- Do you know how to talk about someone getting married or ending a marriage naturally in English?
- Are you sure which adjectives to use with “marriage” to describe its quality or type?
- Have you ever wondered if you should “do a marriage” or “make a marriage”?
Understanding collocations is vital for sounding natural and fluent in English. Collocations are words that commonly go together. Learning them helps you avoid awkward phrasing, choose the right word for the context, and express yourself with greater precision and confidence. Let’s explore the world of “marriage” collocations.
Essential Collocations using Marriage as a Noun
Verbs that often precede ‘Marriage’
These verbs describe actions related to the institution of marriage, such as starting, maintaining, or ending it.
- enter into a marriage: To formally begin a marital relationship.
Example: After a long engagement, they finally entered into a marriage last summer.
- propose marriage: To ask someone to marry you.
Example: He got down on one knee to propose marriage, much to her surprise.
- arrange a marriage: To organize a marriage, often by parents or family, rather than by the couple themselves.
Example: In some cultures, it is traditional for families to arrange a marriage for their children.
- celebrate a marriage: To hold an event or ceremony to mark a wedding.
Example: Friends and family gathered to celebrate their marriage with a beautiful reception.
- solemnize a marriage: To perform the official ceremony that makes a marriage legally valid.
Example: The judge will solemnize their marriage next Friday at the courthouse.
- dissolve a marriage: To legally end a marriage (a formal term for divorce).
Example: After years of separation, they decided to dissolve their marriage.
- save a marriage: To prevent a marriage from ending, often through counseling or effort.
Example: They went to therapy hoping to save their marriage after a difficult period.
- ruin a marriage: To destroy a marriage, often by one person’s actions.
Example: His gambling addiction unfortunately threatened to ruin his marriage.
Adjectives that describe ‘Marriage’
These adjectives help characterize the nature, duration, or quality of a marriage.
- happy/unhappy marriage: Describes the emotional state within the relationship.
Example: They attributed their long life together to a happy marriage built on mutual respect.
Example: It was clear to everyone that they were trapped in an unhappy marriage.
- successful/unsuccessful marriage: Indicates whether the marriage has thrived or failed.
Example: Communication is often key to a successful marriage.
- long/short marriage: Refers to the duration of the marital union.
Example: Despite their short marriage, they had many fond memories.
- stable/unstable marriage: Describes the security and consistency of the relationship.
Example: After years of arguments, their marriage became unstable and eventually ended.
- arranged marriage: A marriage planned and agreed upon by the families or guardians of the couple.
Example: Many people in India still prefer an arranged marriage.
- shotgun marriage: A marriage that is forced or hurried, often because the bride is pregnant.
Example: Rumor has it that it was a shotgun marriage, as the baby arrived very quickly after the wedding.
- open marriage: A marriage in which partners agree that each may engage in extramarital sexual relationships.
Example: Some couples opt for an open marriage to explore non-monogamous relationships.
- same-sex marriage: A marriage between two people of the same gender.
Example: The country legalized same-sex marriage several years ago.
Nouns that combine with ‘Marriage’ (Compound Nouns)
These are common phrases where ‘marriage’ combines with another noun to form a specific concept.
- marriage certificate: An official document that proves a marriage has taken place.
Example: You’ll need your marriage certificate to prove your change of surname.
- marriage proposal: The act of asking someone to marry you.
Example: Her boyfriend surprised her with a romantic marriage proposal during their vacation.
- marriage vows: The promises made by a couple to each other during their wedding ceremony.
Example: They exchanged their marriage vows in front of all their loved ones.
- marriage license: An official document issued by a government authority that grants permission for a couple to marry.
Example: Before the wedding, they had to apply for a marriage license.
- marriage counselor: A professional who provides therapy to couples to help resolve conflicts and improve their relationship.
Example: When they hit a rough patch, they decided to see a marriage counselor.
- marriage of convenience: A marriage entered into for practical reasons (e.g., immigration, money) rather than for love.
