THE ENGLISH ADJECTIVE LEXICAL COLLOCATION

Siti Aisah , Prof. Dr. Indiyah Imran

Undergraduate Program, 2009

Gunadarma University
http://www.gunadarma.ac.id

Keyword : ENGLISH ADJECTIVE, LEXICAL, COLLOCATION

ABSTRACT :
The aims of this research are to describe the English adjective collocations, other word classes that
collocate with the English adjective, the most frequent combination of adjective collocations, and to
describe the meaning of adjective collocations. This research discussed the English adjective lexical
(medium-strength) collocation. In case of speaking and writing, there are some problems non-native
speakers may have with English vocabulary use in particular with the appropriate combinations of
words. This research uses a qualitative descriptive method, because all of the data are in the form of
words and sentences not numbers. Besides, this research is also a descriptive research, because it
involves the collecting of data is to answer research questions concerning the current status of the
subject of the study (David, Wilkinson. 2000:7). After finding 200 data, the writer classified two main
categories, namely adjective + noun (L3) and adverb + adjective (L6). The writer also classified six
subcategories, they are derivational adjective + noun, describing adjective + noun, intensifying
adjective + noun, adverb + derivational adjective, adverb + inherent quality, and adverb + physical
state. The most frequent combination of adjective lexical collocations is adverb + derivational
adjective; there are 94 data or 47% of the whole data. All of the collocations in this research have
common meaning.
 GUNADARMA UNIVERSITY
FACULTY OF LETTERS

THE ENGLISH ADJECTIVE LEXICAL COLLOCATION

Written By:

Name : Siti Aisah

NPM : 10605123
NIRM : 20053137200350121
Major : English
Advisor 1 : Prof. Dr. Indiyah Imran
Advisor 2 : Ni Luh Putu Setiarini, SS, MHum

An Undergraduate Thesis
Submitted to the Faculty of Letters
As a Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for
S1 degree in English Department

JAKARTA
2009

1
 ABSTRACT
Siti Aisah. 2009. “The English Adjective Lexical Collocation”. Skripsi. English Department. Faculty of
Letters. Gunadarma University. Advisors: (1) Prof. Dr. Indiyah Imran; (2) Ni Luh Putu Setiarini, SS,
MHum.
Key Words: Linguistic, Collocation, Lexical Collocation.
The aims of this research are to describe the English adjective collocations, other word classes
that collocate with the English adjective, the most frequent combination of adjective collocations, and
to describe the meaning of adjective collocations. This research discussed the English adjective lexical
(medium-strength) collocation. In case of speaking and writing, there are some problems non-native
speakers may have with English vocabulary use in particular with the appropriate combinations of
words.
This research uses a qualitative descriptive method, because all of the data are in the form of
words and sentences not numbers. Besides, this research is also a descriptive research, because it
involves the collecting of data is to answer research questions concerning the current status of the
subject of the study (David, Wilkinson. 2000:7).
After finding 200 data, the writer classified two main categories, namely adjective + noun (L3)
and adverb + adjective (L6). The writer also classified six subcategories, they are derivational
adjective + noun, describing adjective + noun, intensifying adjective + noun, adverb + derivational
adjective, adverb + inherent quality, and adverb + physical state. The most frequent combination of
adjective lexical collocations is adverb + derivational adjective; there are 94 data or 47% of the whole
data. All of the collocations in this research have common meaning.

Introduction

1.1 Background of the Research

1.1.1 Justification of the Research
The subject of this research is collocation which refers to the way words occur together in
speech and writing (Leech et al., 2005). Lexical collocations, in contrast to grammatical collocations,
normally do not contain prepositions, infinitives, or clauses. Typical lexical collocations consist of
nouns, adjectives, verbs, and adverbs (Benson, M., Benson, E., Ilson, R., 1997:xxiv). According to
Marcella Frank (1972:109), the adjective is a modifier that has the grammatical property of
comparison. It is often identified by special derivational endings or by special adverbial modifiers that
precede it. As we know that knowledge of collocation is vital for competent use of a language. In case
of speaking and writing, there are some problems non-native speakers may have with English
vocabulary use in particular with the appropriate combinations of words. The problem for the learner
of English is that there are no collocation rules that can be learned. The native English speaker
intuitively makes the correct collocation, based on a lifetime experience of hearing and reading the
words in set combinations. The non-native speaker has more limited experience and may frequently
collocates words in a way that sounds odd to the native speaker.
The writer as a non-native speaker wishes to research this topic because it is important as an
input to master English collocation. By doing this research, the writer hopes that this research will be
useful for other people when facing the problems in combining English lexical adjective correctly.
This research is important to be carried out because collocation runs through the whole of all
languages. No piece of natural spoken or written in English is totally free of collocation. For the
student, choosing the right collocation will make his speech and writing much more natural and more
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native-speakers like.

