- Do you know if you should “raise” or “rise” your hand in class?
- Have you ever wondered why we “raise money” but “make a profit”?
- Are you looking for the most natural way to discuss increasing standards or prices in a business meeting?
Mastering Raise Collocations is a vital step toward English fluency. In English, words rarely live alone; they travel in “collocations” or word partnerships. Using the correct partner for the word “raise” ensures you sound natural, reduces your mental translation time, and helps you avoid common grammatical pitfalls that often confuse English learners.
Common Collocations with RAISE as a Verb
As a verb, “raise” is transitive, meaning it always requires a direct object. You must raise something. This is the primary difference between “raise” and “rise.”
1. Financial and Economic Contexts
In business and finance, “raise” is frequently used when discussing the acquisition of capital or the increase of costs.
- Raise funds: To collect money for a specific purpose. (Example: The charity aims to raise funds for the new hospital wing.)
- Raise capital: To get investment for a business. (Example: The startup is trying to raise capital from venture capitalists.)
- Raise prices: To increase the cost of goods or services. (Example: The supermarket had to raise prices due to inflation.)
- Raise taxes: When a government increases the amount of tax citizens pay. (Example: The government promised not to raise taxes this year.)
2. Personal Growth and Nurturing
“Raise” is the standard verb used when talking about the upbringing of living things.
- Raise a family / Raise children: To bring up and care for children until they are adults. (Example: It is challenging to raise a family in a big city.)
- Raise livestock / cattle: To breed and care for farm animals. (Example: My grandfather used to raise cattle on his farm in Texas.)
3. Communication and Social Interaction
We use “raise” to describe the act of introducing topics or expressing physical signals.
- Raise a question: To bring up a point of doubt or inquiry. (Example: I’d like to raise a question regarding the new schedule.)
- Raise an issue: To mention a problem so it can be discussed. (Example: She raised the issue of workplace safety during the meeting.)
- Raise your hand: To lift your hand to get attention. (Example: Please raise your hand if you know the answer.)
- Raise your voice: To speak more loudly, often because of anger. (Example: There is no need to raise your voice; I can hear you perfectly.)
4. Improving Standards and Awareness
This category focuses on abstract improvements in society or quality.
- Raise awareness: To increase public knowledge about a topic. (Example: The campaign seeks to raise awareness about climate change.)
- Raise standards: To increase the level of quality expected. (Example: The new manager wants to raise standards of customer service.)
- Raise expectations: To make people hope for or expect more. (Example: The excellent trailer raised expectations for the movie.)
Essential Collocations using RAISE as a Noun
In American English, “raise” is commonly used as a noun to refer to an increase in salary. In British English, the word “rise” is more frequently used for this purpose.
1. Salary and Employment
- Get a raise: To receive an increase in your salary. (Example: After my performance review, I finally got a raise.)
- Ask for a raise: To request more money from your employer. (Example: You should ask for a raise if you are taking on more responsibilities.)
- A substantial raise: A significant increase in pay. (Example: She was offered a substantial raise to stay with the company.)
The Master Summary Table
| Collocation | Part of Speech | Quick Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Raise money | Verb Phrase | To collect money for a cause. |
| Raise children | Verb Phrase | To care for and grow a family. |
| Raise an eyebrow | Verb Phrase | To show surprise or skepticism. |
| Raise awareness | Verb Phrase | To educate people about an issue. |
| Get a raise | Noun Phrase | To receive a salary increase (US). |
| Raise the bar | Verb Phrase (Idiom) | To set a higher standard. |
Common Mistakes: Natural vs Unnatural
| Do Not Say | Say This |
|---|---|
| Rise your hand (Incorrect Grammar) | Raise your hand |
| Grow a child (Unnatural) | Raise a child |
| Increase a question (Incorrect Collocation) | Raise a question |
| I want a salary rise (UK standard, but US uses “Raise”) | I want a salary raise (US English) |
“Our team lead decided to raise the bar for the upcoming project. During the kickoff meeting, Sarah raised a question about the budget, noting that we would need to raise funds through private investors. If we succeed, the director promised that everyone would get a raise by the end of the fiscal year.”
Frequently Asked Questions about Raise Collocations
What is the main difference between ‘Raise’ and ‘Rise’?
“Raise” is a transitive verb, meaning it needs an object (you raise something). “Rise” is an intransitive verb, meaning something moves upward on its own (the sun rises; smoke rises). You cannot “rise your hand.”
Can I say ‘raise a doubt’?
Yes, “raise a doubt” is a common and natural collocation. It means to cause people to feel uncertain about something. For example: “The new evidence raises a doubt about his innocence.”
Is it ‘raise animals’ or ‘grow animals’?
In English, we “grow” plants and crops, but we “raise” animals or livestock. Using “grow” for animals sounds unnatural to native speakers.
Is ‘raise’ used differently in British and American English?
The biggest difference is in employment. Americans say, “I got a raise” (noun). British speakers usually say, “I got a pay rise.” However, as a verb (to raise prices, to raise children), they are used the same way in both dialects.
What does it mean to ‘raise the roof’?
This is a popular idiom meaning to make a lot of noise, usually by cheering or celebrating loudly. It can also mean to complain very angrily.
Can 'raise' be used with emotions? Like 'raise someone's spirits'? Or is that more informal?
Before reading this, I thought 'raise' was only about lifting things physically! The financial and abstract uses ('raise awareness') are completely new to me. This has really expanded my understanding of the word.
That's a fantastic insight, Sofia! It's true that 'raise' has a literal meaning of lifting, but its metaphorical and abstract uses, especially in collocations, are incredibly rich and common in English. You're now on your way to mastering a much broader range of expression with this versatile verb!
I'm curious if 'raise' is used much in US English versus UK English, or if these collocations are generally universal? I mostly encounter US English materials.
The examples about 'raise capital' and 'raise prices' are spot on for my job in market analysis. I often have to write reports using these terms, and this article clarified a lot of my doubts. Excellent content!
That's wonderful to hear, Ngozi! Accurate use of terms like 'raise capital' and 'raise prices' is crucial in professional fields like market analysis. We're so pleased this article could provide clarity and confidence for your reports. Thank you for the positive feedback!
This is so helpful for my business English classes! The financial contexts are exactly what I need to focus on. Thanks for breaking it down with clear examples.
We're delighted to know this article is directly beneficial for your business English studies, Fatima! Mastering these financial collocations with 'raise' will certainly boost your confidence and professionalism in the workplace. Keep up the excellent work!
Are there any informal or even slang ways 'raise' is used that aren't mentioned? For instance, if someone 'raises' an eyebrow, is that a fixed phrase?
The example of 'raise your hand' immediately clicked for me! I always heard it but never understood the grammar. This article simplifies it beautifully.
Can you 'raise a topic' in a business meeting? Or is it more common to 'bring up a topic'? I want to sound natural.
Both 'raise a topic' and 'bring up a topic' are perfectly natural and common in business meetings, Maria! 'Raise a topic' is slightly more formal and often implies introducing a subject for discussion or debate. 'Bring up a topic' is a bit more casual but equally correct. Choose the one that feels most comfortable for the context!
We have a similar grammatical concept in Russian for transitive/intransitive verbs, but the specific words are different. It’s always interesting to see how other languages tackle these ideas. Thanks for breaking down 'raise' so thoroughly.
This post is so clear! I used to just guess which one to use. The 'raise always needs an object' rule is a game-changer for me. No more 'the sun raises'!