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- Do you ever wonder if you’re using the word “influence” naturally in English?
- Are you unsure whether to say “make influence” or “have influence”?
- Do you struggle with the correct prepositions that go with “influence”?
Understanding collocations—words that commonly go together—is a superpower for English learners. Mastering collocations with a versatile word like “influence” will significantly boost your fluency, make your speech and writing sound more native, and ensure your message is understood exactly as you intend. Let’s dive into the world of “influence” and uncover its most common and useful pairings!
Essential Collocations using INFLUENCE as a Noun
As a noun, “influence” refers to the capacity to have an effect on the character, development, or behavior of someone or something, or the effect itself. It’s often followed by prepositions like ‘on’ or ‘over’.
Verbs that pair with ‘Influence’ (as a Noun)
These verbs describe what you do with influence or what happens to it.
- Have an influence: To possess the ability to affect someone or something.
Example: Social media has a significant influence on young people’s opinions.
- Exert influence: To use your power or position to affect something.
Example: The CEO exerted her influence to push the new policy through.
- Wield influence: Similar to ‘exert influence’, often implying considerable or significant power.
Example: The veteran diplomat wields considerable influence in international affairs.
- Gain influence: To acquire more power or control over something.
Example: The startup began to gain influence in the tech market.
- Lose influence: To no longer have power or control.
Example: After the scandal, the politician quickly lost influence among his peers.
- Strengthen influence: To make one’s power or control more robust.
Example: The company worked to strengthen its influence in the global supply chain.
- Diminish influence: To reduce someone’s power or control.
Example: New regulations sought to diminish the influence of lobbyists.
- Come under the influence of: To be affected by someone or something, often in a negative or controlling way.
Example: He regretted that he had come under the influence of that negative peer group.
Adjectives that describe ‘Influence’ (as a Noun)
These adjectives specify the type or degree of influence.
- Strong/Powerful influence: A very noticeable or significant effect.
Example: Her parents had a strong influence on her career choice.
- Significant/Major influence: An important and noticeable effect.
Example: Climate change is having a major influence on global weather patterns.
- Positive/Beneficial influence: An effect that helps or improves things.
Example: Mentors often provide a positive influence on their mentees’ development.
- Negative/Harmful influence: An effect that causes problems or damage.
Example: The media can sometimes have a negative influence on body image.
- Direct influence: An immediate and clear effect.
Example: The new law had a direct influence on small businesses.
- Indirect influence: An effect that is not immediate or obvious.
Example: Cultural trends often have an indirect influence on political discourse.
- Subtle influence: An effect that is not easily noticed.
Example: Her calm demeanor had a subtle influence on the tense meeting.
- Undue influence: Excessive or inappropriate pressure or persuasion.
Example: The will was challenged on grounds of undue influence.
Prepositional Phrases with ‘Influence’ (as a Noun)
These phrases clarify the target or sphere of influence.
- Influence on [something/someone]: The effect someone or something has. (Most common)
Example: The internet has had a huge influence on how we communicate.
- Influence over [someone/something]: Power or control someone has, often implying authority.
Example: She holds considerable influence over her team members.
- Sphere/Circle of influence: The area or group of people over which one has power or control.
Example: As a manager, you should focus on expanding your sphere of influence.
Common Collocations with INFLUENCE as a Verb
When used as a verb, “influence” means to have an effect on the character, development, or behavior of someone or something. It is a transitive verb, meaning it takes a direct object.
Adverbs that modify ‘Influence’ (as a Verb)
These adverbs describe the manner or degree to which something influences.
- Greatly/Strongly influence: To have a very significant effect.
Example: The decision will greatly influence the company’s future.
- Positively/Negatively influence: To affect in a good or bad way.
Example: Effective leadership can positively influence team morale.
- Directly/Indirectly influence: To affect immediately or through a secondary channel.
Example: Advertising can directly influence consumer choices.
- Profoundly influence: To have a deep and significant effect.
Example: Her childhood experiences profoundly influenced her worldview.
- Significantly influence: To affect in an important and noticeable way.
Example: Technology continues to significantly influence education methods.
- Subtly influence: To affect in a way that is not immediately obvious.
Example: The background music can subtly influence shoppers’ moods.
Nouns that are ‘Influenced’ (as a Verb)
These are the direct objects that receive the action of influencing.
- Influence a decision/outcome: To affect the result of a choice or event.
Example: The expert testimony could influence the jury’s decision.
- Influence behavior/actions: To change how someone acts.
Example: Peer pressure can strongly influence teenage behavior.
- Influence public opinion: To shape what the general population thinks.
Example: Political campaigns aim to influence public opinion before elections.
- Influence policy/legislation: To affect rules or laws.
Example: Lobbyists try to influence policy makers in Washington.
- Influence a market/economy: To affect the way a market or economy performs.
Example: Interest rates can greatly influence the housing market.
| Collocation | Part of Speech | Quick Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Have an influence | Noun (Verb + Noun) | To possess power to affect |
| Exert influence | Noun (Verb + Noun) | To use power to affect |
| Wield influence | Noun (Verb + Noun) | To use significant power |
| Strong influence | Noun (Adjective + Noun) | A noticeable or significant effect |
| Positive influence | Noun (Adjective + Noun) | A beneficial effect |
| Influence on | Noun (Noun + Preposition) | Effect on something/someone |
| Influence over | Noun (Noun + Preposition) | Power/control over someone |
| Greatly influence | Verb (Adverb + Verb) | To affect very significantly |
| Directly influence | Verb (Adverb + Verb) | To affect immediately and clearly |
| Influence a decision | Verb (Verb + Noun) | To affect the outcome of a choice |
| Influence public opinion | Verb (Verb + Noun) | To shape what the public thinks |
Common Mistakes: Natural vs Unnatural
Avoid these common pitfalls to sound more like a native speaker!
