Luyện ngữ pháp - English Collocations in Use - Intermediate ((Unit 5: Topics: People and relationships))

- Lesson 18:

Families

Parents and children

collocation	example	comment
start a family	They are hoping to start a family soon.	NOT ~~begin~~ a family
have children	I’d like to have three children.	NOT ~~get~~ children
expect a baby	Astrid is expecting a baby.	NOT ~~wait (for)~~ a baby
have a baby	Alyssa had her baby yesterday.	NOT ~~get~~ a baby
the baby is due	The baby is due next week.	= expected to arrive
single parent/mother	It’s hard being a single parent.	may be either unmarried or divorced
raise / bring up children / a family	Violet had to bring up four young children on her own.	Raise a family is more common in US than in UK English.
apply for custody of give/grant [formal] custody	The father applied for custody of the children, but the judge gave/ granted custody to the mother.	custody: the legal right or duty to care for a child after its parents have separated or died
provide for your family	Nico works very long hours to provide for his family.	= to earn enough money to support your family
set up home	We live with my mum now, but we’ll set up home on our own soon.	= to start an independent life in one’s own flat or house