Using Collocation to Boost Your IELTS Score - Key Word: Incident

Learning a proper set of vocabulary for the IELTS exam does not just mean knowing a long list of words. The collocation “incident” is a common English collocation which is used to refer to one example, or reproduction of something mainly when that thing exists in many identical or similar forms.

Whenever you think of some of the most effective ways in order to improve your IELTS band score, it must be by mastering collocations. These are just the combinations of words that naturally go together in the English language. 

A collocation is nothing but a pair or group of words which are often used together, just like the ones under the topic “incident.” Combinations like this will surely sound natural to the native speakers, and when you are using them correctly in your IELTS Speaking and Writing exam, it will show that you have a firm command of the English language. 

In this blog, we will learn about this collocation of “incident” with the help of our expert crafted practice exercises that you can use in both academic and everyday English.

Why Are Collocations Important? 

• When it comes to getting a higher band score in the IELTS exam, vocabulary is much more than simply knowing a long list of words. What that really matters is that, using the words accurately and naturally. This is exactly where learning collocations play an important role. 
• Collocations are nothing but pairs or groups of words that usually tend to appear together, and they help you enhance your responses.
• If you are learning these kinds of combinations, you will sound more fluent and precise and help you gain a band 8+ in your IELTS exam. 

Understanding the Word “Incident”

Before you begin learning the collocations, it is important to understand what the word, “incident” truly means.

An “incident” is an event that is often something unusual, unpleasant, or even unexpected. It can be either serious just like a crime or accident or just a minor disagreement.

Sentence Examples:

• “There is a violent incident happening outside the stadium.”
• “Our company reviewed the incident to make sure that it never happens again.”

In the IELTS test, this word “incident” often appears in:

• IELTS Writing Task 1 (Academic): For describing the charts or reports that are connected to accidents or statistics.
• IELTS Writing Task 2: For essays on safety, experiences, society, or some news related topics.
• IELTS Speaking Part 2: For describing a memorable or just an unusual event.

Why Learn Collocations for the Word, “Incident?”

• If you just say “there was an incident”, that should be fine. But it also sounds basic.
• When you try saying, “a serious incident has occurred during yesterday’s protest”, you will sound fluent and natural.

Practice Exercise: Keyword - Incident

 1         Verb + incident

Use the correct form of these verbs:

highlight         investigate

occur               cause

report              witness

1. There was a serious accident in the middle of town last night. The police have appealed for anyone who __________ the incident to come forward.
2. I saw some older boys bullying one of the first-year students. I felt I had to__________ the incident to the headmaster.
3. A number of windows in our church were smashed at the weekend. The police are __________ the incident.
4. Somebody walked out of the building yesterday with two of our computers. This incident __________ our need to improve our security system.
5. A man was shot dead in the city centre last night. The incident __________ outside the Crown Hotel around three o’clock in the morning.
6. A French jet flew into Russian airspace and__________ a major diplomatic incident.

2          Noun + preposition

Use these nouns in the sentences below:

account of                   investigation    into

knowledge of              reports of

seriousness of             wake of

1. There have been__________ an incident at the airport. The police are already at the scene.
2. Police said there would be a full and thorough __________ the incident.
3. Relations between the countries are strained in the__________ the latest cross-border incident.
4. When she was accused of starting the fire, she denied all __________ the incident.
5. I gave the police a full and exhaustive __________ the incident in the underground.
6. Some of the older pupils were found with drugs. The headmaster has tried to play down the __________ the incident to save the reputation of the school.

Go back and underline the noun + preposition + incident expressions.

3          Common adjective collocations

Choose the most natural collocation from the pair in brackets:

1. The yacht sank after it hit the pier. A tourist with a video camera caught the__________ incident on film. (full / whole)
2. What do you remember most about your days in the army? >Well, apart from a lot of hard work, one __________ incident sticks in my mind, but perhaps it is too unpleasant to talk about over dinner. (single / particular)
3. There was a very __________ incident involving a group of youths outside a pub in London late last night in which a number of people were badly injured. (severe / serious)
4. We are sorry to hear that your money was stolen while you were a patient at this hospital. We are sure this was a(n) __________ incident as this is the first complaint of this kind which we have received. I enclose a cheque for £20 to replace the money you lost. (isolated / remote)
5. News is coming in of a__________ incident involving two passenger trains in the south of India. (main / major)
6. The army said that the recent shelling of civilians was a__________ incident and they wish to assure people that it will not happen again. (regretted / regrettable)

Answer Key: Keyword - Incident

Ex 1:

1 witnessed 2. report 3. investigating

4 highlights 5. occurred 6. caused

Ex 2:

1  reports of                 2. investigation into                3. wake of

4 knowledge of           5. account of                           6. seriousness of

 Ex 3:

1. whole 2. particular 3. serious      4. isolated            5. major     6. regrettable

Also check :

• IELTS Vocabulary books
• IELTS Grammar
• IELTS Vocabulary
• IELTS Listening words
• Sports Vocabulary IELTS
• English Pronunciation in use Intermediate pdf
• Work Vocabulary IELTS
• Advanced Vocabulary for IELTS