1.2 Previous Research

1.2.1 M. Benson, E. Benson, and R. Ilson (1997)
The BBI Combinatory Dictionary of English. (Benson, E. Benson, and R. Ilson, 1997). This
study gives essential grammatical and lexical collocations; when necessary, it provides definitions,
paraphrases, and Usage Notes. Much of the material provided in this Dictionary has never before been
published. This Dictionary provides such collocations as call an alert, crack a smile, punch a time, etc;
in order to enable the user of the Dictionary to find them quickly and easily, they are given in the
entries for the nouns. The BBI Dictionary, attention is consistently paid to lexical and collocational
differences between AE and BE. These differences are noted in the entries and Usage Notes.
1.2.2 Candy Chen-Pin Liu (2000)
A Study of Strategy Use in Producing Lexical Collocation. (Candy Chen-Pin Liu, Chinese
Culture University, 2000). This study examined strategy use in producing lexical collocations among
freshmen English majors at the Chinese Culture University. Overall, retrieval, literal translation, de-
lexicalized verbs, synonyms, and appeal to authority were the most effective types of strategy use
leading to production of acceptable collocations.
1.2.3 Jui Hsin Theresa Wang and Robert L. Good (2007)
The Repetition of Collocations in EFL Textbooks: A Corpus Study. (Jui Hsin Theresa Wang
and Robert L. Good, National Kaohsiung First University of Science and technology, 2007). Their
study investigates verb-noun collocations found in the three most popular series of English textbooks
for senior high schools in Southern Taiwan. Their focus is verb-noun lexical collocations because these
have been shown to be difficult for EFL learners. Repetitions of these collocations were identified by
searching the textbook corpus using a proprietary computer-based program. The results show that these
collocations were repeated from three to five times on average. Moreover, most collocations (80%)
occurred only one to five times throughout the whole series of textbooks. Because the low number of
repetition. It is concluded that textbook writers may need to re-evaluate the importance of repetition for
collocations if their acquisition is a goal.
1.2.4 Shahheidaripour (2000)
Interlanguage Development and Collocational Clash. (Gholamabbass Shahheidaripour, The
Iran Language Institute, English department, Islamic Azad University, Kerman, Iran, 2000). The
rational behind this study was to touch the lexical aspect of IL development to investigate whether
learning only one sense of a word may lead to collocational clash and vocabulary misplacement, and if
so, is it a major source of errors in second language acquisition or not? In order for him to conduct the
required studies, two directional hypotheses were presented:H1: Learning only one sense of a word
results in vocabulary misplacement and collocational clash, and consequently, H2: Vocabulary
misplacement and collocational clash may be considered as main sources of errors in second language
acquisition.
1.2.5 C.C. Shei and Helen Pain (2000)
An ESL Writer’s Collocational Aid. (C.C. Shei and Helen Pain, Division of Informatics,
University of Edinburgh, 2000). Their research attempts to correct the problem of advanced Chinese
learners’ collocational ability in English to be significantly inferior to that of native speakers. They
correct the problem by developing an on-line correcting program which is able to detect some
collocational errors in the learner’s English writing and offer examples of standard collocations from a
large corpus for reference. The system is based on two kinds of corpora: a learner corpus which is used
to extract standard English collocations. The system also makes use of a Dictionary of Synonyms
derived from Word Net to discover the potential collocational errors in learners’ input, as well as a
Paraphrase Database gathered from the learners themselves to help diagnose un-collocational learner
phrase.
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1.3 Position of the Research
The previous research which is the most related to this research is Benson et al. They discussed
English grammatical and lexical collocations. Use of the Combinatory Dictionary will help learners
avoid such errors. This study is similar to Wei’s in discussing about collocation as one important aspect
of productive vocabulary. The second most related previous research is Candy Chen-Pin Liu’s. Liu
discussed Strategy Used in Producing Lexical Collocation. Liu’s examined strategy use in producing
lexical collocations among freshmen English majors at the Chinese Culture University. Divided into
two major groups by English writing proficiency, students completed three tasks: a collocation test.
This research is similar to Liu’s in discussing about lexical collocation.
There are three previous researches which are not so related to discuss this research. They are
Jui Hsin Theresa Wang and Robert L. Good’s. They discussed the importance of repetition in the
acquisition of lexical items. Their focus is verb-noun lexical collocations. Their study investigates
verb-noun collocations found in the three most popular series of English textbooks for senior high
schools in Southern Taiwan. Gholamabbass Shahheidaripour’s. He discussed about the lexical aspect of
IL development to investigate whether learning only one sense of a word may lead to collocational
clash and vocabulary misplacement. This research is similar to Good’s and Shahheidaripour’s in
discussing about lexical collocation. Meanwhile, the last previous research which is not so related to
this research is Shei and Pain’s. They about how to correct the problem of Chinese learners’
collocational ability in English which significantly inferior to that of native speakers by developing an
on-line correcting program which is able to detect some collocational errors in the learner’s English
writing and offer examples of standard collocations from a large corpus for reference. This research is
similar to Shei and Pain’s in discussing collocations.
The difference between this research and the five previous researches is this research focuses on
lexical adjective collocation. This research is conducted to describe what words collocate with the
English adjective, what adjective collocations that found in English, and to describe the most frequent
combinations of adjective collocations which we can not find in previous researches above. The
position of the research in relation with the previous researches is as an additional research.

