- Do you ever wonder if you should say “get an infection” or “catch an infection”?
- Are you unsure which adjectives sound natural when describing different types of infections?
- Struggling to remember the right verbs to use when talking about preventing or treating illnesses?
Mastering collocations isn’t just about sounding more native; it’s about communicating with precision and confidence. When you learn words in natural pairs or groups, you build a more robust vocabulary, reduce common errors, and greatly enhance your fluency. Let’s dive into the world of ‘infection’ and discover its most common companions.
Essential Collocations using INFECTION as a Noun
The word ‘infection’ primarily functions as a noun, referring to the invasion and multiplication of microorganisms in body tissues, which may result in local cellular injury due to competitive metabolism, toxins, intracellular replication, or antigen-antibody response.
Verbs that combine with INFECTION
These verbs describe how one might acquire, deal with, or manage an infection.
- Acquire/Contract/Get an infection: To catch or develop an infection.
- Example: You can easily acquire an infection if you don’t wash your hands regularly.
- Example: He unfortunately contracted a bacterial infection after the surgery.
- Example: Many children get ear infections during the winter months.
- Develop an infection: To start having an infection.
- Example: Patients with weakened immune systems are more likely to develop an infection.
- Fight (off) an infection: To combat or resist an infection, often with the body’s immune system.
- Example: His body is working hard to fight off the infection.
- Prevent an infection: To stop an infection from happening.
- Example: Good hygiene is crucial to prevent infection.
- Spread an infection: To pass an infection from one person or place to another.
- Example: It’s important to isolate sick individuals to avoid spreading the infection.
- Treat an infection: To give medical care to cure or relieve an infection.
- Example: Doctors prescribed antibiotics to treat the infection.
- Clear up an infection: To get rid of an infection completely.
- Example: The medication helped to clear up the infection quickly.
Adjectives that describe INFECTION
These adjectives specify the type, severity, or location of an infection.
- Bacterial/Viral/Fungal/Parasitic infection: Describes the type of microorganism causing the infection.
- Example: Antibiotics are ineffective against a viral infection like the common cold.
- Example: Athlete’s foot is a common fungal infection.
- Severe/Serious/Mild infection: Indicates the intensity or danger level of the infection.
- Example: The wound developed into a severe infection requiring hospitalization.
- Example: Fortunately, it was just a mild infection that cleared up on its own.
- Acute/Chronic infection: Refers to the duration of the infection. Acute is sudden and short-lived; chronic is long-lasting.
- Example: An acute infection often comes with sudden, intense symptoms.
- Example: Some patients suffer from a chronic infection that recurs over years.
- Localized/Systemic infection: Describes whether the infection is confined to one area or spread throughout the body.
- Example: A pimple is usually a localized infection.
- Example: Sepsis is a dangerous form of systemic infection.
- Opportunistic infection: An infection that takes advantage of a weakened immune system.
- Example: Patients with AIDS are susceptible to opportunistic infections.
- Secondary infection: An infection that occurs during or after treatment for another infection.
- Example: After the flu, she developed a secondary bacterial infection in her lungs.
Nouns/Prepositions that combine with INFECTION
These phrases describe related concepts or how ‘infection’ relates to other elements.
- Risk of infection: The possibility or danger of getting an infection.
- Example: There’s a high risk of infection if the wound isn’t cleaned.
- Source of infection: Where an infection originated or came from.
- Example: Investigators are trying to identify the source of the infection in the hospital.
- Signs/Symptoms of infection: Observable indicators or feelings related to an infection.
- Example: Redness and swelling are common signs of infection.
- Example: Fever and chills can be symptoms of infection.
- Protection against infection: Measures taken to prevent infection.
- Example: Wearing a mask offers some protection against infection.
- Susceptibility to infection: How likely someone is to get an infection.
- Example: Malnourished individuals have increased susceptibility to infection.
- Resistance to infection: The body’s ability to fight off an infection.
- Example: Regular exercise can boost your resistance to infection.
Specific Types of Infection
Common phrases naming particular infections.
- Urinary tract infection (UTI): An infection in any part of the urinary system.
- Example: She visited the doctor complaining of a urinary tract infection.
- Ear infection: An infection of the middle ear.
- Example: Many toddlers suffer from recurring ear infections.
- Chest infection: An infection affecting the lungs or airways.
- Example: He was prescribed antibiotics for a nasty chest infection.
- Skin infection: An infection affecting the skin.
- Example: Minor cuts can lead to painful skin infections if not cleaned.
| Collocation | Part of Speech | Quick Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| acquire an infection | Verb + Noun | To catch or get an illness caused by germs. |
| fight off an infection | Verb + Noun | To combat or resist an illness with your immune system. |
| prevent infection | Verb + Noun | To stop an illness from happening. |
| treat an infection | Verb + Noun | To medically manage an illness to cure or relieve it. |
| severe infection | Adjective + Noun | A serious or dangerous illness. |
| bacterial infection | Adjective + Noun | An illness caused by bacteria. |
| risk of infection | Noun + Preposition + Noun | The chance or danger of getting an illness. |
| signs of infection | Noun + Preposition + Noun | Observable indicators that an illness is present. |
| urinary tract infection (UTI) | Compound Noun | An infection in the urinary system. |
| spread an infection | Verb + Noun | To pass an illness from one person or place to another. |
Common Mistakes: Natural vs Unnatural
Avoid these common pitfalls to sound more natural when discussing ‘infection’.
| Do Not Say | Say This |
|---|---|
| take an infection | get an infection / contract an infection / develop an infection |
| strong infection | severe infection / serious infection |
| cure the infection (directly) | treat the infection / clear up the infection / cure someone of an infection |
| make an infection | cause an infection / lead to an infection |
| stop an infection | prevent an infection / fight off an infection |
Dr. Lee quickly assessed the patient’s condition. “It appears you’ve developed a severe infection in your hand,” she explained. “We need to identify the source of the infection immediately.” She outlined the treatment plan, emphasizing the importance of antibiotics to treat the infection and regular cleaning to prevent further infection. “With proper care, we can fight off this infection and ensure it doesn’t become a more complicated systemic infection. Watch out for any new signs of infection, such as increased redness or fever.”
