- Have you ever wondered whether you should “do practice” or “make practice”?
- Do you know the difference between “standard practice” and “best practice” in a professional setting?
- Are you unsure if you should say “practice to speak” or “practice speaking”?
Mastering practice collocations is a vital step toward sounding natural in English. Because “practice” functions as both a noun and a verb, and has specific meanings in professional contexts like law and medicine, using the wrong accompanying word can lead to confusion. This guide will help you move beyond literal translation and start using “practice” like a native speaker.
Essential Collocations using PRACTICE as a Noun
As a noun, “practice” refers to the act of doing something regularly to improve, or a habitual way of doing things. Here are the most common ways we pair it with other words.
Verbs Used with “Practice” (Noun)
- Get some practice: “You should get some practice before the driving test.”
- Need practice: “My French is a bit rusty; I really need practice.”
- Put into practice: “It is time to put your theoretical knowledge into practice.”
- Take practice: “Learning the violin takes a lot of practice.”
- Out of practice: “I haven’t played chess in years, so I am a bit out of practice.”
Adjectives Used with “Practice” (Noun)
- Common practice: “It is common practice to arrive five minutes early for an interview.”
- Best practice: “The company follows best practice regarding data security.”
- Standard practice: “It is standard practice to provide a receipt for all transactions.”
- Daily/Regular practice: “Daily practice is the only way to achieve fluency.”
- Private practice: “After working at the hospital, she opened her own private practice.”
Common Collocations with PRACTICE as a Verb
When used as a verb, “practice” describes the action of repeating an activity. Note: In British English (UK), the verb is often spelled practise, while the noun is practice. In American English (US), practice is used for both.
Practicing Skills and Professions
- Practice a skill: “You need to practice your scales if you want to be a great pianist.”
- Practice medicine/law: “He has been practicing law in New York for over a decade.”
- Practice what you preach: “If you tell others to be on time, you should practice what you preach.”
Grammar Alert: Practice + [Verb-ing]
One of the most frequent learner errors is using an infinitive (to + verb) after “practice.” In modern English, we almost always use the gerund (-ing form).
- Practice speaking: “I practice speaking English every morning.”
- Practice hitting: “The player practiced hitting the ball into the corner.”
The Master Summary Table
| Collocation | Part of Speech | Quick Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Put into practice | Verb + Noun | To apply a theory or idea to a real situation. |
| Best practice | Adjective + Noun | The most effective or “correct” way of doing something. |
| Out of practice | Prepositional Phrase | To have lost skill because you haven’t done it recently. |
| Practice law/medicine | Verb + Noun | To work professionally as a lawyer or doctor. |
| Standard practice | Adjective + Noun | The usual or expected way of behaving. |
| Practice doing something | Verb + Gerund | To repeat an action to get better at it. |
Common Mistakes: Natural vs Unnatural
| Do Not Say | Say This |
|---|---|
| I need to |
I need to get some practice. / I need to practice. |
| I |
I practiced driving the car. |
| It is a |
It is standard practice / common practice here. |
| I am |
I am out of practice. |
Contextual Story
“After years of study, Sarah finally began practicing medicine at a local clinic. She knew that providing excellent patient care was standard practice, but she wanted to go further and implement best practices she had learned in school. Although she was a bit out of practice with her bedside manner during the first week, she made sure to get some practice by practicing active listening with every patient. Eventually, she was able to put into practice all the complex theories she had mastered, realizing that daily practice truly is the key to professional confidence.”
Frequently Asked Questions about Practice Collocations
Is it “Practice” or “Practise”?
In American English, “practice” is used for both the noun and the verb. In British English, “practice” is the noun (the thing) and “practise” is the verb (the action). Think of it like “advice” (noun) and “advise” (verb).
What preposition comes after “practice”?
We typically use “practice for” (practice for a game) or “practice at” (get some practice at typing). When talking about applying a skill, we use “practice in” (practice in the field).
What is the difference between “practice” and “rehearsal”?
“Practice” is general improvement of a skill. “Rehearsal” is specifically for a performance, like a play, a wedding, or a concert.
Can I say “Practice makes perfect”?
Yes, this is a very common idiom. However, in modern coaching, you might also hear “Perfect practice makes perfect,” meaning how you practice matters as much as how much you practice.