1.4 Significance of the Research

The writer hopes this research may contribute the progress in the science of linguistics
especially on collocation and vocabulary. Therefore the writer hopes that this research will be useful
for the reader and especially for the students of English to improve their vocabulary on English
adjective collocations, so they will understand what words collocate with the English adjectives.

1.5 Problem of the Research

1. What adjective collocations are in English?
2. What other word classes collocate with the English adjective?
3. What combination is the most frequent of adjective collocations?
4. What is the meaning of adjective collocations in English?

1.6 Aim of the Research

1. To describe English adjective collocations.
2. To describe word classes that collocate with the English adjective.
3. To describe the most frequent combination of adjective collocations.
4. To describe the meaning of adjective collocations in English.

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No. The Main and Sub-categories in Adjective Lexical Collocation Data Percentage

1.7 Scope of the Research

To make the limitation of the research, the writer focuses only on English lexical adjective
(medium-strength) collocations. The writer does not discuss grammatical collocations and other lexical
collocations such as verb collocations and noun collocations.

Result of the Research

4.1 Introduction

Word Classes that Collocate with the

English Adjective

Adv + Adj
64%

Adj + Noun
36%

Figure 4.1 Word Classes that Collocate with the English Adjective.

After finding 200 data, the writer established two main categories, namely (L3) adjective +
noun and (L6) adverb + adjective. In the first pattern which is (L3) adjective + noun, the writer found
72 data (36%). Meanwhile, the second pattern which is (L6) adverb + adjective, the writer found 128
data (64%). Those two main categories are further subcategorized. The first main category (L3) is
subcategorized into three sub-categories. They are 1) derivational adjectives + noun, 2) describing
adjectives + noun, and 3) intensifying adjectives + noun. The most frequent combination is the sub-
category describing adjectives + noun consists of 40 data or 20 %. The second main category (L6) is
subcategorized into three sub-categories. They are 1) adverb + derivational adjective, 2) adverb +
inherent quality, and 3) adverb + physical state. The most frequent combination is the sub-category
adverb + derivational adjective consists of 94 data or 47 %.
So, based on the data the most frequent combination of adjective collocations is adverb +
derivational adjective.
Because all of the collocations in this research have common meaning, this research chose one
theory, that is the theory of common meaning.
The writer then will analyze the data into each sub-categories based on the patterns
characteristics. Figure 4.2 below consists of the main categories and the sub-categories of the data.

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1. (L3) Adjective + Noun 72 36 %
a. Derivational Adjectives + Noun 20 10 %
b. Describing Adjectives + Noun 40 20 %
c. Intensifying Adjectives + Noun 12 6%
2. (L6) Adverb + Adjective 128 64 %
a. Adverb + Derivational Adjective 94 47 %
b. Adverb + Inherent Quality 28 14 %
c. Adverb + Physical State 6 3%
Total 200 100 %

Figure 4.2 the main and sub-categories in adjective lexical collocation.

