IELTS collocations

Take, have and get collocations for IELTS

16 collocations with take, have and get, three verbs that pair with dozens of nouns. Each one has its meaning, an exam-style example and, where useful, the version to avoid.

Example

take responsibility for

Companies must take responsibility for the waste they produce.

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  • Writing and Speaking

Written byFizza Butool ZaidiandAli ZaidiUpdated 11 November 2026

16 collocations

Take, have and get: collocations with examples

Formal pairs suit Writing Task 2. Neutral ones work anywhere. Informal ones belong in Speaking.

  1. 1.take responsibility for

    neutral

    accept that something is your duty or your fault

    Companies must take responsibility for the waste they produce.

    For, not of.

    Avoid: take responsibility of → take responsibility for

  2. 2.take part in

    neutral

    join in an activity

    Over a million people took part in the protest.

    Participate in is more formal.

    Avoid: take part on → take part in

  3. 3.take steps to

    formal

    act in order to achieve something

    Schools should take steps to reduce bullying.

    Take measures to is a formal alternative.

  4. 4.take something into account

    formal

    consider something when making a decision

    Planners must take local opinion into account.

    Take into consideration is an alternative.

  5. 5.take advantage of

    neutral

    use an opportunity; or use someone unfairly

    Students should take advantage of free online courses.

    Context shows which meaning you intend.

  6. 6.take a risk

    neutral

    do something that might have a bad result

    Entrepreneurs take a risk every time they invest their own money.

    Take risks in the plural for a habit.

    Avoid: make a risk → take a risk

  7. 7.take place

    neutral

    happen, especially as planned

    The Olympic Games take place every four years.

    Take place is intransitive and has no passive.

    Avoid: be taken place → take place

  8. 8.have an impact on

    neutral

    have an effect on something

    Social media has a huge impact on how teenagers see themselves.

    On, not to.

    Avoid: have an impact to → have an impact on

  9. 9.have access to

    neutral

    be able to use or reach something

    Every child should have access to clean water.

    Access is a noun here and takes to.

  10. 10.have difficulty doing

    neutral

    find something hard to do

    Many older people have difficulty using online banking.

    Use the -ing form, or have difficulty with + noun.

    Avoid: have difficulty to use → have difficulty doing

  11. 11.have a say in

    informal

    have the right to give an opinion that is considered

    Residents should have a say in how their area is developed.

    Natural in Speaking; acceptable in Writing.

  12. 12.have a good time

    informal

    enjoy yourself

    We had a great time at the festival.

    Speaking. Good, great and wonderful all work.

  13. 13.get a job

    informal

    find and start a job

    It took my brother six months to get a job after university.

    Find or secure employment is more formal.

  14. 14.get used to

    neutral

    become familiar with something

    International students soon get used to the climate.

    Followed by a noun or -ing.

    Avoid: get used to live → get used to

  15. 15.get in touch with

    informal

    contact someone

    Social media makes it easy to get in touch with old school friends.

    Keep in touch means stay in contact.

  16. 16.get the chance to

    informal

    have the opportunity to do something

    I rarely get the chance to practise English outside class.

    Have the opportunity to is more formal.

Band tip

Take, have and get are common words, but their prepositions are where errors appear: responsibility for, impact on, part in. Learn each phrase with its preposition, because the Band 8 descriptor allows only occasional inaccuracies in word choice and collocation.

Source: the public IELTS band descriptors, summarised on ielts.org. Using these collocations will not by itself guarantee a band; accuracy and relevance matter most.

Writing Task 2

Use it in an answer

An excerpt we wrote to show these collocations working together. Collocations from this page are in bold.

Writing Task 2Sample excerpt

Some people think that individuals should take responsibility for their own health. Others believe it is the government's job. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Some argue that adults should take responsibility for their own diet and exercise, since daily choices have the greatest impact on long-term health. However, not everyone has access to fresh food or safe places to exercise, so personal effort alone is not enough. Governments should therefore take steps to make healthy choices easier, for example by taxing sugary drinks. Any policy should also take local needs into account, because a solution in one city may fail in another.

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Frequently asked questions

Is "take responsibility of" ever correct?+

No. Use take responsibility for. Be in charge of is a different phrase that does take of.

Can "get" be used in Writing Task 2?+

Get is fine in moderation, but more formal verbs often sound better: obtain, find, become. Get used to is natural in any register.

Is "have an effect on" the same as "have an impact on"?+

Yes, they are interchangeable. Impact can sound slightly stronger. Both take on.

Why is "be taken place" wrong?+

Take place is intransitive, so it has no passive. Write "the event took place", not "was taken place".

Keep going

More collocations

Practise in context

Real IELTS questions to try them on

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