Nomen-Verb-Verbindungen (1)
Verb-noun collocations (1)
Verb-noun collocations are fixed combinations of a noun and a verb that together carry one meaning. Often a simple verb would also work, but the collocation sounds more formal – typical of newspapers, officialdom and the workplace.
You have to memorise the right verb: it is usually treffen, nehmen, stellen, machen, halten. You can't translate it literally from English/Turkish.
| Collocation | simple verb |
|---|---|
| eine Entscheidung treffen | entscheiden (to decide) |
| Rücksicht nehmen | rücksichtsvoll sein (to be considerate) |
| eine Frage stellen | fragen (to ask) |
| einen Fehler machen | sich irren (to be mistaken) |
Note:
- The verb is fixed – learn it together with the noun.
- Don't translate literally (not "eine Entscheidung machen").
- Sounds more formal/written than the simple verb.
Examples:
- Wir müssen eine Entscheidung treffen. (We have to make a decision.)
- Bitte nimm Rücksicht auf die Nachbarn. (Please be considerate of the neighbours.)
- Darf ich eine Frage stellen? (May I ask a question?)
Eine Entscheidung ___ = entscheiden.