4.2 (L3) Adjective + Noun

The total data is 72, with characteristics of patterns in adjective lexical collocations as follows:
4.2.1 Derivational Adjectives + Noun
Data:
Curious
~ feeling, mistake, person
(1) It was a curious feeling, as though we were floating on air.
(2) The performer has no curious mistake.
(3) He is such a curious person, always asking question.
Discussion:
The word curious in sentence (1), (2), and (3) is the focal word. Meanwhile, the word feeling,
mistake, and person are the collocates. The highlighted words in those three sentences are collocations
because the collocates determine the meaning.
The word curious in those sentences above can not be replaced by the word inquiring, although
both curious and inquiring have same meaning. Because inquiring feeling, inquiring mistake, and
inquiring person are unnatural English.
Data:
Instant
~ access, dislike, relief, success, use, action, preoccupation
(4) This account gives you instant access to your money.
(5) She took an instant dislike to me.
(6) The medicine provide instant relief from headaches.
(7) The show was an instant success.
(8) Ready for instant use.
Discussion:
The word instant in sentence (4), (5), (6), (7), and (8) is the focal word. Meanwhile, the word
access, dislike, relief, success, and use are the collocates. The highlighted words in those five
sentences are collocations because the collocates determine the meaning.
The word instant in those sentences above can not be replaced by the word rapid, although both
instant and rapid have same meaning. Because rapid access, rapid dislike, rapid relief, rapid success,
and rapid use are unnatural English.
Data:
Permanent
~ address, basis, damage, wave
(9) She does not have a permanent address.
(10) They are now living together on a permanent basis.
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 (11) The accident has not done any permanent damage.
(12) She came to the party with a permanent wave.
Discussion:
The word permanent in sentence (9), (10), (11), and (12) is the focal word. Meanwhile, the
word address, basis, damage, and wave are the collocates. The highlighted words in those four
sentences are collocations because the collocates determine the meaning.
The word permanent in those sentences above can not be replaced by the word lasting,
although both permanent and lasting have same meaning. Because lasting address, lasting basis,
lasting damage, and lasting wave are unnatural English.
Data:
Powerful
~ remedy, friends, position, computer, drug, force, machine, voice
(13) The patient is getting better after took some powerful remedy from the doctor.
(14) Only the intervention of powerful friends obtained her release.
(15) The man got a powerful position in his office.
(16) It was a powerful computer.
(17) It was a powerful drug.
Discussion:
The word powerful in sentence (13), (14), (15), (16), and (17) is the focal word. Meanwhile, the
word remedy, friends, position, computer, and drug are the collocates. The highlighted words in those
five sentences are collocations because the collocates determine the meaning.
The word powerful in those sentences above can not be replaced by the word mighty, although
both powerful and mighty have same meaning. Because mighty remedy, mighty friends, mighty
position, mighty computer, and mighty drug are unnatural English.
Data:
Technical
~ equipment, support, education, complexity, terms, ability, knockout
(18) Our technical equipment is equal to any task.
(19) We offer free technical support for those buying our software.
(20) There are many technical educations in this university.
(21) Skaters score extra points for technical complexity.
(22) The article is full of technical terms.
Discussion:
The word technical in sentence (18), (19), (20), (21), and (22) is the focal word. Meanwhile, the
word equipment, support, educations, complexity, and terms are the collocates. The highlighted words
in those five sentences are collocations because the collocates determine the meaning.
The word technical in those sentences above can not be replaced by the word technological,
although both technical and technological have same meaning. Because technological equipment,
technological support, technological educations, technological complexity, and technological terms
are unnatural English.

