- Do you ever wonder if you’re using “grant” correctly in every situation?
- Are you unsure whether to say “give a grant” or “grant a request”?
- Do native speakers use “grant” differently depending on the context?
Learning collocations, the natural groupings of words that frequently occur together, is a powerful shortcut to English fluency. It helps you sound more natural, express yourself more precisely, and avoid common errors that can hinder clear communication. This guide will help you master the various ways to use “grant,” ensuring your English is both accurate and confident.
Common Collocations with GRANT as a Verb
As a verb, “grant” means to agree to give or allow something requested, or to formally bestow something. It often implies a formal decision or bestowment.
Granting Permissions and Approvals
These collocations refer to giving formal consent or authorization.
- Grant permission: To allow someone to do something.
Example: The school board decided to grant permission for the students to organize a charity event.
- Grant access: To allow someone to enter a place or use a system.
Example: IT support will grant access to the server only after verifying your credentials.
- Grant a license/permit: To officially give someone the right to do something, usually requiring formal documentation.
Example: The city council chose to grant a license for the new restaurant to operate downtown.
- Grant approval: To officially say that something is good or acceptable.
Example: The committee needed more time to grant approval for the ambitious proposal.
Granting Requests and Wishes
These collocations involve fulfilling someone’s spoken or unspoken desires.
- Grant a request: To agree to someone’s formal appeal or question.
Example: After careful consideration, the manager agreed to grant her request for a flexible work schedule.
- Grant a wish: To make someone’s desire come true, often in a more figurative or less formal sense.
Example: Many fairy tales feature a magical being who can grant a wish.
Granting Awards, Titles, and Recognition
These phrases relate to officially bestowing honors or formal statuses.
- Grant an award: To officially give a prize or honor.
Example: The university will grant an award to the top-performing student in the science faculty.
- Grant a scholarship/fellowship: To provide financial aid for education or research.
Example: Her excellent academic record helped her to grant a scholarship to study abroad.
- Grant an honorary degree: To bestow a university degree as an honor, without the recipient having to complete the usual requirements.
Example: The esteemed scientist was invited to the ceremony where the university would grant him an honorary degree.
Granting Rights and Privileges
These collocations refer to giving someone legal or formal entitlements.
- Grant asylum: To offer protection to a refugee in a foreign country.
Example: The nation decided to grant asylum to families fleeing the conflict zone.
- Grant citizenship: To formally accept someone as a citizen of a country.
Example: After years of living in the country, she was finally able to grant citizenship.
- Grant an interview: To agree to be questioned by a journalist or prospective employer.
Example: The CEO rarely agrees to grant an interview to the press.
Essential Collocations using GRANT as a Noun
As a noun, “grant” typically refers to a sum of money given by an organization, especially a government, for a particular purpose.
Types of Grants
These collocations specify the purpose or source of the financial aid.
- Research grant: Funding given for scientific or academic research.
Example: Our team is actively seeking a research grant to fund the next phase of our climate study.
- Study grant: Financial aid for students, often for a specific course or institution.
Example: She received a generous study grant which covered her tuition fees for the entire master’s program.
- Travel grant: Funding to cover expenses for travel, typically for academic or professional purposes.
Example: The professor applied for a travel grant to attend an international conference in Japan.
- Government grant: Funds provided by a government body, usually for public benefit or specific projects.
Example: The small business successfully secured a government grant to develop innovative green technology.
- Educational grant: General term for funding related to education.
Example: Many non-profit organizations offer an educational grant to underprivileged students.
- Startup grant: Funding provided to help a new business or venture get established.
Example: Their innovative business idea helped them win a substantial startup grant.
Actions Related to Grants
These collocations describe the process of acquiring or distributing financial grants.
- Apply for a grant: To formally request a grant.
Example: They need to apply for a grant by the end of the month to be considered for funding.
- Receive a grant: To be given a grant.
Example: The artist was thrilled to receive a grant that allowed her to focus entirely on her new sculpture.
- Award a grant: To give a grant officially.
Example: The foundation decided to award a grant to six promising young scientists this year.
- Secure a grant: To successfully obtain a grant, often implying a competitive process.
Example: It took months of hard work, but we finally managed to secure a grant for our community project.
- Obtain a grant: Similar to ‘secure a grant’, meaning to get hold of it.
Example: Universities often help their faculty members obtain grants for their research.
- Administer a grant: To manage the funds and requirements of a grant.
Example: The finance department is responsible for ensuring we properly administer the grant funds according to the guidelines.
| Collocation | Part of Speech | Quick Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| grant permission | Verb | Allow officially |
| grant access | Verb | Allow entry/use |
| grant a request | Verb | Agree to a formal appeal |
| grant an award | Verb | Bestow a prize/honor |
| grant a scholarship | Verb | Provide educational funding |
| grant asylum | Verb | Offer protection to a refugee |
| research grant | Noun | Funding for studies |
| government grant | Noun | Public sector funding |
| apply for a grant | Noun (verb + noun) | Request funding |
| receive a grant | Noun (verb + noun) | Get funding |
| award a grant | Noun (verb + noun) | Officially give funding |
| secure a grant | Noun (verb + noun) | Successfully obtain funding |
Common Mistakes: Natural vs Unnatural
Using the correct collocations will make your English sound much more natural. Let’s look at some common errors.
| Do Not Say | Say This |
|---|---|
| The manager will |
The manager will grant permission. |
| She |
She received a scholarship (or was granted a scholarship). |
| He wants to |
He wants to apply for a grant. |
| They will |
They will grant an award to her. |
| The foundation |
The foundation awards grants. |
After months of diligent work, Dr. Chen was delighted to learn that the university committee decided to grant her research proposal for the groundbreaking study on renewable energy. Her team had worked tirelessly to apply for the grant, competing against numerous other worthy projects. Thanks to the decision to award the grant, they could finally proceed. This significant research grant would enable them to explore new sustainable solutions and potentially grant access to vital resources for the entire community. It was a true testament to her dedication, and the news was enough to grant her a moment of pure joy.