Example: Many suspected it was a marriage of convenience to secure a visa.
| Collocation | Part of Speech | Quick Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| enter into a marriage | Verb + Noun | To begin a marriage |
| propose marriage | Verb + Noun | To ask someone to marry you |
| arrange a marriage | Verb + Noun | To organize a marriage for others |
| happy marriage | Adjective + Noun | A joyful marital relationship |
| successful marriage | Adjective + Noun | A thriving and enduring marriage |
| arranged marriage | Adjective + Noun | A marriage planned by families |
| marriage certificate | Noun + Noun | Official proof of marriage |
| marriage proposal | Noun + Noun | The act of asking to marry |
| marriage vows | Noun + Noun | Promises made in a wedding |
| dissolve a marriage | Verb + Noun | To legally end a marriage |
| marriage of convenience | Noun + Preposition + Noun | Marriage for practical reasons, not love |
Common Mistakes: Natural vs Unnatural
| Do Not Say | Say This |
|---|---|
| do a marriage | enter into a marriage / get married |
| make a marriage proposal | make a proposal / propose marriage |
| finish a marriage | end a marriage / dissolve a marriage |
| strong marriage | stable marriage / happy marriage / successful marriage |
| marriage date | wedding date |
| marriage party | wedding reception / wedding party |
“After years of dating, Mark finally decided to propose marriage to Sarah. He planned a romantic evening, hoping to begin a happy marriage together. Their friends were thrilled and couldn’t wait to celebrate their marriage at the reception. They knew that building a successful marriage would require effort, but they were both committed. Unfortunately, a few years later, constant disagreements began to threaten their union, and they considered seeing a marriage counselor to try and save their marriage. They were determined not to let their relationship become an unhappy marriage.”
Frequently Asked Questions about Marriage Collocations
What’s the difference between “marriage” and “wedding”?
A “wedding” refers to the ceremony and celebration of getting married. It’s the event itself. “Marriage,” on the other hand, refers to the legal and social union, the ongoing state of being married. You attend a wedding, but you are in a marriage.
Can I say “get marriage” instead of “get married”?
No, you should not say “get marriage.” “Married” is an adjective or past participle used with “get” to mean entering into matrimony (e.g., “they got married”). “Marriage” is a noun. You can “enter into a marriage” or “have a marriage,” but not “get marriage.”
What preposition usually follows “marriage” when talking about its purpose?
When discussing the purpose or nature of a marriage, “of” is very common, as in “marriage of convenience,” “marriage of equals,” or “marriage of minds” (a metaphorical union of ideas).
Is “marriage certificate” the same as “marriage license”?
They are related but different. A “marriage license” is a document you obtain *before* the wedding that grants you permission to marry. A “marriage certificate” is the official document issued *after* the wedding, proving that the marriage has taken place.
Are there any collocations for ‘marriage’ that are specific to US or UK English?
While most collocations are understood across both, some terms might have slightly different frequencies or connotations. For example, “marriage bureau” (an agency that helps people find partners) might be heard more in British English, while “marriage counseling” is very common in American English, though both terms are generally understood globally.
I'm thinking of creating a matching activity for my students using these collocations. Do you have any ideas on how to make it more interactive, especially for the 'verbs that precede marriage' section?
What a fantastic idea for an activity, David! To make it more interactive, you could try a 'sentence scramble' where students have to put parts of sentences (including the collocation) in the correct order. Or, a 'role-play scenario' where students act out a proposal or a family discussion about an arranged marriage, making sure to use the correct collocations. A 'quiz show' format where teams identify the correct verb to precede 'marriage' could also be very engaging! Good luck with your lesson planning!
This article made collocations so clear! I used to just guess, but now I understand why certain words fit together. Amazing!
That's wonderful to hear, Fatima! It's exactly our goal to demystify English for our learners. Guessing is a natural part of language learning, but understanding the patterns of collocations helps you move beyond that and speak with more confidence and accuracy. Keep exploring and learning!
