Common Mistake: Verb Collocations (Make, Discuss, Suggest, Said)

Verb collocations, the natural word combinations native speakers use automatically, are a frequent source of mistakes for English learners. This lesson covers four common ones. The correct collocation is made a mistake, not did a mistake, since make pairs with mistake in English. The verb discuss doesn't need a preposition, so let's discuss it is correct, not let's discuss about it. After suggest, English uses the base verb without to, making I suggest you rest correct instead of I suggest you to rest. Finally, when reporting speech, said is used with that, so she said that she's tired is correct, not she told that she's tired, since told requires a direct object like told me. These collocations don't always translate directly from other languages, which is why they're easy to get wrong even at an advanced level. Practicing these specific verb patterns will help your English sound more natural and accurate in everyday conversation.