Collocations for IELTS Word Control

When preparing for the IELTS examination it is essential to note that the proper and effective use of collocations is an integral part of boosting the score of a candidate. To consider an example, the IELTS band 7 descriptor for lexis says, “uses less common lexical terms with some awareness of style and vocabulary. In other words, the candidate must not only show awareness for less common words but also should know what words these less common words are used in combination with.

In simple terms, collocations are words that are commonly used together for IELTS Writing, speaking. . There are grammatical reasons for this but in usual cases, these combinations just sound right to native English speakers and they use them frequently. Several different collocations can be made from combinations of nouns, verbs. adjectives, etc.

The following are examples of what are collocations and what are not:

• Fast Train NOT Quick Train
• Fast food NOT Quick Food
• Make the Bed NOT Do the Bed.

It is important to have a good knowledge of collocations when learning any language. Collocations will make your language sound natural and easily understood, providing you with alternate and richer ways of expressing yourself.

COLLOCATIONS FOR THE WORD CONTROL

Mostly, the word control has two meanings. It can be understood as the power to make decisions or power over something. It can also be understood as a law limiting something. Below, it can be seen how the word control can be used in relation to different parts of speech.

‘Control’ as the Power to Make Decisions or Power Over Something

One possible meaning of control is the power to make decisions or power over something. The following contains how control, when having that meaning, functions with different parts of speech.

1. ‘Control’ as an Adjective

Here control is described as having power over something or having the authority to make decisions.

Meaning: complete(absolute, complete, direct, effective, full, overall, total)

Sentence: The king had absolute control over his army.

Meaning: types of control(financial, parental, political)

Sentence: She was under strict parental control.

Also, check:

2. ‘Control’ as a Verb

When the IELTS word control is used as a verb, it has different forms as can be seen below.

Meaning: have or keep control(assert, have, keep, maintain, retain)

Sentence: She asserted control over her father’s estate after his death.

Meaning: get control(assume, gain, seize, take, wrest)

Sentence: The partners seized control of the company in a hostile takeover.

Meaning: get control back(reassert, re-establish, regain)

Sentence: It was difficult to regain control of the company after the partners voted him out.

Meaning: make control stronger(strengthen, tighten)

Sentence: The principal introduced new rules that tightened control over student behavior.

Meaning: give someone control(give, hand)

Sentence: Bob handed control of his estate to his son after his son’s twenty-first birthday.

Meaning: use control(exercise, exert)

Sentence: Their major shares allowed some partners to exert control over all aspects of the company

Meaning: lose control(lose, relinquish)

Sentence: He was forced to relinquish his control over the company after allegations of embezzlement.

3. ‘Control’ as a preposition.

• Beyond/Outside

Meaning: beyond/outside someone’s control

Sentence: The issue was beyond the manager’s control and he was forced to make the unpleasant decision of firing some of his employees.

• In

Meaning: in control of a situation/back in a prominent position

Sentence: The detective was back in control of a case.

• out of

Meaning: beyond power/capacity

Sentence: Sameera felt that her world was spinning out of control as she listened to one bad news after another.

• Under

Meaning: under somebody’s control/the situation is stable

Sentence: The organization struggled to assure its members that everything was under control.

• over

Meaning: have power over something/somebody

Sentence: The teachers thought Sally’s parents had little control over her behavior as the girl’s behavior went from bad to worse even after numerous warnings.

4. ‘Control’ as a Phrase

• Circumstances beyond somebody’s control

Meaning: Situation beyond somebody’s power.

Sentence: Sam couldn’t attend the wedding due to circumstances beyond his control.

‘Control’ as a Law Limiting Something

Control can be used to describe laws limiting something. Below, it can be seen how control is used as different parts of speech in sentences.

1. ‘Control’ as an Adjective.

Meaning: strict(stringent, tight)

Sentence: There are strict controls on imports and exports.

2. ‘Control’ as a Noun

Meaning: arms, export, gun, immigration

Sentence: Citizens were protesting, calling for greater gun control.

3. ‘Control’ as a Verb

Meaning: start using controls(enforce, implement, impose, introduce)

Sentence: The council imposed strict controls on the construction of new structures.

Meaning: make controls stricter(strengthen, tighten)

Sentence: Controls on selling medicinal prescriptions were strengthened after a scandal.

Meaning: make controls less strict(relax)

Sentence: The government relaxed its control over sales and advertising.

Meaning: remove controls(remove)

Sentence: Government controls on imports and exports were removed.

4. Control as a Preposition.

• On

Meaning: To introduce limits on something.

Sentence: They have introduced controls on public spending.