4.2.2 Describing Adjectives + Noun

Data:
Easy
~ person, reach, life, target, prey, day, exam, flow, questions, time
(23) She is an easy person to get along with.
(24) He lives within easy reach of his office.
(25) I will agree to anything for an easy life.
(26) She is an easy target for their criticism.
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 (27) The baby fish are easy prey for birds.
Discussion:
The word easy in sentence (23), (24), (25), (26), and (27) is the focal word. Meanwhile, the
word person, reach, life, target, and prey are the collocates. The highlighted words in those five
sentences are collocations because the collocates determine the meaning.
The word easy can not be replaced by the word simple, although both easy and simple have the
same meaning. Because simple person, simple reach, simple target, and simple prey are unnatural
English. In sentence (25) the word life can be both easy and simple.
Data:
Hard
~ drugs, exam, day, life, times, evidence, school, tones
(28) We had no hard evidence that they had used hard drugs.
(29) It was a hard exam and the final question was really hard.
(30) It’s been a long hard day and I’ve been worked very hard.
(31) They had a hard life and worked through hard times.
(32) We had no hard evidence that they had used hard drugs.
Discussion:
The word hard in sentence (28), (29), (30), (31), and (32) is the focal word. Meanwhile, the
word drugs, exam, day, life, times, and evidence are the collocates. The highlighted words in those five
sentences are collocations because the collocates determine the meaning.
The word hard in those sentences above can not be replaced by the word harsh, although both
hard and harsh have the same meaning. Because harsh drugs, harsh exam, harsh day, harsh life, harsh
times, and harsh evidence are unnatural English.
Data:
Heavy
~ rain, suitcase, smoker, meal, cold, drinker, sleeper, causalities, snow, timetable, traffic, week
(33) The heavy rain and heavy traffic made me late for my appointment.
(34) He won’t be able to lift such a heavy suitcase. He’s only nine years old.
(35) He’s been a heavy smoker and drinker all his adult life.
(36) It was a very heavy meal – far too much meat and not enough vegetables or salads.
(37) She had a very heavy cold and her breathing was heavy too.
Discussion:
The word heavy in sentence (33), (34), (35), (36), and (37) is the focal word. Meanwhile, the
word rain, suitcase, smoker, meal, and cold are the collocates. The highlighted words in those five
sentences are collocations because the collocates determine the meaning.
The word heavy in those sentences above can not be replaced by the word weighty, although
both heavy and weighty have the same meaning. Because weighty rain, weighty suitcase, weighty
smoker, weighty meal, and weighty cold are unnatural English.
Data:
Severe
~ winter, damage, pressure, penalties, shortage of food, blow, rules, reprimand, weather
(38) The severe winter meant that hundreds of schools had to be closed.
(39) The heavy rain caused severe damage to crops and, later on.
(40) We are under severe pressure to reduce the wage bill and make 500 workers redundant.
(41) The magistrate imposed severe penalties – they were severely punished.
(42) We have a severe shortage of food.

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Discussion:
The word severe in sentence (38), (39), (40), (41), and (42) is the focal word. Meanwhile, the
word winter, damage, pressure, penalties, and shortage of food are the collocates. The highlighted
words in those five sentences are collocations because the collocates determine the meaning.
The word severe in those sentences above can not be replaced by the word cruel, although both
severe and cruel have the same meaning. Because cruel winter, cruel damage, cruel pressure, cruel
penalties, and cruel shortage of food are unnatural English.

Data:
Strong
~ influence, views, support, case, chance, accent, subject, criticism, denial,
drug, feeling, opinion (about something), opposition, safety, sales, sense (of), showing, smell,
taste, tea
(43) Martina Hingis has always exerted a strong influence on the way I play tennis.
(44) Although I have strong views on this, I had the strong support of everybody in the room.
(45) He has a strong case and there is a strong chance that his appeal will be successful.
(46) She speaks English quite well but with a strong French accent.
(47) The social sciences and psychology is perhaps my strong subject.
Discussion:
The word strong in sentence (43), (44), (45), (46), and (47) is the focal word. Meanwhile, the
word influence, views, case, accent, and subject are the collocates. The highlighted words in those five
sentences are collocations because the collocates determine the meaning.
The word strong in those sentences above can not be replaced by the word powerful, although
both strong and powerful have the same meaning. Because powerful influence, powerful views,
powerful case, powerful accent, and powerful subject are unnatural English.

