- Do you ever feel unsure whether to say “make a bond” or “form a bond”?
- Are you looking for more natural ways to describe connections, relationships, or agreements?
- How can you use “bond” accurately in both formal and informal English conversations?
Mastering English collocations is a game-changer for fluency. Instead of translating word-for-word, learning which words naturally go together will make your English sound more authentic, precise, and confident. Dive in to unlock the power of collocations with the word “bond” and elevate your communication instantly.
Essential Collocations using Bond as a Noun
Describing Types and Qualities of Bonds
As a noun, “bond” often refers to a connection or relationship. These collocations help you describe the nature of that connection.
- strong bond: A very close and durable connection.
Example: There’s a strong bond between siblings who have supported each other through tough times.
- close bond: An intimate and affectionate connection.
Example: Sarah and her grandmother share a very close bond.
- emotional bond: A deep feeling of connection or attachment.
Example: Pets and their owners often develop a powerful emotional bond.
- family bond: The ties that connect members of a family.
Example: Despite living far apart, they maintain a strong family bond through regular video calls.
- special bond: A unique or particularly meaningful connection.
Example: He has a special bond with his mentor, who guided him through his career.
- lasting bond: A connection that endures over a long period.
Example: Their shared experiences in college forged a lasting bond.
Actions Related to Bonds: Forming, Strengthening, and Breaking
These phrases describe what people do to create, maintain, or end a connection.
- form a bond: To create a connection or relationship.
Example: It takes time to form a bond of trust with new colleagues.
- build a bond: To gradually develop and strengthen a relationship.
Example: Team-building exercises help employees build a bond with one another.
- strengthen a bond: To make an existing connection more robust.
Example: Spending quality time together can significantly strengthen a bond between friends.
- develop a bond: To cultivate a connection over time.
Example: As they worked on the project, they began to develop a bond of mutual respect.
- forge a bond: To create a strong, often enduring, connection, especially under challenging circumstances.
Example: Soldiers often forge a bond that lasts a lifetime.
- break a bond: To end a connection or relationship.
Example: Betrayal can irrevocably break a bond of trust.
- sever a bond: To completely and often abruptly cut off a relationship.
Example: After years of conflict, she decided to sever the bond with her estranged brother.
Financial and Legal Bonds
“Bond” can also refer to a formal agreement or a financial instrument.
- government bond: A debt security issued by a national government.
Example: Investing in a government bond is generally considered a low-risk option.
- corporate bond: A debt instrument issued by a company to raise capital.
Example: Many companies issue a corporate bond to fund expansion projects.
- treasury bond: A long-term debt instrument issued by the U.S. Treasury. (US English)
Example: Retirees often invest in treasury bonds for stable income.
- bail bond: An agreement to pay a sum of money if a defendant fails to appear in court.
Example: Her family posted a bail bond to secure her release from custody.
Common Collocations with Bond as a Verb
Bonding with People and Groups
As a verb, “bond” means to form a close relationship or connection.
- bond with (someone): To develop a close emotional relationship with someone.
Example: It’s important for new parents to bond with their baby in the first few weeks.
- bond over (something): To form a connection due to a shared experience, interest, or characteristic.
Example: The students began to bond over their mutual love for science fiction.
- bond as a team: To become a cohesive and supportive group.
Example: The challenging project helped the colleagues bond as a team.
Bonding Materials and Substances
“Bond” can also describe things physically sticking together.
- bond together: To cause two or more things to stick or adhere to each other.
Example: The adhesive is designed to bond different materials together securely.
- bond two surfaces: To make two distinct surfaces stick to each other.
Example: Professional glue can effectively bond two surfaces of wood or metal.
| Collocation | Part of Speech | Quick Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| strong bond | Noun | A very close and durable connection |
| form a bond | Noun (verb phrase) | To create a connection or relationship |
| build a bond | Noun (verb phrase) | To gradually develop a relationship |
| strengthen a bond | Noun (verb phrase) | To make an existing connection stronger |
| break a bond | Noun (verb phrase) | To end a connection or relationship |
| bond with (someone) | Verb | To develop a close emotional relationship |
| bond over (something) | Verb | To connect due to shared experience/interest |
| family bond | Noun | The ties connecting family members |
| government bond | Noun | A debt security issued by a government |
Common Mistakes: Natural vs Unnatural
Avoid these common errors to sound more natural when using “bond” in English.
| Do Not Say | Say This |
|---|---|
| Make a bond with someone | Form a bond with someone / Bond with someone |
| Have a deep bond | Have a strong bond / Have a close bond |
| The bond between them is big | The bond between them is strong / The bond between them is deep |
| Cut the bond | Break the bond / Sever the bond |
| Bonding with each other | Bond with each other / Bond as a team (if group) |
The new project manager quickly understood the importance of fostering positive team dynamics. She organized a series of workshops designed to help team members bond over shared challenges. Gradually, the colleagues began to develop a strong bond, realizing they could rely on each other. This newfound camaraderie helped to strengthen their existing bonds and even form new bonds of friendship outside of work. The manager’s efforts ensured the team didn’t just work together, but truly bonded as a team.
