with: entediado com
responsible for: responsável por
shocked at: chocado com
content with: contente com
Adverb + Adjective
extremely difficult: extremamente difícil
quite easy: bastante fácil
very important: muito importante
highly recommended: altamente recomendado
incredibly fast: incrivelmente rápido
surprisingly good: surpreendentemente bom
exceptionally talented: excepcionalmente talentoso
totally wrong: totalmente errado
really beautiful: realmente bonito
completely different: completamente diferente
perfectly clear: perfeitamente claro
deeply moved: profundamente emocionado
completely satisfied: completamente satisfeito
absolutely necessary: absolutamente necessário
somewhat confusing: um pouco confuso
relatively simple: relativamente simples
particularly difficult: particularmente difícil
totally unexpected: totalmente inesperado
vividly clear: claramente vívido
incredibly lucky: incrivelmente sortudo
Adverb + Verb
completely agree: concordar completamente
highly recommend: recomendar fortemente
extremely dislike: não gostar extremamente
easily understand: entender facilmente
totally underestimate: subestimar totalmente
definitely improve: melhorar definitivamente
never forget: nunca esquecer
quickly adapt: adaptar-se rapidamente
always remember: sempre lembrar
fully support: apoiar totalmente
seriously consider: considerar seriamente
carefully examine: examinar cuidadosamente
rarely use: raramente usar
loudly complain: reclamar em voz alta
eagerly await: aguardar ansiosamente
precisely follow: seguir precisamente
usually prefer: geralmente preferir
warmly welcome: receber calorosamente
never doubt: nunca duvidar
gradually improve: melhorar gradualmente
Verb + Adjective
make sure: ter certeza
feel better: sentir-se melhor
look tired: parecer cansado
turn blue: ficar azul
become aware: tornar-se ciente
sound interesting: parecer interessante
seem impossible: parecer impossível
taste sweet: ter o gosto doce
look happy: parecer feliz
feel embarrassed: sentir-se envergonhado
stay calm: manter a calma
keep quiet: calar-se, ficar em silêncio
make anxious: deixar ansioso
prove useful: provar ser útil
get angry: ficar zangado
become rich: ficar rico
turn dark: ficar escuro
look gorgeous: estar bonita, estar deslumbrante
feel sad: sentir-se triste
make afraid: deixar com medo
Verb + Adverb
speak clearly: falar claramente
drive carefully: dirigir com cuidado
work hard: trabalhar duro
sleep deeply: dormir profundamente
run quickly: correr rapidamente
listen attentively: ouvir atentamente
think carefully: pensar cuidadosamente
act wisely: agir sabiamente
react violently: reagir violentamente
look closely: olhar de perto
speak loudly: falar alto
wait patiently: esperar pacientemente
sing beautifully: cantar lindamente
play well: jogar bem
work efficiently: trabalhar eficientemente
laugh loudly: rir alto
write clearly: escrever claramente
talk quietly: falar baixinho
read quickly: ler rapidamente
move gently: mover-se suavemente
Verb + Preposition
look at: olhar para
listen to: ouvir
speak to: falar com
talk about: falar sobre
think about: pensar sobre
wait for: esperar por
step down: descer
depend on: depender de
care about: importar-se com
believe in: acreditar em
dream of: sonhar com
turn off: desligar
agree with: concordar com
react to: reagir a
work on: trabalhar em
insist on: insistir em
focus on: focar em
apply for: andidatar-se a
run into: esbarrar com, encontrar por acaso
look for: procurar por
suffer from: sofrer de
pay for: pagar por
go up: subir
Verb + Verb with a To-Infinitive
want to go: querer ir
need to study: precisar estudar
try to finish: tentar terminar
hope to travel: esperar viajar, desejar viajar
plan to visit: planejar visitar
decide to quit: decidir deixar
learn to speak: aprender a falar
agree to help: concordar em ajudar
refuse to go: recusar ir
promise to call: prometer ligar
seem to rain: parecer que chove
attempt to solve: tentar resolver
fail to finish: falhar em terminar
expect to arrive: esperar chegar
dare to challenge: ousar desafio
Verb + Preposition + Verb with a To-Infinitive
turn out to be: vir a ser
be about to leave: estar prestes a
partir
Verb + Verb in the Gerund/Participle Past
enjoy reading: gostar de ler
avoid answering: evitar responder
consider moving: considerar se mudar
finish cleaning: terminar de limpar
suggest going:sugerir ir
stop smoking: parou de fumar
admit cheating: admitir ter trapaceado
recommend visiting: recomendar visitar
regret studying: lamentar ter estudado
mind opening: importar-se de abrir
Verb + Preposition + Verb in the Gerund/Participle Past
look forward to meeting: estar ansioso para encontrar
think about going: pensar em ir
insist on driving: insistir em dirigir
depend on working: depender de trabalhar
abstain from smoking: abster-se de fumar
dream of having: sonhar em ter
give up reading: desistir de ler
prevent from entering: impedir de entrar
take to singing: começar a cantar
keep on looking: continuar procurando
Verb + Somebody/Something + The Bare Infinitive
let somebody go: deixar alguém ir
make somebody cry: fazer alguém chorar
help somebody finish: ajudar alguém a terminar
see somebody leave: ver alguém sair
hear something collapse: ouvir algo ruir
feel something touch: sentir alguém tocar