What does “in practice” mean?
“In practice” is used to describe what actually happens in reality, often in contrast to “in theory.” For example: “In theory, the plan is simple; in practice, it is very difficult.”
What about 'practice makes perfect'? Is that an idiom where 'practice' is a noun or a verb? It always confused me because it seems like a standalone phrase.
Excellent question, Lena! In the idiom 'practice makes perfect,' 'practice' is functioning as a noun. It refers to the general act of repeatedly performing an activity. The 'makes' here connects the noun 'practice' to the outcome 'perfect.' It's a classic example of 'practice' as a noun signifying the process of improvement. You've uncovered a great example of its idiomatic use!
Any tips for remembering these collocations easily? I tend to mix them up under pressure. Flashcards, maybe?
Great question, Omar! Remembering collocations effectively often involves active recall and contextual learning. Flashcards with example sentences (not just single words) are excellent. Also, try keeping a 'collocations journal,' writing sentences using the new phrases, and actively listening for them in native English media (movies, podcasts). The more you encounter and use them, the more they'll stick!
I never quite understood why 'do practice' sounded wrong but I couldn't explain why. This article breaks it down perfectly. The 'need practice' example is so simple yet effective.
That's exactly what we aim for, Chloe – clarity on those tricky intuitive feelings about language! 'Need practice' is a wonderful, concise way to express the requirement for improvement through repetition. We're glad it hit the mark for you!
In Chinese, we don't really have separate words for noun and verb 'practice' in the same way, so it's tricky. This guide makes it very clear that context and surrounding words are everything. The gerund rule is super helpful.
Thank you, Liu Wei! That's a great insight into how different languages approach similar concepts. You're right, understanding the surrounding words and the part of speech ('practice' as noun vs. verb) is paramount in English. The gerund rule is indeed a key takeaway for many learners!
This article cleared up so much for me. I always struggled with 'do practice' vs 'make practice' and just avoided using either. Now I feel confident to use 'get some practice' and 'put into practice'. Awesome resource!
That's fantastic to hear, Ben! Avoiding phrases because of uncertainty is a common experience for learners. We're thrilled that this guide has given you the confidence to use these essential collocations correctly. Keep an eye out for more tips on sounding like a native speaker!
So, just to confirm: if I want to refer to the place where a doctor works, I say 'a doctor's practice,' right? Not 'a doctor's practicing'?
That's absolutely correct, Nadia! When referring to the place of business for a doctor, lawyer, or other professional, the term is 'a doctor's practice' or 'a legal practice.' 'Practicing' is the present participle of the verb and would be used in phrases like 'he is practicing medicine.' Excellent distinction!
The example 'learning the violin takes a lot of practice' really resonates. It highlights that 'practice' isn't just an activity, but something that requires effort and time. Very clear.
That's an excellent point, Daniel! 'Takes practice' effectively conveys the commitment and repeated effort necessary to acquire a skill. It's a very intuitive way to express that something isn't easy and requires dedication. Glad it resonated with you!
Are there any other verbs that frequently go with 'practice' (as a noun) that weren't mentioned, like 'start practice' or 'continue practice'?
Great question, Sofia! While 'start practice' and 'continue practice' are understandable, they're not as strong or common as the collocations we featured. You might be more likely to hear 'start practicing' (using practice as a verb) or 'begin practice' for a specific session. 'Resume practice' is also common after a break. The ones in the article are the most frequently used. Thanks for asking for more depth!
This post came at the perfect time! I'm preparing for an English presentation and was wondering if 'do practice a speech' was correct. Now I know to say 'practice delivering the speech.' Huge help!
Fantastic timing, Kwame! You've made the correct adjustment. 'Practice delivering the speech' uses 'practice' as a verb followed by a gerund, which is exactly what you need. Good luck with your presentation – we're sure you'll do great!
I love how this article emphasizes moving beyond literal translation. It's the hardest part of learning advanced English for me. Thank you for making it so clear and easy to understand!
Thank you, Isabelle! We agree completely; moving beyond literal translation is a crucial step for advanced learners. Our goal at Translateen.com is to provide exactly this kind of insight to help you sound more natural and fluent. Your feedback encourages us to keep going!