- Do you ever wonder if you’re using “patient” correctly in different situations?
- Are you unsure whether to say “be patient” or “make patient” in a sentence?
- How do native speakers naturally combine “patient” with other words to sound fluent and accurate?
Understanding collocations is vital for anyone aiming for fluency in English. Instead of translating word-for-word, learning collocations—words that naturally go together—helps you speak and write more naturally, making your English sound authentic and precise. Dive in to master the most common and useful collocations with “patient”!
Common Collocations with PATIENT as an Adjective
As an adjective, ‘patient’ describes someone who can calmly wait, tolerate delays, or endure difficulties without becoming annoyed or upset. Mastering these collocations will help you express this quality effectively.
Verbs that Collocate with PATIENT
These verbs describe the act of being or becoming patient.
- Be patient: This is the most fundamental collocation, meaning to show patience.
Example: You need to be patient when learning a new language; progress takes time.
- Remain patient: To continue to be patient, especially in a challenging situation.
Example: Despite the long delay, the passengers tried to remain patient.
- Stay patient: Similar to ‘remain patient,’ emphasizing the active effort to maintain patience.
Example: It’s hard to stay patient when faced with constant interruptions.
- Grow patient / Become patient: To develop or acquire patience over time.
Example: With experience, he started to grow patient with his younger team members.
Adverbs that Collocate with PATIENT
Adverbs intensify or modify the degree of patience.
- Extremely patient: To show a very high degree of patience.
Example: My grandmother is extremely patient with her grandchildren, even when they are noisy.
- Incredibly patient: Suggests an astonishing or remarkable level of patience.
Example: The teacher was incredibly patient, explaining the concept multiple times until everyone understood.
- Remarkably patient: Indicates patience that is noteworthy or stands out.
Example: Considering the circumstances, she was remarkably patient throughout the ordeal.
- Quite patient: Suggests a moderate but noticeable level of patience.
Example: He was quite patient waiting for the results, despite his anxiety.
- Fairly patient: Similar to ‘quite patient,’ implying a reasonable amount of patience.
Example: The customer service representative was fairly patient as I explained my complex issue.
Prepositions that Collocate with PATIENT
These prepositions indicate the object or reason for one’s patience.
- Patient with: To show patience towards a person, situation, or thing.
Example: It’s important to be patient with yourself when learning a new skill.
- Patient for: Less common, often implies waiting patiently for something to happen.
Example: The children were patient for their turn on the swing.
Essential Collocations using PATIENT as a Noun
When ‘patient’ acts as a noun, it refers to an individual receiving medical care. These collocations are crucial in medical and healthcare contexts.
Verbs that Collocate with PATIENT (Medical Context)
These verbs describe actions performed by or on a patient.
- See a patient: For a doctor or nurse to examine or consult with a patient.
Example: The doctor needs to see a patient in room three immediately.
- Admit a patient: To formally accept a patient into a hospital or clinic for treatment.
Example: The emergency room decided to admit a patient overnight for observation.
- Discharge a patient: To officially allow a patient to leave a hospital or clinic after treatment.
Example: The hospital plans to discharge a patient who has fully recovered tomorrow morning.
- Examine a patient: To physically check a patient’s body to diagnose or monitor their condition.
Example: The nurse gently began to examine a patient‘s injured knee.
- Treat a patient: To provide medical care for a patient’s illness or injury.
Example: Specialists are working hard to treat a patient with a rare disease.
Nouns that Collocate with PATIENT (Medical Context)
These nouns combine with ‘patient’ to form common medical terms or concepts.
- Patient care: The services provided to patients.
Example: Our hospital prides itself on delivering excellent patient care.
- Patient records: Official documents containing a patient’s medical history and treatment.
Example: The nurse updated the patient records after the consultation.
- Patient safety: Measures taken to prevent harm to patients during medical treatment.
Example: Ensuring patient safety is the top priority in any healthcare facility.
- Patient confidentiality: The ethical and legal duty to protect private patient information.
Example: Doctors must always uphold patient confidentiality.
Adjectives that Describe PATIENT (Medical Context)
These adjectives categorize or describe the state of a patient.
- Critical patient: A patient whose condition is very serious and unstable.
