- Do you ever find yourself struggling to express the idea of “trying something difficult” in natural-sounding English?
- Are you unsure whether to say “make an attempt” or “do an attempt”?
- Want to move beyond just using “try” and impress with more precise, native-like phrases involving “attempt”?
Welcome to the world of English collocations! Mastering these natural word partnerships is a cornerstone of achieving fluency and sounding truly authentic. For a word as versatile as “attempt,” knowing its common collocations can dramatically improve your precision and confidence, helping you communicate complex ideas with ease and reducing the dreaded ‘language anxiety’. Let’s dive deep into how “attempt” partners with other words, both as a verb and a noun.
Common Collocations with ATTEMPT as a Verb
When you use “attempt” as a verb, you’re describing the action of trying to do something, often something challenging or requiring effort. It’s generally more formal than “try.”
To Try to Do Something (with an Infinitive)
The most common way to use “attempt” as a verb is followed by the infinitive form of another verb (to + base verb).
- attempt to + verb: This signifies starting an action or endeavor.
Example: The team
attempted to break the world record for the longest continuous broadcast.
Example: She
attempted to contact him several times, but his phone was off.
To Try a Specific Action or Goal (with a Noun Object)
“Attempt” can also directly take a noun as its object, often referring to a specific, usually significant or risky, undertaking.
- attempt an escape: To try to get away from a confinement.
Example: The prisoner
attempted an escape by digging a tunnel.
- attempt a rescue: To try to save someone or something from danger.
Example: Despite the storm, the coast guard
attempted a rescue of the stranded sailors.
- attempt a coup: To try to overthrow a government.
Example: A small faction within the military
attempted a coup, but it was quickly suppressed.
- attempt suicide: A sensitive but linguistically significant collocation meaning to try to end one’s own life.
Example: The report indicated a rise in individuals who
attempt suicide among certain demographics.
Describing the Nature of the Attempt (with Adverbs)
Adverbs can precede “attempt” to provide more detail about how the action was carried out.
- valiantly attempt: To try with courage and determination.
Example: The small startup
valiantly attempted to compete with the industry giants.
- repeatedly attempt: To try multiple times.
Example: He
repeatedly attempted to fix the old engine before finally giving up.
- unsuccessfully attempt / successfully attempt: To indicate the outcome of the effort.
Example: They
unsuccessfully attempted to negotiate a peace treaty.
Example: After many tries, she
successfully attempted the complex yoga pose.
- seriously attempt / earnestly attempt: To try with sincerity and focus.
Example: If you want to master a new language, you must
seriously attempt to practice daily.
Essential Collocations using ATTEMPT as a Noun
When “attempt” is used as a noun, it refers to the act of trying itself or an effort made. It often takes a preposition or adjective to complete its meaning.
Making an Attempt
These collocations describe the initiation of an effort or trial.
- make an attempt: This is the most common and versatile collocation for “attempt” as a noun, meaning to try to do something.
Example: She decided to
make an attempt at learning Mandarin.
Example: The company will
make an attempt to reduce its carbon footprint.
- launch an attempt: More formal, often implying a coordinated or significant effort.
Example: The explorers
launched an attempt to reach the summit during the brief weather window.
- undertake an attempt: Formal, suggesting a comprehensive or official effort.
Example: The government decided to
undertake an attempt to reform the education system.
Describing the Quality or Type of Attempt
Adjectives often precede “attempt” to qualify its nature.
- a serious attempt / a genuine attempt: An effort made with sincerity and commitment.
Example: We need to see
a serious attempt from all parties to resolve the conflict.
- a concerted attempt: A coordinated effort by several people or groups.
Example: There was
a concerted attempt by the opposition to block the new legislation.
- a desperate attempt: An effort made out of desperation, often as a last resort.
Example: In
a desperate attempt to save the company, they launched a risky new product.
- a valiant attempt: A brave and determined effort, often despite difficulties.
Example: Despite their defeat, it was
a valiant attempt by the underdog team.
- a failed attempt / a successful attempt: To indicate the outcome of the effort.
Example: His first
failed attempt didn’t discourage him from trying again.
Example: The project was the result of a
successful attempt to innovate.
- a second attempt / another attempt: Referring to subsequent efforts.
Example: After the first failure, they prepared for
a second attempt at the climb.
Prepositions with “Attempt” (as a Noun)
Prepositions are crucial for linking “attempt” to what is being tried.
- attempt at + noun/gerund: General usage indicating the target of the effort.
Example: Her
attempt at humor didn’t quite land with the audience.
Example: The chef’s
attempt at baking a gluten-free cake was surprisingly delicious.
- attempt on (someone’s) life: A specific, often legalistic, collocation referring to an effort to kill someone.
Example: The politician survived an
attempt on his life by an unknown assailant.
- attempt to + verb: Similar to the verb form, connecting the noun “attempt” to an action.
Example: They organized an
attempt to raise funds for the charity.
Verbs Associated with “Attempt” (as a Noun)
These verbs describe what happens to an attempt.
- abandon an attempt: To give up on an effort.
Example: Due to adverse weather, the climbers had to
abandon their attempt to summit Everest.
- frustrate an attempt / thwart an attempt: To prevent an effort from succeeding.