watch somebody play: assistir alguém jogar
Verb + The Bare Infinitive
would rather stay: preferir ficar
can dance: poder dançar
shall be: serei, será, seremos, serão
may come: poder vir
should try: deveria tentar
must stop: dever parar
Idiomatic Expressions
break the ice: quebrar o gelo, aliviar a tensão, sair da rotina, superar dificuldades iniciais
bite the bullet: engolir o sapo, aceitar o inevitável
hit the nail on the head: acertar na mosca
spill the beans: contar um segredo, abrir o jogo
be under the weather: estar mal, não se sentir bem
a piece of cake: moleza, facinho
burn the midnight oil: virar a noite, trabalhar até tarde
be caught between a rock and a hard place: ficar entre a cruz e a espada
cost an arm and a leg: custar os olhos da cara
by the skin of your teeth: por um triz
a dime a dozen: a preço de banana
hit the sack: cair na cama, ir dormir
Proverbs
A stitch in time saves nine.: É melhor prevenir do que remediar.
Actions speak louder than words.: Ações falam mais alto que palavras.
Don't count your chickens before they hatch.: Não conte com o ovo no cu da galinha.
You can't judge a book by its cover.: Não se pode julgar um livro pela capa.
The purpose of these bilingual dictionaries is to offer learners practical guidance on how words are most frequently used together in both languages. This is crucial because collocations often do not follow the same patterns when translated. For instance, while an English speaker might say "make a mistake," a Portuguese speaker would typically say "cometer um erro," using the verb "cometer" rather than "fazer" (which is more common in English).
Why This Type of Dictionary Doesn’t Replace a Native Speaker of English
While collocations dictionaries are incredibly useful, they do not replace the knowledge and intuition that a native speaker of English has about language use. There are several reasons why relying on such dictionaries alone is insufficient for mastering the natural, fluent use of English.
1. Contextual Sensitivity and Naturalness: Native speakers of English have an intuitive sense of which word combinations sound most natural in different contexts. For example, a native speaker of English may know that "make a promise" is used in most situations, but they also understand that in some specific contexts, a different verb might be preferred. The phrase "give a promise" might sound awkward or unnatural, even though "give" is a common verb in other collocations like "give a speech."
Collocations dictionaries, though helpful, are often limited to providing standardized pairings that are grammatically correct but may miss the nuanced or less common ways native speakers use language. They don’t always reflect regional variations, informal speech, or idiomatic expressions that can vary from one English-speaking country to another.
2. Evolution of Language: Language is constantly evolving, and native speakers of English are attuned to these shifts in language use. New phrases and slang emerge regularly, and native speakers naturally incorporate them into their speech, while non-native speakers of English might only be familiar with more traditional or textbook expressions. A collocations dictionary may not always keep up with these changes, leading to gaps in the language learner's understanding of modern or casual usage.
For instance, native speakers of English might say “chill out” to mean "relax," but this idiomatic expression might not appear in a collocations dictionary if it’s too new or informal. As a result, learners might miss out on important cultural references or conversational expressions that are vital to being seen as a fluent speaker.
3. Tone, Register, and Form: Collocations are not just about finding words that go together; they are also about understanding tone, formality, and register. A native speaker of English intuitively knows when to use formal collocations (e.g., "submit a proposal") versus informal ones (e.g., "throw out an idea"). A bilingual dictionary may list both variations, but it cannot teach the subtle cues that determine which one is appropriate for a given situation.
For example, consider the difference between “take a look” and “have a look.” While both are correct, "take a look" might be considered slightly more formal, and its use could be influenced by the specific social or professional context in which it occurs.
4. Cultural References and Idioms: A key part of using collocations naturally is understanding the cultural context behind them. Many collocations, particularly idioms, are deeply rooted in the culture of native speakers of English. For example, the phrase “hit the nail on the head” is not just about collocating specific words—it’s a cultural expression that might need explanation for non-native speakers. A collocations dictionary can provide this phrase, but it won’t provide the cultural context, history, or usage nuances that native speakers possess.
A phrase like "keep your fingers crossed" may be unfamiliar to a learner who only has the dictionary’s translation but doesn't understand its cultural connotation of hope or luck. Without that cultural context, English learners might misapply the collocation or feel unsure about when and how to use it.