Example: The emergency team is focusing on a critical patient who arrived minutes ago.
- Stable patient: A patient whose condition is consistent and not worsening.
Example: After surgery, the doctor announced that the patient was now a stable patient.
- Terminal patient: A patient suffering from an incurable disease that is expected to lead to death.
Example: Hospice care provides comfort for a terminal patient and their family.
- Inpatient: A patient who is admitted to a hospital for at least one night.
Example: The hospital has many inpatients receiving long-term treatment.
- Outpatient: A patient who visits a hospital or clinic for treatment but does not stay overnight.
Example: He received therapy as an outpatient for several weeks.
Master Summary Table: Key Collocations with PATIENT
Here’s a quick reference to the most essential collocations with ‘patient’ discussed in this guide:
| Collocation | Part of Speech | Quick Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Be patient | Adjective + Verb | Show patience |
| Remain patient | Adjective + Verb | Continue to show patience |
| Extremely patient | Adjective + Adverb | Very patient |
| Patient with | Adjective + Preposition | Tolerant towards someone/something |
| See a patient | Noun + Verb | Doctor examines/consults patient |
| Admit a patient | Noun + Verb | Hospital accepts patient |
| Discharge a patient | Noun + Verb | Allow patient to leave hospital |
| Patient care | Noun + Noun | Medical services for patients |
| Patient safety | Noun + Noun | Measures to protect patients |
| Critical patient | Noun + Adjective | Patient in a very serious condition |
| Inpatient | Noun (Compound) | Patient staying in hospital |
| Outpatient | Noun (Compound) | Patient visiting hospital but not staying |
Common Mistakes: Natural vs Unnatural
Avoid these common learner errors to sound more natural when using ‘patient’ and related concepts.
| Do Not Say (Unnatural) | Say This (Natural) |
|---|---|
| Make patient | Be patient / Remain patient |
| Patient for waiting | Patient for [an event] / Be patient while waiting |
| Much patient | Very patient / Extremely patient |
| He has much patient. | He has a lot of patience. (Note: using the noun ‘patience’) |
| Medical patient | Patient (often implied) / Medical client (less common, usually ‘patient’) |
| Strong patient | Resilient patient / Patient with strong will |
In a bustling startup environment, project manager Sarah often had to be patient with her new team members. They were bright, but still learning the ropes. One afternoon, a major software bug emerged. Despite the pressure, Sarah managed to remain incredibly patient as the developers worked through the night. She knew that rushing wouldn’t help. “We need to be patient with the debugging process,” she advised, “and ensure we find a robust solution.” Her calm demeanor helped reduce everyone’s stress, proving that a leader who is extremely patient can guide their team through any crisis.
Frequently Asked Questions about Patient Collocations
What’s the difference between “patient” (adjective) and “patience” (noun)?
“Patient” as an adjective describes someone who has the ability to wait calmly or endure without complaint (e.g., “She is a patient teacher”). “Patience” is the noun form, referring to the quality itself (e.g., “She has a lot of patience“). You are patient, but you have patience.
Can I say “get patient” instead of “become patient” or “grow patient”?
While “get patient” is grammatically understandable, “become patient” or “grow patient” are much more common and natural collocations in modern English. They convey the process of developing patience more formally and idiomatically.
Is “patient with” always used when referring to a person?
No, “patient with” can also refer to situations, tasks, or even inanimate objects. For example, “You need to be patient with the slow internet connection” or “Be patient with the new software, it has a learning curve.” It generally means tolerating or enduring something.
When should I use “inpatient” versus “outpatient”?
Use “inpatient” to describe a patient who is admitted to a hospital and stays there for at least one night for treatment. Use “outpatient” for a patient who visits a hospital or clinic for treatment or consultation but does not stay overnight.
Are there specific collocations for “patient” used in a legal context?
While “patient” is predominantly a medical term, its adjectival form (being patient) is universally applicable. However, specific legal collocations for the noun “patient” are less common. In legal documents, you might find phrases like “doctor-patient privilege” or “patient‘s rights,” but the core meaning remains the individual receiving care.
Can “patient” be used with verbs like “do” or “make”?