Frequently Asked Questions about Infection Collocations
Can ‘infection’ be used in the plural?
Yes, ‘infection’ can be used in the plural form ‘infections’ when referring to multiple instances or types of infections. For example: “The clinic saw several viral infections last week,” or “She’s prone to recurring ear infections.”
What are common prepositions used with ‘infection’?
Several prepositions are common with ‘infection’:
- of: “signs of infection,” “risk of infection,” “source of infection”
- from: “protect against infection from bacteria”
- against: “protection against infection,” “vaccine against infection”
- with: “infected with a virus” (though ‘infection’ itself rarely takes ‘with’ directly)
- for: “treatment for an infection”
What is the difference between ‘infection’ and ‘disease’?
An infection is the invasion and multiplication of microorganisms in body tissues. A disease is a disorder of structure or function in a human, animal, or plant, especially one that produces specific symptoms or that affects a specific location and is not simply a direct result of physical injury. While many diseases are caused by infections (e.g., the flu is an infectious disease), not all infections lead to disease (sometimes the immune system fights it off silently), and not all diseases are infectious (e.g., heart disease or diabetes are non-infectious diseases).
Is ‘infectious’ the same as ‘infected’?
No, they have different grammatical roles and meanings.
- Infectious is an adjective describing something that can cause or spread an infection (e.g., an infectious disease, an infectious cough). It means “capable of being transmitted by infection.”
- Infected is primarily a past participle used as an adjective, meaning “containing or contaminated with disease-causing organisms” (e.g., an infected wound, an infected person). It refers to the state of having an infection.
How do you talk about the way you get an infection?
The most common and natural ways to describe getting an infection are:
- “get an infection” (most common and versatile)
- “contract an infection” (often used for more serious or specific infections)
- “develop an infection” (implies the infection has begun to manifest)
- “acquire an infection” (similar to “get,” often used in medical or formal contexts)
Avoid using verbs like “take” or “receive” for getting an infection.
Are there other specific types of infections besides ear infections that commonly use 'get'? Like, 'get a stomach infection' or 'get a skin infection'?
Yes, Anya, absolutely! 'Get' is incredibly versatile for various common infections. You can definitely 'get a stomach infection', 'get a skin infection', 'get a chest infection', 'get a throat infection', 'get a urinary tract infection (UTI)', or even 'get a dental infection'. It's the most common and natural verb for the onset of most types of infections in everyday conversation.
This blog is consistently excellent for improving my English. Keep up the great work, Translateen!
Could you perhaps dedicate an article to verbs associated with *treating* or *curing* infections? E.g., 'treat an infection', 'fight an infection', etc. That would be incredibly useful!
That's an excellent suggestion, Lena! Verbs related to treating, fighting, or recovering from infections are definitely on our list. It's a natural progression from acquiring them. We'll prioritize developing content around those collocations soon. Thank you for the valuable input!
The explanation of what 'infection' means at the beginning was very clear, even for a non-medical person like me. And then the verbs made perfect sense. Great article!
How do you suggest teaching these collocations to lower-level students without overwhelming them with medical jargon? Any fun activities come to mind?
Nadia, that's a common challenge! For lower-level students, start with 'get an infection' as it's the most common and accessible. You could try matching games (e.g., 'get' with 'an infection', 'ear' with 'infection'), or simple fill-in-the-blank exercises using cartoon scenarios. Role-playing a basic doctor-patient conversation could also be effective, focusing on practical phrases they'd actually use without getting too deep into complex medical terms.
It's fascinating how English uses different verbs to convey slight nuances of how an infection is acquired. 'Acquire' feels more general, while 'contract' almost implies a specific exposure event. Very insightful!
We're glad you found that insight valuable, Hiroshi! Your observation perfectly captures the subtle distinctions that make collocations so important for precise communication. It's these nuanced choices that really elevate one's English proficiency and allow for clear, professional expression.
I used to say 'have an infection' all the time, but now I see 'get an infection' is much more common for the onset. This really helps me sound more native!
What about 'spread an infection' or 'prevent an infection'? I assume those are also common collocations. Will you be covering those verbs in more detail later?
You're absolutely right, Giovanni! 'Spread an infection' and 'prevent an infection' are indeed very common and crucial collocations. We tried to keep this article focused on the acquisition verbs, but we plan to cover verbs related to the management, treatment, and spread of infections in future posts. Stay tuned – your suggestion is excellent!
I often tell my students that learning vocabulary in chunks (collocations) is far more effective than individual words. This article is a perfect demonstration of that principle. Thank you for providing such practical examples!
The example 'He unfortunately contracted a bacterial infection after the surgery' is very clear. I struggle with remembering which prepositions go with medical terms. Is there a trick?
Wei, prepositions can definitely be tricky! The best 'trick' for collocations, including verb+preposition pairs, is consistent exposure and practice. Try making flashcards with the entire phrase (e.g., 'contract an infection after surgery'), or keep a notebook where you jot down new collocations in full sentences. Over time, these patterns will start to feel more natural. There isn't a single rule, but rather a lot of natural usage.