4.2.3 Intensifying Adjectives + Noun

Data:
Awful
~ shame, color, weather, smell, job, mess of things, accident
(48) It is an awful shame that she's unable to come back home for the holidays.
(49) That is an awful color.
(50) The last summer was an awful weather.
(51) There is an awful smell in here.
(52) I had an awful job persuading him to come.
Discussion:
The word awful in sentence (48), (49), (50), (51), and (52) is the focal word. Meanwhile, the
word shame, color, weather, smell, and job are the collocates. The highlighted words in those five
sentences are collocations because the collocates determine the meaning.
The word awful in those sentences above can not be replaced by the word dreadful, although
both awful and dreadful have the same meaning. Because dreadful shame, dreadful color, dreadful
weather, dreadful smell, and dreadful job are unnatural English.
Data:
Complete
~ surprise, opposite, agreement, idiot, day, astonishment, collapse
(53) Jon has sent me ten red roses and that has come as a complete surprise.
(54) I'm a pessimist and she's an optimist so she's the complete opposite of me.
(55) We were in complete agreement.
(56) I felt a complete idiot.
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 (57) You will receive payment for each complete day that you work
Discussion:
The word complete in sentence (53), (54), (55), (56), and (57) is the focal word. Meanwhile, the
word surprise, opposite, agreement, idiot, and day are the collocates. The highlighted words in those
five sentences are collocations because the collocates determine the meaning.
The word complete in those sentences above can not be replaced by the word entire, although both
complete and entire have the same meaning. Because entire surprise, entire opposite, entire agreement,
entire idiot, and entire day are unnatural English.
Data:
Great
~ traveler, crowd, number, height, shock, admiration, anger, detail, disappointment, power,
pride
(58) He has always been a great traveler in the wilds.
(59) A great crowd had gathered.
(60) People were arriving in great number.
(61) He must have fallen from a great height.
(62) Her death was a great shock to us all.
Discussion:
The word great in sentence (58), (59), (60), (61), and (62) is the focal word. Meanwhile, the
word traveler, crowd, number, height, and shock are the collocates. The highlighted words in those
five sentences are collocations because the collocates determine the meaning.
The word great in those sentences above can not be replaced by the word huge, although both
great and huge have the same meaning. Because huge traveler, huge crowd, huge number, huge height,
and huge shock are unnatural English.
Data:
Regular
~ intervals, basis, exercise, occurrence, visitor, breathing, ending, troops, holiday, life, time
(63) A light flashed at regular intervals.
(64) The equipment is checked on a regular basis.
(65) Do you take regular exercise?
(66) Domestic violence is a regular occurrence in some families.
(67) He was a regular visitor to her house.
Discussion:
The word regular in sentence (63), (64), (65), (66), and (67) is the focal word. Meanwhile, the
word intervals, basis, exercise, occurrence, and visitor are the collocates. The highlighted words in
those five sentences are collocations because the collocates determine the meaning.
The word regular in those sentences above can not be replaced by the word usual, although
both regular and usual have the same meaning. Because usual intervals, usual basis, usual exercise,
usual occurrence, and usual visitor are unnatural English.
Data:
Terrible
~ shock, pain, news, thought, memory, mess, experience, mistake, accident, nightmare
(68) His sudden death came as a terrible shock to the entire family.
(69) What's wrong? You look terrible. ~ I'm in terrible pain.
(70) What terrible news!
(71) I have just had a terrible thought.
(72) I have a terrible memory for name.

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Discussion:
The word terrible in sentence (68), (69), (70), (71), and (72) is the focal word. Meanwhile, the
word shock, pain, news!, thought, and memory are the collocates. The highlighted words in those five
sentences are collocations because the collocates determine the meaning.
The word terrible in those sentences above can not be replaced by the word horrible, although
both terrible and horrible have the same meaning. Because horrible shock, horrible pain, horrible
news, horrible thought, and horrible memory are unnatural English.

4.3 (L6) Adverb + Adjective

The total data is 128, with characteristics of patterns in adjective lexical collocations as follows:
4.3.1 Adverb + Derivational Adjective
Data:
Proficient
very, fully, fairly, reasonably, technically ~
(73) She is very proficient in several languages.
(74) He is fully proficient at his job.
(75) She is a fairly proficient singer.
(76) I am a reasonably proficient driver.
(77) It is a technically proficient performance of the piece.
Discussion:
The word proficient in sentence (73), (74), (75), (76), and (77) is the focal word. Meanwhile,
the word very, fully, fairly, reasonably, and technically are the collocates. The highlighted words in
those five sentences are collocations because the collocates determine the meaning.
Data:
Protective
fiercely, highly, very ~
(78) The lionesses are fiercely protective of their young.
(79) This cream is highly protective barrier against the sun’s ray.
(80) He was very protective of his role as advisor.
Discussion:
The word protective in sentence (78), (79), and (80) is the focal word. Meanwhile, the word
fiercely, highly, and very are the collocates. The highlighted words in those three sentences are
collocations because the collocates determine the meaning.

Data:
Questionable
highly, very, rather, somewhat ~
(81) Their motives for undertaking this study are highly questionable.
(82) The conclusion that they come to are very questionable.
(83) It is rather questionable whether this is a good way of solving the problem.
(84) Her motives for helping are somewhat questionable.
Discussion:
The word questionable in sentence (81), (82), (83), and (84) is the focal word. Meanwhile, the
word highly, very, rather, and somewhat are the collocates. The highlighted words in those four
sentences are collocations because the collocates determine the meaning.
Data:
Refreshing
extremely, highly, really, very, wonderfully, quite ~
(85) The breeze was cool and extremely refreshing.
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 (86) It made a really refreshing change to be taken seriously for once.
(87) It is very refreshing to meet someone who is so dedicated to their work.
(88) The water was cold and wonderfully refreshing.
(89) I took a quite refreshing shower.
Discussion:
The word refreshing in sentence (85), (86), (87), (88), and (89) is the focal word. Meanwhile,
the word extremely, really, very, wonderfully, and quite are the collocates. The highlighted words in
those five sentences are collocations because the collocates determine the meaning.