No, you typically don’t “do patient” or “make patient.” As an adjective, you “are patient” or “remain patient.” As a noun, you might “see a patient,” “treat a patient,” etc. The verb choice depends on whether you’re using ‘patient’ as an adjective or a noun, and what action is being performed.
This is a fantastic breakdown! I'm an intermediate learner, and distinguishing these subtle differences is exactly what I need to move to the next level. Bookmarking this!
We're so pleased this article hits the mark for you, Ricardo! Focusing on these nuanced distinctions is precisely how intermediate learners transition to advanced fluency. Keep challenging yourself with these details, and you'll undoubtedly reach that next level. Happy learning!
I'm curious about the difference between 'patient' (adjective) and 'patient' (noun - a person receiving medical care). Are there any common collocations for the noun form that are tricky?
That's a very insightful question, Anja! While this article focused on 'patient' as an adjective, you're right, it's also a common noun. For 'patient' (the person), common collocations often involve verbs like 'treat a patient,' 'admit a patient,' 'discharge a patient,' or adjectives like 'new patient,' 'critical patient,' 'outpatient.' The main trick is recognizing the context to avoid confusion, as the meaning is usually quite clear.
Learning collocations is hard, but articles like this make it so much clearer. I always try to note down new ones.
You're absolutely right, Gregor; learning collocations takes consistent effort, but it's incredibly rewarding! Your strategy of noting them down is excellent. Regular exposure and active recall are key. Keep up the fantastic work, and you'll see great progress!
So, if someone is 'not patient at all,' could I say 'they lack patience' or 'they aren't being patient'? Both seem correct to me.
Both phrases are absolutely correct, Aisha, and convey slightly different nuances! 'They lack patience' uses 'patience' as a noun, describing a general characteristic or a deficit in that quality. 'They aren't being patient' uses 'patient' as an adjective, describing their current behavior or state. Both are great ways to express the idea, depending on whether you want to focus on the general trait or the immediate action.
In Chinese, we have similar concepts but the word structure is very different. This helps me bridge the gap and understand how English speakers express it naturally.
That's fantastic, Chen! Understanding how concepts are structured differently across languages is a crucial part of linguistic mastery. Recognizing these 'natural partners' in English will significantly improve your fluency and make your expressions sound much more authentic. Keep exploring those connections!
I appreciate the emphasis on 'active effort' for 'stay patient'. It makes a lot of sense now. It's not just about waiting, but actively choosing not to get frustrated.
That's a perfect interpretation, David! 'Stay patient' indeed highlights that conscious choice and effort to maintain composure, especially in prolonged or trying circumstances. It shows a deeper level of engagement with the quality of patience. Well observed!
I always get confused if 'patient' can be used with a preposition like 'patient for' or 'patient with'. Can you give an example?
Excellent question, Sofia! Yes, 'patient' often collocates with prepositions. The most common is 'patient *with*', meaning tolerant of someone or something. Example: 'You need to be patient *with* your little brother' or 'We must be patient *with* the slow internet connection.' Less common but possible is 'patient *for*', as in 'She's patient *for* the results,' though 'waiting patiently for' is more common. Focus on 'patient with'!
This article beautifully explains why collocations are so vital. It's not just about knowing the words, but knowing their natural partners. More articles like this, please!
Thank you, Kenji! Your understanding of collocations being 'natural partners' is spot on. They are truly the building blocks of fluent, authentic English. We definitely plan to cover more collocation topics in the future, so stay tuned!
The example 'You need to be patient when learning a new language; progress takes time' really resonated with me! It's exactly what I needed to hear today.
We're delighted that example resonated with you, Maria! Learning a language is indeed a marathon, not a sprint. Remember, every little step forward is progress. Keep being patient with yourself, and you'll achieve your goals!
I often find myself using 'have patience' instead of 'be patient'. Is there a big difference, or are they interchangeable in most cases?
That's a subtle but important distinction, Lars! 'To have patience' refers to the noun (the quality itself), while 'to be patient' uses the adjective (describing a state or characteristic). They are often used to convey similar meanings, but grammatically they function differently. For example, 'You need to be patient' (adjective) vs. 'You need to have patience' (noun). Both are correct, but 'be patient' is often more direct when describing someone's current state.