Using Collocation to Boost Your IELTS Score – KeyWord: Relationship

Strong vocabulary is essential for IELTS Speaking and Writing, and collocations help you sound more natural and fluent. One of the most frequently used words in English, both in personal and professional contexts, is relationship. From describing friendships to business partnerships, this word appears across IELTS tasks.

In this lesson, you’ll explore common verb + relationship, adjective collocations, positive/negative uses, and prepositional expressions with relationship. Practice exercises will help you apply them in IELTS situations.

Verb + Relationship

Certain verbs naturally collocate with relationship. Knowing these makes your speech and writing more accurate and idiomatic.

Exercise: Complete the sentences with the correct verb form: build up, fall apart, have, break off, improve, work

1. I saw Millie and Jake walking hand in hand. They must be __________ some sort of relationship.
   Answer: having
2. Fortunately, the relationship between the police and the local community has __________ since last month’s riots.
   Answer: improved
3. Let’s call it a day! I don’t think our relationship is going to __________. We don’t agree on anything.
   Answer: work
4. Our business has grown because we concentrated on __________ good relationships with all our clients – big and small.
   Answer: building up
5. When Jane discovered her new boyfriend was still in touch with his ex, she __________ the relationship immediately.
   Answer: broke off
6. Liz and Harry have split up. Their relationship __________ after Harry started travelling for work.
   Answer: fell apart

IELTS Tip: Use these in IELTS Speaking Part 2 when describing people. Example: “We built up a strong relationship over the years because we worked closely together.”

Adjective Collocations with Relationship

Adjectives help you describe the nature or quality of a relationship more clearly. This is useful in IELTS Writing Task 2 when analyzing social issues or in Speaking when talking about family and friends.

Exercise: Fill in the blanks with these adjectives: close, lasting, love-hate, physical, stable, working

1. Many staff find our new MD difficult, but I seem to have a good __________ relationship with him.
   Answer: working
2. I have a very __________ relationship with my youngest brother. We still spend a lot of time together.
   Answer: close
3. I have a __________ relationship with my job! Sometimes I enjoy it, but other times I just want to quit.
   Answer: love-hate
4. They’ve never fallen out in twenty years of marriage. They clearly have a very __________ relationship.
   Answer: stable
5. They see each other often but their relationship is strictly platonic. There’s no __________ relationship.
   Answer: physical
6. Sadly, our affair was brief. It didn’t become a __________ relationship.
   Answer: lasting

IELTS Example: “Despite challenges, the two countries have maintained a stable relationship.”

Positive and Negative Relationships

The word relationship can describe both healthy connections and troubled ones. Recognizing positive and negative collocations helps you express a range of ideas in IELTS.

Exercise: Mark P (positive) or B (bad)

1. I enjoy a fairly harmonious relationship with my children. It’s always been friendly and peaceful.
   Answer: P
2. I have a rather uneasy relationship with my mother-in-law. I’m not comfortable with her.
   Answer: B
3. Marie’s had a string of disastrous relationships since her marriage breakup.
   Answer: B
4. They appear to have a healthy relationship – they can talk openly even when they disagree.
   Answer: P
5. They have a stormy relationship. One minute they’re in love, the next they’re arguing.
   Answer: B

IELTS Writing Tip: Instead of simply saying “They don’t get on well,” try “They have an uneasy relationship.” This shows lexical precision.

Expressions with Prepositions

Prepositional phrases with relationship are common in both academic and conversational English. You may encounter them in IELTS Reading or use them effectively in Writing.

Exercise: Complete with the nouns below: breakdown, details, nature, questions, strain

1. Money problems put a severe __________ on their relationship.
   Answer: strain
2. He misled us about the __________ of their relationship. They were more than just friends.
   Answer: nature
3. The most common cause of depression today is the __________ of a close relationship.
   Answer: breakdown
4. The police chief dodged __________ on his relationship with the local mafia.
   Answer: questions
5. The papers were full of sordid __________ of his relationship with the actress.
   Answer: details

IELTS Example: “Trust is an essential factor in the doctor–patient relationship.”

Notes on Usage

• In some cases, last can replace lasting, and establish can replace build up.
  • “They established a strong relationship at work.”
• Asking “What’s your relationship to Bill?” means “How are you connected?”
  • “He’s my nephew.”
• Relationship also applies to professional roles:
  • “Trust is a key factor in the doctor–patient relationship.”
• In a relationship means having a romantic partner:
  • “I’m not married, but I’m in a relationship.”

Quick IELTS Practice

• IELTS Speaking Part 1 : Do you have a close relationship with your family?
• Speaking Part 2: Describe a relationship that is important to you.
• Writing Task 2: Some people say parents have the greatest influence on a child’s relationships. Do you agree?

The word relationship is versatile and widely used in everyday English as well as IELTS contexts. By learning its verb and adjective collocations, distinguishing between positive and negative uses, and practicing prepositional expressions, you can expand your vocabulary and express ideas with greater precision. This will help boost both your fluency in Speaking and lexical resource in Writing and boost your IELTS Band Score. For those aiming for top scores, following the IELTS Exam Preparation Tips for Band Score of 8+ can further enhance your vocabulary and overall test performance.

Also Check: 

• Using Collocation to Boost Your IELTS Score – KeyWord: Reaction
• Grammar For IELTS: Expressions Of Quantity
• Grammar For IELTS : The Common Grammars And Sentence Structures In English (Part 1
• Grammar For IELTS : The Common Grammars And Sentence Structures In English (Part 2)
• Using Contrast in IELTS Speaking & Writing: Advanced Grammar in IELTS
• 100+ Advanced Vocabulary Word List for IELTS (PDF Available)
• Especially vs Specially for IELTS Grammar: Lessons, Examples, Usage & Exercises