Collocations in English language

In the English language collocation refers to a natural combination of words that are closely affiliated with each other. Some examples are pay attention fast food make an effort and powerful engine. Collocations make it easier to avoid overused or ambiguous words like very nice or beautiful by using a pair of words that fit the context better and that have a more precise meaning. Skilled users of the language can produce effects such as humor by varying the normal patterns of collocation. This approach is especially popular with poets journalists and advertisers.Collocations may seem natural to native writers and speakers but are not obvious to non-native English speakers. For instance the adjective dark collocates with chocolate but not with tea.