Data:
Separable
easily, readily, completely ~
(90) Church and State were not easily separable in this period.
(91) They were not readily separable.
(92) The moral question is not completely separable from the financial one.
Discussion:
The word separable in sentence (90), (91), and (92) is the focal word. Meanwhile, the word
easily, readily, and completely are the collocates. The highlighted words in those three sentences are
collocations because the collocates determine the meaning.

4.3.2 Adverb + Physical State

Data:
Slim
very, quite ~
(93) That woman has a very slim body.
(94) She was tall and quite slim.
Discussion:
The word slim in sentence (93) and (94) is the focal word. Meanwhile, the word very and quite
are the collocates. The highlighted words in both sentences above are collocations because the
collocates determine the meaning.
Data:
Small
extremely, really, terribly, very, a bit, fairly, pretty, quite, rather, relatively ~
(95) He said in a really small voice.
(96) There are a very small number of students passed than I had expected.
(97) Everything had been planned down to a quite small detail.
(98) That dress is a rather small for you.
(99) They are having a relatively small wedding.
Discussion:
The word small in sentence (95), (96), (97), (98), and (99) is the focal word. Meanwhile, the
word really, very, quite, rather, and relatively are the collocates. The highlighted words in those five
sentences are collocations because the collocates determine the meaning.
Data:
Tall
exceptionally, extremely, unusually, very; fairly, quite, rather ~
(100) It is extremely tall building.
(101) This is an unusually tall glass of iced tea.
(102) The basketball players are usually very tall.
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 (103) She is quite tall for her age.
(104) He is rather tall and thin with light brown hair.
Discussion:
The word tall in sentence (100), (101), (102), (103), and (104) is the focal word. Meanwhile,
the word extremely, unusually, very, quite, and rather are the collocates. The highlighted words in
those five sentences are collocations because the collocates determine the meaning.
Data:
Tidy
extremely, very, immaculately, scrupulously, fairly, quite ~
(105) It must have cost an extremely tidy sum.
(106) She keeps her flat very tidy.
(107) It was a neatly furnished and immaculately tidy room.
(108) I am a fairly tidy person.
(109) I like everything to be neat and quite tidy.
Discussion:
The word tidy in sentence (105), (106), (107), (108), and (109) is the focal word. Meanwhile,
the word extremely, very, immaculately, fairly, and quite are the collocates. The highlighted words in
those five sentences are collocations because the collocates determine the meaning.
Data:
Young
extremely, very, comparatively, fairly, quite, relatively ~
(110) My grandfather is seventy years old but he looks extremely young.
(111) He seemed very young to have so much responsibility.
(112) The night is still fairly young.
(113) Caterpillars eat the quite young leaves of this plant.
(114) He is a talented and relatively young football player.
Discussion:
The word young in sentence (110), (111), (112), (113), and (114) is the focal word. Meanwhile,
the word extremely, very, fairly, quite, and relatively are the collocates. The highlighted words in those
five sentences are collocations because the collocates determine the meaning.

4.3.3 Adverb + Inherent Quality

Data:
Standard
almost, fairly, pretty ~
(115) The stations were built to a simple, almost standard design.
(116) It was a fairly standard method of assessing employees.
(117) They only maintain pretty standard of customer care.
Discussion:
The word standard in sentence (115), (116), and (117) is the focal word. Meanwhile, the word
almost, fairly, and pretty are the collocates. The highlighted words in those three sentences are
collocations because the collocates determine the meaning.
Data:
Swift
incredibly, remarkably, very, fairly ~
(118) It was an incredibly swift decision.
(119) He made a remarkably swift recovery.
(120) He rose in his feet in one very swift movement.
(121) The white house was fairly swift to deny the rumors.
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Discussion:
The word swift in sentence (118), (119), (120), and (121) is the focal word. Meanwhile, the
word incredibly, remarkably, very, and fairly are the collocates. The highlighted words in those four
sentences are collocations because the collocates determine the meaning.
Data:
Tragic
genuinely, particularly, really, terribly, very; almost, quite, rather ~
(122) He is a genuinely tragic figure in the play.
(123) She was killed in a really tragic accident at the age of 24.
(124) Cuts in the health service could have terribly tragic consequences for patients.
(125) It was a very tragic moment.
(126) It would be quite tragic if her talent remained unrecognized.
Discussion:
The word tragic in sentence (122), (123), (124), (125), and (126) is the focal word. Meanwhile,
the word genuinely, really, terribly, very, and quite are the collocates. The highlighted words in those
five sentences are collocations because the collocates determine the meaning.
Data:
Weary
very, almost, a bit, a little, rather ~
(127) Students soon grow very weary of listening to a parade of his theoretical facts.
(128) His voice sounded almost weary.
(129) His smile was a bit weary.
(130) She looks a little weary.
(131) She suddenly felt old and rather weary.
Discussion:
The word weary in sentence (127), (128), (129), (130), and (131) is the focal word. Meanwhile,
the word very, almost, a bit, a little, and rather are the collocates. The highlighted words in those five
sentences are collocations because the collocates determine the meaning.
Data:
Wise
extremely, very, always ~
(132) He becomes extremely wise after ten years in business.
(133) It was very wise to leave when you did.
(134) It is always wise to write down important points.

