The words "fast," "quick," and "pieces" can each serve different grammatical functions and can collocate with specific verbs. Here's a breakdown of these terms along with suitable collocations:
Fast
Definition: "Fast" typically means moving or capable of moving at high speed. It can also refer to something done in a very short time.
Collocating Verbs:
- Run fast - To move quickly on foot.
- Example: "The athlete can run fast."
- Drive fast - To operate a vehicle at high speed.
- Example: "He tends to drive fast on the highway."
- Think fast - To come up with a solution quickly.
- Example: "During the quiz, I had to think fast."
- React fast - To respond quickly to a situation.
- Example: "In emergencies, it is crucial to react fast."
Quick
Definition: "Quick" refers to something that takes a short amount of time or is speedy in nature.
Collocating Verbs:
- Make quick - To hasten a process or action.
- Example: "Please make a quick decision."
- Give a quick - To provide something in a brief manner.
- Example: "He gave a quick explanation of the rules."
- Take a quick - To perform an action rapidly or in a short timeframe.
- Example: "Let’s take a quick look at the report."
- Have a quick - To engage in a brief interaction.
- Example: "Can we have a quick chat?"
Pieces
Definition: "Pieces" generally refers to portions, sections, or fragments of something, often used in the plural form.
Collocating Verbs:
- Cut into pieces - To divide something into smaller portions.
- Example: "She cut the cake into pieces."
- Put together pieces - To assemble or combine sections to form a whole.
- Example: "He is trying to put the pieces together in the puzzle."
- Gather pieces - To collect or accumulate fragments.
- Example: "They gathered the pieces of the broken vase."
- Break into pieces - To fracture or divide something into multiple parts.
- Example: "The glass fell and broke into pieces."
These collocations illustrate how these words interact with verbs to create common phrases in English, enhancing clarity and aiding effective communication.