Example: Quick action by security guards
frustrated an attempt to steal the valuable painting.
| Collocation | Part of Speech | Quick Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| attempt to do something | Verb | To try to carry out an action. |
| attempt an escape/rescue | Verb | To try a specific significant undertaking. |
| valiantly attempt | Verb | To try with courage. |
| make an attempt | Noun | To try something; the most common noun form. |
| launch an attempt | Noun | To begin a significant, often coordinated, effort. |
| a serious attempt | Noun | An effort made with sincerity. |
| a concerted attempt | Noun | A coordinated effort by multiple parties. |
| a failed attempt | Noun | An effort that did not succeed. |
| attempt at something | Noun | An effort directed towards a goal or activity. |
| attempt on someone’s life | Noun | An effort to kill someone. |
| abandon an attempt | Noun | To give up on an effort. |
Common Mistakes: Natural vs Unnatural
A common source of “language anxiety” for English learners is fear of sounding unnatural. Understanding collocations helps you avoid direct translations that native speakers would never use.
| Do Not Say | Say This |
|---|---|
|
Do an attempt |
Make an attempt |
|
Strong attempt |
Serious attempt / Valiant attempt |
|
Give an attempt |
Make an attempt / Give it a try |
|
Try an attempt |
Make an attempt / Attempt to do something |
|
Attempt in doing (e.g., attempt in solving) |
Attempt to do (e.g., attempt to solve) |
The team knew the deadline was tight, but they were determined. Sarah, the project manager, decided they needed to
make a concerted attempt to finish the coding by Friday. Each developer
valiantly attempted to solve the remaining bugs, staying late into the night. Despite their best efforts, it seemed like a
failed attempt was inevitable due to a critical system error. However, sensing their frustration, Mark suggested they take a break and then prepare for
another attempt with a fresh perspective.
Frequently Asked Questions about Attempt Collocations
What is the difference between “make an attempt” and “attempt (verb)”?
Both convey the idea of trying, but “attempt” as a verb is generally more formal and often implies a direct, sometimes strenuous, action (e.g., “They attempted to climb the peak”). “Make an attempt” as a noun phrase is slightly less formal and very versatile, emphasizing the act of trying itself (e.g., “She made an attempt to learn French”). In many contexts, they are interchangeable, but “make an attempt” offers a slightly broader usage for general efforts.
Can “attempt” be followed by a gerund (-ing form)?
As a verb, “attempt” is almost always followed by an infinitive (to + verb), not a gerund. For example, “They attempted to open the door” is correct, not “They attempted opening the door.” However, as a noun, “attempt” can be followed by the preposition “at” and then a gerund: “Her attempt at solving the puzzle was admirable.”
What prepositions typically follow “attempt” as a noun?
The most common prepositions are “at” and “on.” We use “attempt at + noun/gerund” to indicate the general focus of the effort (e.g., “an attempt at diplomacy,” “an attempt at running a marathon”). We use “attempt on + noun” in specific, often serious, contexts, like “an attempt on someone’s life.” Less commonly, “attempt to + verb” (infinitive) also works, as in “an attempt to find a solution.”
Is “attempt” a formal word? Should I use “try” instead?
“Attempt” is generally more formal than “try.” While “try” is suitable for everyday speech and less significant efforts (e.g., “I’ll try to call him”), “attempt” implies a more serious, deliberate, or challenging effort. Using “attempt” can elevate your vocabulary and make your language more precise, especially in academic, professional, or journalistic contexts. However, using it incorrectly or too frequently in informal settings might sound unnatural. Always consider the context!
How can I avoid language anxiety when using new collocations?
It’s completely normal to feel a bit anxious when trying new phrases! The key is gradual exposure and practice. Start by recognizing these collocations when you read or listen to English. Then, try using one or two new collocations in low-stakes situations, like when writing notes or talking to a patient friend. Don’t aim for perfection immediately. Focus on understanding the patterns and remember that making mistakes is a natural and necessary part of learning. The more you encounter and actively use these phrases, the more confident and natural you’ll become.
This is incredibly helpful! I've been aiming to sound more natural, and collocations are definitely the key. My English teacher always says knowing these word partnerships makes a huge difference. Thanks for a concise yet comprehensive guide!
I'm an advanced learner, and even I found new insights here. The emphasis on 'attempt' for challenging tasks really clicked for me. Could you perhaps dedicate another post to common mistakes with 'attempt'?
Thank you so much for this clear explanation! I always get confused with these kinds of phrases. It's so good to finally understand why 'make an attempt' is correct. This blog always helps me feel more confident!
Excellent points! The 'attempt to + verb' structure is something I use frequently but often wonder if I'm using it correctly for the level of formality. Are there any specific verbs that commonly follow 'attempt to' that are particularly idiomatic or tricky?
So useful! I've often seen 'make an attempt' but wasn't sure why 'do an attempt' felt wrong. This article explains it perfectly. It's these little details that elevate my English.
I appreciate the practical examples provided. It really helps cement the understanding. For noun collocations, when do we use 'a failed attempt' versus 'an unsuccessful attempt'? Is there a difference in nuance?
Great article! The explanation about 'attempt' being more formal than 'try' is a key takeaway for me. I often struggle with formality levels in English. Are there specific contexts (like legal or scientific writing) where 'attempt' is almost exclusively preferred?
This is fantastic! Learning collocations systematically is a game-changer for fluency. I'm curious, does 'attempt' ever take a gerund (e.g., 'attempt doing something') instead of an infinitive? Or is it always 'attempt to do'?
Thank you, Translateen! I always thought 'do an attempt' sounded okay, but now I know better. It's these subtle differences that really make you sound more native. Is there a similar article for collocations with 'effort'?
I loved the part about 'attempt to + verb.' It really emphasizes the effort. Does 'attempt' as a verb always imply that the task is difficult or challenging, or can it be used for simpler actions too?