| Do Not Say | Say This |
|---|---|
| She makes a big influence on me. | She has a strong influence on me. / She greatly influences me. |
| I want to give influence. | I want to exert influence. / I want to wield influence. |
| His ideas influenced to the team. | His ideas influenced the team. (Verb takes a direct object) |
| The weather had influence for the crops. | The weather had an influence on the crops. |
| He has an influence on the children for good. | He has a positive influence on the children. |
In today’s fast-paced corporate world, effective leadership can greatly influence team productivity. Our new project manager, Sarah, has already begun to exert her influence by introducing innovative strategies. She consistently tries to foster a positive influence among her colleagues, which has, in turn, helped to strengthen her influence within the department. Her ability to influence key decisions in critical meetings means her team members feel she genuinely wields considerable influence, inspiring them to perform better. We’ve seen how her dedication has started to influence public opinion positively regarding our department’s initiatives.
Frequently Asked Questions about Influence Collocations
What’s the difference between “influence on” and “influence over”?
When “influence” is a noun:
- Influence on: This is the most common and generally means the effect or impact on someone or something. Example: “The internet has a huge influence on our daily lives.”
- Influence over: This implies having control, power, or authority over someone or something. Example: “The manager has significant influence over the team’s decisions.” You might also hear “influence with” someone, meaning you have power because of your relationship with them.
Can “influence” be used without an article?
Yes, sometimes. When “influence” refers to the general concept of influencing, or when it’s part of an idiomatic expression. For example, “His music is beyond influence,” meaning it’s original. However, in most common collocations like “have an influence” or “exert influence,” an article (usually ‘an’ or ‘a’) is needed because it refers to a specific instance or type of influence.
What are some common adverbs used with “influence” as a verb?
Many adverbs can precede “influence” to describe the degree or manner. Some common ones include: greatly, strongly, positively, negatively, directly, indirectly, profoundly, significantly, subtly, deeply, severely, partially, and unduly. For instance, “The economic policies greatly influenced voter behavior.”
Is “impact” a synonym for “influence”?
They are very close and often interchangeable, but there’s a subtle difference. “Influence” often suggests a gradual, ongoing process of shaping or affecting something. “Impact” typically suggests a more direct, often stronger, and sometimes sudden effect. Both can be nouns and verbs. Example: “The teacher’s influence shaped his career.” (gradual) vs. “The accident had a major impact on his life.” (strong, possibly sudden).
How is “under the influence” typically used in everyday English?
While “come under the influence of” means to be affected by something/someone, the phrase “under the influence” by itself most commonly refers to being impaired by alcohol or drugs. For example, “The driver was arrested for driving under the influence (DUI).” This specific usage is very common and important to be aware of.
Another gem from Translateen! You guys consistently provide top-notch content for English learners.
Thank you for the wonderful feedback, Gaby! Your kind words truly motivate our team to keep delivering high-quality educational content. We appreciate your support!
Does 'influence' always carry a somewhat neutral or positive connotation, or can it be negative too?
That's a great observation, Nadia. While 'influence' itself is neutral, the *type* of influence can certainly be negative. For example, 'He had a negative influence on his friends' or 'The propaganda exerted a detrimental influence on public opinion.' So, it can definitely be used in contexts with negative connotations, often clarified by an adjective.
Short, sweet, and to the point. Exactly what I need for quick learning. Thanks!
We're glad you appreciate the concise format, Ben! We aim to deliver impactful information efficiently. Happy learning!
This makes me realize how many little phrases I've been using incorrectly. Time to go back and revise some old essays!
That's a truly proactive approach, Maria! Recognizing areas for improvement is the first step towards mastery. Don't be discouraged; every correction is a step closer to fluency!
I'm always trying to improve my academic writing, and understanding these subtle differences is crucial. The 'on' vs 'over' explanation was particularly useful.
That's fantastic to hear, Kenji! For academic writing, precision in word choice and collocations like 'influence on/over' can significantly elevate the quality of your work. We're glad we could contribute to your development in that area.
Could you perhaps make a follow-up article comparing 'influence' with 'impact' and 'effect'? I often mix those up too!
That's an excellent suggestion, Eva! 'Influence,' 'impact,' and 'effect' are indeed often confused, and exploring their nuances and collocations would be very beneficial. We'll definitely consider that for a future post! Thank you for the idea.
The summary at the start perfectly describes my struggles. This article is a lifesaver. Keep up the amazing work, Translateen.com!
Your feedback is incredibly motivating, Daniel! We're so glad we could address your pain points and provide clarity. We are committed to helping you on your English learning journey!
Are there any specific contexts where one collocation (e.g., 'have an influence' vs. 'exert influence') is strongly preferred? Like in academic writing vs. casual conversation?
That's a very insightful question, Sofia. In academic writing, both 'have an influence' and 'exert influence' are common, but 'exert' might be favored when describing deliberate actions or policy impacts due to its slightly more formal and active nuance. In casual conversation, 'have an influence' is perhaps more common and less assertive, while 'exert influence' might be used for stronger, more direct actions. Both are generally acceptable, but the subtle difference in 'active effort' often guides the choice.
Thank you for explaining why 'make influence' is wrong! I hear non-native speakers use it all the time, and now I can politely explain the correct usage.
That's a fantastic takeaway, Kai! Understanding the 'why' behind correct usage empowers you not only in your own language journey but also to help others. You're becoming a collocation ambassador!
This is so clear and concise! The examples really helped solidify my understanding. I've always struggled with this word.
We're thrilled to hear the examples were helpful, Olivia! Our goal is always to make complex topics accessible and easy to understand. Keep practicing with those examples, and you'll master 'influence' in no time!