Discussion:
The word wise in sentence (132), (133), and (134) is the focal word. Meanwhile, the word
extremely, very, and always are the collocates. The highlighted words in those three sentences are
collocations because the collocates determine the meaning.

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 Conclusion and Suggestion

5.1 Conclusion
The research problems are: What adjective collocations are in English?, What other word
classes collocate with the English adjectives?, What combination is the most frequent of adjective
collocations?, What is the meaning of adjective collocations in English? The subjects of the analysis
are adjective lexical collocations in English medium-strength collocation. The data are taken from an
English novel entitled The Listerdale Mistery by Agatha Christie, Oxford collocation dictionary, and
the internet.
The conclusions of this research are as follows: after finding 200 data, the data is classified into
two main categories, namely (L3) adjective + noun and (L6) adverb + adjective. In the first pattern
which is (L3) adjective + noun, the writer divided adjective into three kinds. They are derivational
adjectives, describing adjectives, and intensifying adjectives. The adjective in the second pattern is
adverb + adjective, it is divided into three kinds. They are derivational adjective, inherent quality, and
physical state. The most frequent combination of adjective lexical collocations is adverb + derivational
adjective, there are 94 data or 47%.
Because all of the collocations in this research have common meaning, this research chose one
theory, that is the theory of common meaning.
As it can be seen, this research still has its weaknesses. This research only discusses adjective
lexical collocation. This research does not discuss grammatical collocation and other lexical
collocations such as nominal collocation and verb lexical collocation.

5.2. Suggestion
The researcher suggests for the students of Gunadarma University especially students from
Faculty of Letters, this research may be used as a reference in writing English adjective lexical
collocations. And for next researchers, the writer suggests to analyze other kinds of English lexical
collocations such as English nominal lexical collocations and English verb lexical collocations which
do not discuss in this research.

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 References

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Frank, Marcella. 1972. Modern English, A Practical Preference Guide. New Jersey: Prentice Hall.

Greenbaum, Sidhey. 1992. An Intriduction to English Grammar. Hongkong: Longman Group (FE)
Limited.
Haspelmath, Martin. 2002. Understanding Morphology. London: Hodder Headline Group.
Leech, Geoffrey., Cruischank, Benita., Ivanick, Roz. 2005. An A-Z of English Grammar and Usage.
London.

Oxford Collocations Dictionary. 2005. New York: Oxford University Press.

Spenser, Andrew, and Zwicky, M. Arnold. 1998. The Handbook of Morphology. Oxford: Blackwell
Publishers.

Tallerman, Maggie. 1998. Understanding Syntax. London: Hodder Headline Group.

Viktoria Fromkin & Robert Rodman, An Introduction to Language sixth edition, Harcourt Brace
College Publishers: Florida, 1998.

Wilkinson, David. 2000. The Researcher’s Toolkit; the Complete Guide to Practitioner Research.
London: Cambridge University.

Yarber, E. Robert and Yarber, Laine, Mary. 1993. Reviewing Basic Grammar 3rd Edition. New York:
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esl.about.com/od/ vocabularyreference/a/cl_.htm

http://www.winfieldcollege.com/tesl_collocation1.html

http://www.fis. edu/ eslweb/ esl/ patents/easy/colloc.htm

http://www.disal.com.br/ nroutes/nr6/pgnr6_03.htm

http://www.eli. ubc.ca/teachers/resources/

http://depts. washington. edu/cidrweb/ITAPAWfluency4.html#collocation

www.answers. com/topic/collocation

www.englishclub.com

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