Frequently Asked Questions about Grant Collocations
What is the difference between “grant” and “give”?
“Grant” often implies a more formal, official, or significant bestowal, especially when it comes to permissions, rights, or large sums of money. “Give” is a much broader and more general verb that can be used for almost anything, from a small gift to a casual instruction. For example, you “give a book,” but you “grant permission” or “grant a scholarship.”
Can “grant” be used informally?
While “grant” is often associated with formal contexts, it can be used informally, especially in phrases like “I’ll grant you that” (meaning ‘I agree with you on that point’) or “grant a wish” in a metaphorical sense. However, for everyday “giving” or “allowing,” more common verbs like “give,” “allow,” or “permit” are generally preferred.
What prepositions typically follow “grant” when it’s a verb?
When “grant” is a verb, it usually takes a direct object (what is granted) and then can be followed by “to” or “for” to indicate the recipient or purpose. For example, “They granted an extension to the students” or “They granted funds for the project.” Sometimes, no preposition is needed when the recipient is directly the object: “They granted the students an extension.”
Are there any specific adverbs that commonly collocate with “grant”?
Yes, common adverbs include “formally grant,” “officially grant,” “generously grant,” “reluctantly grant,” or “unanimously grant.” These adverbs emphasize the manner or conditions under which something is granted, providing extra nuance to the action.
Is “grant” only used for money?
No, not at all! While “grant” as a noun very commonly refers to money (e.g., a “research grant”), “grant” as a verb can be used for many non-monetary things such as “grant permission,” “grant access,” “grant a wish,” “grant asylum,” or “grant an interview.” It signifies the act of formally giving or allowing something, whether tangible or intangible.
So if I'm asking for access to a website, it's better to say 'Could you grant me access?' rather than 'Could you give me access?' to sound more polite and formal?
What about 'grant a wish'? Is that a common or natural collocation? It feels a bit different from 'grant permission' or 'grant access'.
That's a very insightful question, Isabelle! 'Grant a wish' is indeed a common and natural collocation, often used in more imaginative or metaphorical contexts (e.g., 'The genie granted his three wishes'). While it still carries the meaning of formally agreeing to give or allow something requested, it's typically less about official authorization and more about fulfilling a desire, often with a touch of magic or exceptional favor. It highlights the versatility of 'grant'!
This guide helped me understand why 'grant' sounds so much more professional in certain contexts. I often heard it in legal documents but wasn't sure when to use it myself. Thank you!
I often hear 'grant an interview' or 'grant an audience.' Does this 'grant' fall into the 'bestow something' category, or is it a separate collocation?
I'm a beginner, and this article is challenging but so rewarding! I'm trying to make sentences with 'grant permission.' Can I say 'The teacher granted permission to use phones'?
That's a fantastic attempt, Akira! Your sentence 'The teacher granted permission to use phones' is grammatically correct and clearly conveys the meaning. While 'granted permission' often implies a more formal context, a teacher formally allowing something in a classroom setting is perfectly acceptable. Keep up the great work, you're doing wonderfully!
My visa application required the embassy to 'grant a permit' for me to stay. This article really clicked with that experience!
Thanks for sharing your experience, Paolo! That's a perfect real-world example of 'grant a permit.' These formal collocations are indeed very common in official documents and procedures, and understanding them helps immensely with practical English usage and navigating administrative processes. We're glad we could help make that connection for you!
Wow! I never knew such specific words existed for permissions. This makes my English sound so much better already! Translateen.com is my favorite blog!
This was exactly what I needed! Are there any common errors people make with 'grant' that weren't covered, beyond just using 'give' instead?
That's a thoughtful question, Jun! Beyond substituting 'give,' another common error is sometimes using 'grant for' instead of the correct prepositions that go with the noun form (e.g., 'a grant *for* research,' 'a grant *to* the student'). Also, people might overuse it where a simpler, less formal verb would suffice, making their English sound overly formal for the context. Your awareness of these nuances is a sign of advanced learning!
So, 'grant access' is much better than 'give access' when talking about IT systems or secure areas? Good to know!
This is great for the verb form. I'm still a bit confused about 'grant' as a noun, as in 'research grant.' Is that related to the verb 'grant'?
That's a fantastic observation, Omar! Yes, the noun 'grant' (meaning a sum of money given by an organization, especially a government, for a particular purpose) is directly related to the verb 'grant.' When an organization 'grants' money, that money becomes 'a grant.' So, 'The university decided to grant funding' means 'The university decided to provide a grant.' They are intrinsically linked!