Frequently Asked Questions about Bond Collocations
What prepositions are commonly used with the noun ‘bond’?
As a noun, ‘bond’ is most often followed by ‘between’ or ‘with’ when referring to relationships. For example, ‘a bond between siblings’ or ‘a bond with a pet’. It can also be followed by ‘of’ to specify the nature of the bond, such as ‘a bond of trust’.
What’s the difference between ‘bond’ and ‘connection’?
While often similar, ‘bond’ usually implies a deeper, stronger, and more enduring link than ‘connection’. A ‘connection’ can be superficial or temporary (e.g., ‘a brief connection on a train’), whereas a ‘bond’ suggests a significant, often emotional or fundamental, attachment (e.g., ‘a family bond’).
Can ‘bond’ be used in a negative context?
Yes, while often positive, ‘bond’ can be used neutrally or even negatively. For example, you can ‘break a bond’ or ‘sever a bond’ to indicate the ending of a relationship, which is a negative action. Also, terms like ‘bondage’ (derived from ‘bond’) refer to restriction or servitude, carrying a strong negative connotation.
Is ‘bonding’ a common noun or verb form?
Yes, ‘bonding’ is very common as both a gerund (noun form) and a present participle (verb form). As a gerund, it refers to the process of forming a close relationship (e.g., ‘The team activity was great for bonding.’). As a verb, it describes the ongoing action (e.g., ‘They are bonding over their shared hobby.’).
I enjoyed this article so much! It's exactly the kind of practical advice I need to improve my spoken English. I'm going to try to use these collocations in my conversations this week.
What's the difference between a 'close bond' and an 'intimate bond'? Are they interchangeable, or is 'intimate' stronger?
Excellent question, Diego! While 'close bond' and 'intimate bond' are often very similar, 'intimate bond' generally suggests an even deeper level of personal closeness, emotional connection, and sometimes a sense of privacy or profound understanding between individuals, often implying a romantic or deeply personal friendship. 'Close bond' is broader and can apply to strong connections of many types. So, 'intimate' is often a stronger, more specific descriptor.
I've been trying to sound more native, and I think this article just gave me a huge step forward. Using 'emotional bond' instead of just 'strong feeling' is a huge upgrade. Gracias!
This is a great resource. I often find myself translating literally from Japanese, and collocations are always a challenge. The point about not translating word-for-word is spot on. Thank you!
The examples provided are very clear and easy to understand for intermediate learners like me. I especially appreciate the context given with each collocation. Makes it much easier to remember!
That's wonderful feedback, Svetlana! We strive to make our explanations and examples as clear and contextualized as possible, especially for intermediate learners who are building their fluency. Your positive reinforcement encourages us to create more content like this!
I wonder if there are negative collocations with 'bond'? Like, can a bond be 'broken' or 'strained'? The article focused on positive examples.
This article is a game-changer for my IELTS speaking test! I need to sound more natural, and focusing on collocations like these is definitely the way to go. Will there be more articles on other common words?
That's fantastic to hear, Isabella! We're delighted that this article is helping you prepare for your IELTS. Yes, we plan to cover many more essential words and their collocations to help you achieve that natural fluency. Good luck with your test!
I'm curious about the verb form of 'bond.' Like, can you say 'we bonded over a shared love of music'? Is that a common usage?
Absolutely, Kai! 'To bond' as a verb is very common and natural, especially in informal contexts. Your example, 'we bonded over a shared love of music,' is perfect. It means to develop a close relationship, often quickly, due to shared experiences or interests. Great observation!
This article helped clarify a lot for me. I always used 'have a bond,' but 'share a bond' feels much more active and reciprocal when talking about relationships. Thank you!
You've hit on a crucial point, Priya! 'Share a bond' perfectly emphasizes the mutual nature of the connection, while 'have a bond' is more general. Great job noticing that subtle yet significant difference!
My favorite part was 'family bond.' It really highlights the inherent connection within families. I often struggle with describing family relationships in English, so this is a great starting point.
We're happy to hear that, Elena! 'Family bond' is indeed a beautiful and essential collocation. Remember, you can also describe the strength of this bond, for example, 'a resilient family bond' or 'unbreakable family bond.' Keep practicing!