I've heard 'strike up a marriage' in older literature or very formal contexts. Is that still considered a valid collocation, or is it outdated now?
That's a very insightful observation, Oliver! You're right, 'strike up a marriage' is indeed a less common and somewhat archaic phrase, particularly when referring to the initiation of the marriage itself. While 'strike up' is commonly used with conversations, friendships, or business deals (e.g., 'strike up a conversation'), its use with 'marriage' is largely outdated and wouldn't sound natural in contemporary English. 'Enter into a marriage' or 'contract a marriage' are more modern formal alternatives. Excellent recall of older usage!
Could you provide a few more examples for 'arrange a marriage'? Perhaps in different contexts or sentence structures? I'm trying to internalize it.
Certainly, Sofia! Here are a few more examples for 'arrange a marriage':
1. 'Her parents hoped to arrange a marriage for her with a suitable partner from their village.'
2. 'Historically, it was common for royal families to arrange marriages for political alliances.'
3. 'They refused to have their marriage arranged and decided to choose their own partners.'
4. 'The tradition of families arranging marriages has diminished in many parts of the world.'
We hope these help you internalize the collocation better!
In Chinese, we often translate 'get married' very literally, so understanding these subtle English collocations like 'enter into a marriage' is really important for fluency. Thanks for the breakdown!
Thank you for sharing that cross-linguistic insight, Jian! It highlights a common challenge for learners from many language backgrounds. Literal translation often doesn't capture the natural flow of English, and that's precisely where learning collocations becomes invaluable. We're glad this breakdown is helping you bridge that gap towards greater fluency!
This is fantastic. While the article is about collocations, I sometimes struggle with the pronunciation of 'marriage.' Are there any tips for French speakers?
Hello François! While our main focus here is collocations, pronunciation is certainly a vital part of fluency! For 'marriage,' French speakers often find the 'a' sound tricky, and the 'age' ending can be confusing. It's usually pronounced with a short 'a' sound (like in 'cat') and the 'iage' part often sounds like /ɪdʒ/ (similar to the 'edge' in 'hedge'). We recommend listening to native speakers and practicing with online dictionaries that offer audio. You're doing great by noticing these challenges!
Can we say 'form a marriage' instead of 'enter into a marriage'? Or is that incorrect?
That's an interesting alternative, Maria! While 'form a marriage' isn't a standard collocation in the same way 'enter into a marriage' is, it's not strictly 'incorrect' in the sense that people would understand your meaning. However, 'form a marriage' might sound a little less natural or slightly more analytical, perhaps used when discussing the legal or societal structure of marriage rather than the act of individuals getting married. 'Enter into a marriage' is the more idiomatic and common choice.
Wow! Collocations are truly powerful. I always felt my English was 'correct' but not 'natural.' This article perfectly explains why! More articles like this please!
We're thrilled to hear that, Kenji! Your experience perfectly describes the power of collocations – they are indeed key to transitioning from 'correct' to 'natural' English. We're committed to bringing you more content that helps you sound more fluent and confident. Thank you for your enthusiastic feedback!
I noticed 'enter into a marriage' uses 'into.' Is there a rule for when we use 'into' versus just 'enter' with nouns? Like 'enter a room' but 'enter into an agreement' or 'marriage'?
That's a very perceptive question, Priya! Generally, 'enter' without 'into' is used for physical spaces (e.g., 'enter a room,' 'enter a building'). When 'enter' is used with abstract nouns like 'agreement,' 'contract,' 'negotiation,' or 'marriage,' 'into' is often added to emphasize the beginning of a state, condition, or formal relationship. So, 'enter into a marriage' signifies initiating that formal relationship. Great observation of linguistic patterns!
Aha! So it's not 'do a marriage' or 'make a marriage'! This is exactly the kind of mistake I would make. Thank you for clearing that up!
You're very welcome, Lars! It's a common point of confusion for many learners, and that's precisely why we highlighted it. Recognizing these common pitfalls is a big step towards sounding more natural. Keep an eye out for more tips to avoid similar mistakes!