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

If you are aspiring to achieve a Band 8 or a higher band score in the IELTS Writing and Speaking tests, mastering collocations is important. Collocations are just natural combinations of words that the native speakers use automatically. Just like the phrases make a complaint, file an official complaint, or receive a complaint. 

Using them perfectly helps your English sound fluent and cohesive, which directly boosts your Lexical Resource band score in the IELTS band score Descriptors.

Hence, learning the perfect usage of the collocation related to the word, “complaint” will definitely help you to express your opinions clearly and fluently. 

In this article, we will practice some exercises designed by our expert trainers for you to master the usage of the collocations related to the keyword - Complaint now!

What Does the Word “Complaint” Mean?

A complaint is just a direct expression of dissatisfaction or annoyance about something. This can be a formal (like writing to the police station) or informal (like complaining a friend).

For Example:

• He made a complaint about the noise coming from the neighbourhood.
• The consumers filed a complaint against this airline.
• Our company received several complaints about our poor service.

Common Collocations with “Complaint”

Practice Exercise: Key Word - Complaint

The word of “Complaint” can be used to describe about official stuff, corrupted data, governments, corporates, etc. 

Verb+Complaint

1. Use the correct form of these verbs:

1. I’m not happy with the service and, to be honest, the food was not very warm. I’m not going to ______ an official complaint, but I think you should know that we were not happy.
2. I’m afraid I ______ a complaint. Can I speak to the person in charge, please?
3. A senior police officer has been suspended from duty while complaints against him are being ______.
4. The court refused to ______ the complaint against the newspaper. The footballer, John Inset, had claimed that the story run by the paper had seriously damaged his reputation.
5. Due to the seriousness of your complaint, it will have to be ______ to the board.
6. The cinema has ______ complaints from customers about the lack of parking facilities.

Common Adjective Collocations

2. Complete the sentences below with the following:

1. This is the fourth time this week! Your ______ complaints are beginning to annoy me.
2. The most ______ complaint tourists have about London is the high price of everything.
3. If you are not happy with the treatment you’ve received, you should lodge an ______ complaint.
4. I think our complaints are totally ______. We didn’t receive the quality of service we paid for.
5. The new timetable has been successful. We’ve only received one or two ______ complaints.
6. I’m very happy with the new members of staff. I haven’t heard a ______ complaint about them.
7. Inspectors visited the school after receiving a string of ______ complaints from parents about poor standards of teaching.
8. I’ve never heard such a ______ complaint in my life! Tony is the most competent person I’ve ever met.

Noun+Preposition+Complaint

3. Complete the sentences below with a suitable preposition:

1. If you are unhappy with the work done on your house, get a lawyer to draft a letter ______ complaint.
2. If you feel you have any cause ______ complaint, please contact the manager.
3. This year there has been a record number ______ complaints about the standard of service on Britain’s railways. In fact, rail offices around the country have been flooded ______ complaints.
4. If you have good grounds ______ complaint, then it is company policy to offer you compensation.
5. The council has received a constant stream ______ complaints about the noise coming from the Voodoo nightclub in Surrey Street.
6. Having to wait over 24 hours at the airport comes high on my list ______ complaints about our holiday.

Go back and underline the complete expressions using a noun+preposition+complaint.

Answer Key: Key Word - Complaint

Verb+Complaint

Ex 1:

1. make
2. have
3. investigated
4. uphold
5. referred
6. received

Common Adjective Collocations

Ex 2:

1. constant
2. common
3.  official
4. justified
5. isolated
6. single
7.  serious
8. preposterous

Noun+Preposition+Complaint

Ex 3:

1. of
2. for
3. of, with
4.  for
5. of.
6. of

Using the right set of collocations can transform your IELTS Writing and Speaking for the better. The word, “complaint” is mainly useful for formal letters, essays, and also some real-life speaking topics about companies, services or even about customer experiences.

In conclusion, when you are preparing for your IELTS test, do not just memorize words, but also learn how they collocate. Because, that is the real secret to sounding fluent and as well as natural.

Also check :

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