How Native Speakers Use Collocations
Native speakers of English use collocations almost instinctively. They often don’t think consciously about the words they choose but rely on their lifelong exposure to the language. This intuitive grasp of collocations is built on:
1. Exposure: Native speakers of English are immersed in the language from birth. They hear words combined in various ways through everyday conversations, media, books, songs, and more. As a result, their brain builds patterns of which word combinations are most common and natural.
2. Cultural Immersion: A significant part of learning to use collocations correctly is exposure to the culture. English-speaking cultures have certain norms, customs, and idiomatic phrases that influence the way collocations are formed. A native speaker’s understanding of the social dynamics in which certain collocations are used is something that cannot be fully replicated by a dictionary. For example, a British English speaker might use different collocations compared to a U.S. American speaker in the same context, even if they both speak English.
3. Practice and Refinement: As with any other skill, using collocations naturally comes down to practice. Native speakers of English fine-tune their understanding of which word combinations sound best in different situations through continual use. This refinement happens subconsciously and is not something that can be simply learned from a dictionary. Even when mistakes are made, native speakers of English quickly adjust based on feedback from others or through internal self-correction.
4. Flexibility and Creativity: Native speakers of English also demonstrate flexibility with collocations. They might combine words in innovative ways based on their understanding of context, their creativity, and sometimes just for fun. They might say “crash a party” or “break the news” without much thought, but this creativity is often what makes their speech sound dynamic and vibrant.
In conclusion, the English-Portuguese and Portuguese-English Collocations Dictionary is an invaluable resource for learners of English, providing them with practical guidance on how words tend to be used together in common expressions. However, it cannot replace the nuanced, intuitive knowledge of a native speaker. Native speakers have an inherent understanding of collocations, built over years of exposure, practice, and cultural immersion. They are able to navigate the subtle differences in meaning, tone, and context that dictionaries often cannot fully capture. For learners, the ultimate goal is to move beyond the dictionary, integrating this knowledge into real-life conversation, where the true mastery of collocations and natural-sounding language comes to life.
Bibliographic References
McCarthy, M., & O'Dell, F. (2005). English Collocations in Use: Intermediate. Cambridge University Press.
This book offers a comprehensive approach to understanding and learning English collocations, providing learners with practical examples and exercises. It is a great reference for anyone seeking to learn how words typically combine in natural English usage.
Liu, D. (2008). Collocations in a Learner's Dictionary: What are They and How Can They Be Used? The Language Teacher, 32(3), 21-25.
This article discusses the significance of collocations in language acquisition, especially focusing on how learners can use dictionaries to identify and use collocations effectively.
Benson, M., Benson, E., & Ilson, R. (2010). The BBI Combinatory Dictionary of English: Your Guide to Collocations and Grammar. John Benjamins Publishing Company.
A thorough dictionary of English collocations, this resource provides insight into word combinations and their typical contexts. It also explores grammar and syntax in relation to common English phrases.
Nesselhauf, N. (2005). Collocations in a Learner Corpus. Amsterdam Studies in the Theory and History of Linguistic Science, Series 4. John Benjamins Publishing.
This book analyzes how collocations are used in authentic language, focusing on how learners acquire collocations and the challenges they face when dealing with language pairings.
Wells, G. (2000). The Role of Collocations in Language Learning and Teaching. Language Teaching, 33(2), 73-93.
Wells discusses the importance of collocations in language learning and teaching, arguing that native-like proficiency comes from understanding and using collocations in everyday language.
Carter, R., & McCarthy, M. (2006). Cambridge Grammar of English: A Comprehensive Guide to Spoken and Written English Grammar and Usage. Cambridge University Press.
This book covers English grammar in detail, including a thorough discussion of collocations and their role in both spoken and written communication.
Hill, J. (2000). Collocation: A Practical Guide for English Language Teachers. ELT Journal, 54(1), 18-26.
Hill offers practical advice for teachers of English on how to help students acquire collocations and use them effectively in their language production.
Kjellmer, G. (1994). Using Corpora in Language Teaching. Language Learning, 44(1), 105-132.
This article discusses the value of corpora (large collections of authentic language) in teaching language learners about word combinations, including collocations, and how learners can benefit from exposure to real-world language use.
Sinclair, J. (1991). Corpus, Concordance, Collocation. Oxford University Press.
A foundational text on the use of corpora to study collocations, this book explores how linguistic patterns emerge in natural language use and how they can be used in teaching and learning.
Schmitt, N. (2000). Vocabulary in Language Teaching. Cambridge University Press.
Schmitt’s book delves into vocabulary acquisition and the role of collocations in building fluency. It is a great resource for understanding how word combinations form part of the broader vocabulary system in English.