Understanding English Collocations for Sentence Completion

A collocation is a group of words that often go together. When words collocate, they sound natural to native English speakers. Choosing the correct word to complete a sentence often relies on knowing these common collocations. The question asks us to complete the collocation in the sentence: "Since I like him a lot, I _____ him out."

Let's look at the options provided and see which one forms a common and meaningful collocation in this context.

Analysing the Collocation Options

We are given four options to complete the phrase "_____ him out":

• talked
• went
• asked
• called

We need to consider which of these words forms a standard English collocation with "him out" that fits the meaning of the sentence, which is "Since I like him a lot...". The first part of the sentence suggests an action related to expressing interest or starting a relationship.

Why 'Asked' Completes the Collocation

The phrase "ask someone out" is a very common collocation in English. It means to invite someone to go on a date with you. This meaning perfectly fits the context provided by the first part of the sentence, "Since I like him a lot". If you like someone a lot, a natural action is to invite them on a date.

Therefore, "asked him out" is the correct way to complete the collocation in this sentence.

The completed sentence reads: "Since I like him a lot, I asked him out."

Examining Other Options for Completing the Collocation

Let's consider why the other options do not fit the sentence and its intended meaning:

• talked him out: The collocation "talk someone out of something" means to persuade someone not to do something. For example, "She talked him out of quitting his job." This meaning does not fit the sentence "Since I like him a lot, I talked him out," as it doesn't make sense in the context of liking someone and taking action towards them.
• went him out: "Went him out" is not a standard or common collocation in English. We might say "went out with him" (meaning dated him), but "went him out" is grammatically incorrect and doesn't form a recognised phrase.
• called him out: The collocation "call someone out" has several meanings, such as to challenge someone's actions or statement ("He called her out on her lie") or sometimes to challenge someone to a fight. Neither of these meanings fits the context of liking someone and taking action based on that feeling.

Based on the standard collocations and the context of the sentence, "asked" is the only word that correctly and meaningfully completes the phrase "_____ him out" given the situation described ("Since I like him a lot").

Conclusion on Sentence Completion and Collocation

To correctly complete the collocation in the sentence "Since I like him a lot, I _____ him out," we must choose the word that forms a standard English phrase fitting the context. The phrase "ask someone out" meaning to invite someone on a date, is the appropriate collocation here. Thus, the correct word is "asked".

Revision Table: Common 'Out' Collocations

Additional Information on Completing Sentences with Collocations

Understanding collocations is crucial for improving fluency and making your English sound more natural. Here are a few tips for learning and using collocations:

• Notice how words are used together: Pay attention when reading or listening to English. Keep an eye out for words that frequently appear next to each other.
• Use a good dictionary: Many dictionaries provide information about common collocations for words.
• Practice using them: Try incorporating new collocations into your own sentences when speaking or writing.
• Learn them in context: It's easier to remember collocations when you learn them within a sentence or a specific situation, like the example "ask him out" in the context of liking someone.

By actively learning collocations like "ask him out", you can significantly improve your ability to complete sentences correctly and use English more effectively.