Professional collocations · B2. Distinguish “allocate resources” (distribute available money or staff) from “raise concerns” (express worries for discussion). Read the situation before choosing; these words are not interchangeable. Additional contrast: “delegate tasks” means assign work to other people; “negotiate terms” means discuss conditions to reach an agreement. Compare their uses in the learning cards.
Complete 24 original tasks. Use the situation to choose the intended meaning, practise the form, then apply it in a fresh context.
It is difficult to allocate resources without knowing which services people use.
It is difficult to allocate resources without knowing which services people use.
These match this sense. Word families can change meaning; near meanings are not always interchangeable.
Practise “allocate resources effectively” as a whole phrase. Here “allocate resources” has the sense distribute available money or staff.
Distinguish “allocate resources” (distribute available money or staff) from “raise concerns” (express worries for discussion). Read the situation before choosing; these words are not interchangeable. Additional contrast: “delegate tasks” means assign work to other people; “negotiate terms” means discuss conditions to reach an agreement. Compare their uses in the learning cards.
We must allocate resources fairly.
Distinguish “reach consensus” (achieve general agreement in a group) from “implement a policy” (put an agreed rule into practice). Read the situation before choosing; these words are not interchangeable. Additional contrast: “resolve a dispute” means settle a disagreement between parties; “assess risks” means evaluate possible sources of harm. Compare their uses in the learning cards.
The partners hope to reach consensus.
Distinguish “take responsibility” (accept accountability for an action) from “meet expectations” (achieve the standard others anticipate). Read the situation before choosing; these words are not interchangeable. Additional contrast: “retain staff” means keep employees in an organisation; “comply with regulations” means act according to official rules. Compare their uses in the learning cards.
Leaders should take responsibility for mistakes.
Three projects are competing for a limited budget and staff. We must decide how much support each project receives.
Distinguish “reach consensus” (achieve general agreement in a group) from “implement a policy” (put an agreed rule into practice). Read the situation before choosing; these words are not interchangeable. Additional contrast: “resolve a dispute” means settle a disagreement between parties; “assess risks” means evaluate possible sources of harm. Compare their uses in the learning cards.
The partners hope to reach consensus.Distinguish “take responsibility” (accept accountability for an action) from “meet expectations” (achieve the standard others anticipate). Read the situation before choosing; these words are not interchangeable. Additional contrast: “retain staff” means keep employees in an organisation; “comply with regulations” means act according to official rules. Compare their uses in the learning cards.
Leaders should take responsibility for mistakes.Distinguish “allocate resources” (distribute available money or staff) from “raise concerns” (express worries for discussion). Read the situation before choosing; these words are not interchangeable. Additional contrast: “delegate tasks” means assign work to other people; “negotiate terms” means discuss conditions to reach an agreement. Compare their uses in the learning cards.
We must allocate resources fairly.Keep the first try. Understand the change. Check it in a fresh situation.
No practice notes yet. Try a short warm-up.
distribute available money or staff
express worries for discussion
achieve general agreement in a group
put an agreed rule into practice
accept accountability for an action
achieve the standard others anticipate
assign work to other people
discuss conditions to reach an agreement
settle a disagreement between parties
evaluate possible sources of harm
keep employees in an organisation
act according to official rules
Opening an answer records help for that question.
Three projects are competing for a limited budget and staff. We must decide how much support each project receives.
The deciding cue is “how much support each project receives”: it identifies the meaning “distribute available money or staff”. Check the action the person is being asked to perform; “allocate resources” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “We must allocate resources fairly.”.
An anonymous reporting channel lets employees express worries about unsafe equipment. It is not a process for accepting blame.
The deciding cue is “express worries”: it identifies the meaning “express worries for discussion”. Check the action the person is being asked to perform; “raise concerns” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “Staff may raise concerns confidentially.”.
The partners have discussed their disagreements and now want a single position that they can all accept.
The deciding cue is “a single position that they can all accept”: it identifies the meaning “achieve general agreement in a group”. Check the action the person is being asked to perform; “reach consensus” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “The partners hope to reach consensus.”.
The board has already approved a formal rule on keeping records. The team now has to put that rule into practice.
The deciding cue is “put that rule into practice”: it identifies the meaning “put an agreed rule into practice”. Check the action the person is being asked to perform; “implement a policy” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “The team will implement a policy on data retention.”.
Complete the sentence with the expression that matches the stated situation.
The deciding cue is “for mistakes”: it identifies the meaning “accept accountability for an action”. Check the action the person is being asked to perform; “take responsibility” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “Leaders should take responsibility for mistakes.”.
The contract required fault-free goods, but the first delivery contained damaged items. The faults worried the customers.
The deciding cue is “required fault-free goods”: it identifies the meaning “achieve the standard others anticipate”. Check the action the person is being asked to perform; “meet expectations” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “The first delivery did not meet expectations.”.
The director has a fixed budget and a limited number of staff to distribute between projects. The sentence asks about that distribution.
