ong>Answer:

A collocation is two words which we use together as a set phrase. For EXAMPLE we say a “tall building” rather than a “high building”. We use collocations all the time in English, so learning and using them will make you sound more natural.

There are different types of collocations. For example:

ADJECTIVE + noun (“blonde hair”, not “yellow hair”)

noun + noun (“pack of dogs”, not “group of dogs”)

verb + noun (“leave HOME”, not “go away from home”)

adverb + adjective (“beautifully behaved”, not “precisely behaved”)

verb + preposition, as in phrasal verbs (“work out a solution” not “think out a solution”)

verb + adverb (“breathe deeply” not “breathe profoundly”)

In this page you can find common collocations with prepositions.

Collocations with at

at FIRST = the first thing that happens

“At first I couldn’t understand my teacher, but then the lessons became easier.”

at hand = nearby, available

“Help is at hand if you NEED it.”

at home = when you are in your house

“Is your mother at home?”

at large = not yet captured

“Police say that the criminal is still at large.”

at last = finally

“We’re on holiday at last!”

(Also “at long last!”)

at least = something you say to show that there’s one positive thing

“They lost all their things in the fire. At least they were insured.”

at once = immediately

Come here at once!

= at the same time

“I can’t do everything at once!”

at risk = when there may be a negative result

“How many jobs are at risk if they close the factory?”

at school = when someone is studying / teaching at a school

“Is your daughter at school this morning?”

at the moment / at present = now

“At the moment I’m staying with friends.”

at work = when you are at the place where you work

“My Dad’s at work now.”