The deciding cue is “budget and a limited number of staff”: it identifies the meaning “distribute available money or staff”. Check the action the person is being asked to perform; “allocate resources” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “The director must allocate resources among the three competing projects.”.
The meeting gives employees a chance to voice safety worries. They are not being asked to accept blame or put a newly approved rule into practice.
The deciding cue is “voice safety worries”: it identifies the meaning “express worries for discussion”. Check the action the person is being asked to perform; “raise concerns” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “If the safety procedure seems inadequate, you should raise concerns at the meeting.”.
Their aim throughout the negotiation was one shared position that all the delegates could accept, not a standard of service or an assignment of blame.
The deciding cue is “one shared position”: it identifies the meaning “achieve general agreement in a group”. Check the action the person is being asked to perform; “reach consensus” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “After resolving their disagreements, the delegates were finally able to reach consensus.”.
Complete the sentence with the expression that matches the stated situation.
The deciding cue is “approved the rule”: it identifies the meaning “put an agreed rule into practice”. Check the action the person is being asked to perform; “implement a policy” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “The board has approved the rule; managers must now implement a policy rather than merely discuss it.”.
Complete the sentence with the expression that matches the stated situation.
The deciding cue is “Instead of blaming colleagues”: it identifies the meaning “accept accountability for an action”. Check the action the person is being asked to perform; “take responsibility” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “Instead of blaming colleagues, the supervisor chose to take responsibility for the failure.”.
Complete the sentence with the expression that matches the stated situation.
The deciding cue is “anticipated better quality”: it identifies the meaning “achieve the standard others anticipate”. Check the action the person is being asked to perform; “meet expectations” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “The client anticipated better quality; our work failed to meet expectations.”.
Choose the expression that matches the situation.
The deciding cue is “Instead of doing every job herself”: it identifies the meaning “assign work to other people”. Check the action the person is being asked to perform; “delegate tasks” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “Instead of doing every job herself, the manager should delegate tasks to members of her team.”.
Choose the expression that matches the situation.
The deciding cue is “bargain over its conditions”: it identifies the meaning “discuss conditions to reach an agreement”. Check the action the person is being asked to perform; “negotiate terms” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “Before agreeing to the contract, both sides will negotiate terms: discuss and bargain over its conditions, including the price and delivery date.”.
Choose the expression that matches the situation.
The deciding cue is “settle their disagreement”: it identifies the meaning “settle a disagreement between parties”. Check the action the person is being asked to perform; “resolve a dispute” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “A mediator will help the departments resolve a dispute: settle their disagreement over ownership, not merely examine possible losses.”.
Choose the expression that matches the situation.
The deciding cue is “how likely and serious”: it identifies the meaning “evaluate possible sources of harm”. Check the action the person is being asked to perform; “assess risks” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “The phrase meaning “identify hazards and evaluate how likely and serious the possible harm could be” is assess risks.”.
Choose the expression that matches the situation.
The deciding cue is “keep its current employees”: it identifies the meaning “keep employees in an organisation”. Check the action the person is being asked to perform; “retain staff” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “The company’s goal is to keep its current employees from leaving. In other words, it wants to retain staff.”.
Choose the expression that matches the situation.
The deciding cue is “following the official food-safety rules”: it identifies the meaning “act according to official rules”. Check the action the person is being asked to perform; “comply with regulations” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “Restaurants must comply with regulations by following the official food-safety rules.”.
Choose the expression that matches the situation.
The deciding cue is “parts of your own work to team members”: it identifies the meaning “assign work to other people”. Check the action the person is being asked to perform; “delegate tasks” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “Giving specific parts of your own work to team members to complete is to delegate tasks.”.
Choose the expression that matches the situation.
The deciding cue is “bargaining over contract conditions”: it identifies the meaning “discuss conditions to reach an agreement”. Check the action the person is being asked to perform; “negotiate terms” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “The expression for discussing and bargaining over contract conditions, such as a payment schedule, is to negotiate terms.”.
Choose the expression that matches the situation.
The deciding cue is “settle their disagreement”: it identifies the meaning “settle a disagreement between parties”. Check the action the person is being asked to perform; “resolve a dispute” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “Both firms want to resolve a dispute: settle their disagreement over unpaid invoices, rather than simply evaluate possible financial losses.”.
Choose the expression that matches the situation.
The deciding cue is “likelihood and possible impact”: it identifies the meaning “evaluate possible sources of harm”. Check the action the person is being asked to perform; “assess risks” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “To assess risks is to evaluate the likelihood and possible impact of hazards, not merely to satisfy an official rule.”.
Choose the expression that matches the situation.
The deciding cue is “keep employees working”: it identifies the meaning “keep employees in an organisation”. Check the action the person is being asked to perform; “retain staff” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “The phrase meaning “keep employees working for an organisation rather than lose them” is retain staff.”.
Choose the expression that matches the situation.
The deciding cue is “every legal requirement”: it identifies the meaning “act according to official rules”. Check the action the person is being asked to perform; “comply with regulations” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “To comply with regulations, the business must meet every legal requirement set by the regulator.”.