- Have you ever wondered if you should say “give value” or “add value”?
- Do you know the difference between “sentimental value” and “market value”?
- Are you unsure how to use “value” as a verb versus a noun in a professional email?
Mastering Value Collocations is a vital step toward achieving native-level fluency. In English, words rarely stand alone; they travel in “word partnerships” called collocations. Using the right combinations helps you sound more natural, reduces your mental translation time, and ensures your message is clear and professional in both academic and business settings.
Essential Collocations using VALUE as a Noun
As a noun, “value” refers to the worth, importance, or usefulness of something. It can be used in economic contexts or to describe personal beliefs.
Adjectives Often Used with Value
- Great/High value: “This antique clock has great sentimental value to my family.”
- Market value: “The current market value of the property has dropped recently.”
- Face value: “Don’t take his promises at face value; he often forgets them.”
- Nutritional value: “Fast food often lacks significant nutritional value.”
- Sentimental value: “The ring isn’t worth much money, but it has high sentimental value.”
- Good/Great value for money: “This laptop is excellent value for money.”
Verbs that Pair with Value
- Add value: “The new kitchen will add value to the house.”
- Increase/Rise in value: “Gold typically increases in value during economic uncertainty.”
- Lose/Drop in value: “A new car loses value the moment you drive it off the lot.”
- Place/Put value on: “Our company places a high value on employee well-being.”
- Assess/Estimate the value: “An expert was called to assess the value of the painting.”
Common Prepositional Phrases
- Value of: “The value of the dollar is fluctuating.”
- In value: “The stocks have doubled in value over the last year.”
- Of value: “Please leave your items of value in the hotel safe.”
Common Collocations with VALUE as a Verb
When used as a verb, “value” means to estimate the monetary worth of something or to consider something to be important or beneficial.
Adverbs Used with the Verb Value
- Highly value: “She is a highly valued member of our research team.”
- Greatly value: “I greatly value your advice on this matter.”
- Truly value: “It is important to truly value the time you spend with family.”
Common Verb Contexts
- Value something at: “The property was valued at $500,000 by the bank.”
- Value someone/something for: “He is valued for his ability to solve problems quickly.”
The Master Summary Table
| Collocation | Part of Speech | Quick Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Add value | Verb + Noun | To make something more useful or expensive. |
| Market value | Adjective + Noun | The price something would sell for right now. |
| Highly value | Adverb + Verb | To think someone or something is very important. |
| Value for money | Noun Phrase | Something worth the price you paid. |
| Sentimental value | Adjective + Noun | Worth based on feelings/memories rather than money. |
| Value at | Verb + Preposition | To set a specific price or worth. |
Common Mistakes: Natural vs Unnatural
| Do Not Say | Say This |
|---|---|
| The car has a cheap value. | The car has a low market value. |
| I give much value to your help. | I place great value on your help. |
| This meal is a big value for money. | This meal is great value for money. |
| The house was valued in $1M. | The house was valued at $1M. |
Contextual Story
“When we decided to renovate the office, our primary goal was to add value to the workspace for our employees. We place a high value on collaboration, so we created open areas that are great value for money. While the market value of the building might increase, we greatly value the improved morale of our staff even more. Every piece of feedback from the team is highly valued by the management.”
Frequently Asked Questions about Value Collocations
Is “value” countable or uncountable?
It can be both. When referring to the monetary worth or importance in a general sense, it is usually uncountable (e.g., “The value of education”). However, “values” (plural) refers to a person’s moral principles or standards of behavior.
What is the difference between “value” and “worth”?
“Value” is often used for the price or importance assigned to something, while “worth” is more frequently used to describe the inherent quality or total assets of a person (Net worth). We say something is “valued at $10” but “it is worth $10.”
Can I say “I value you”?
Yes, this is a very natural way to tell a friend, partner, or employee that they are important to you. It is often more professional than saying “I like you” in a workplace context.
What does “take something at face value” mean?
This is an idiom meaning to accept something exactly as it appears or as someone says it, without looking for a hidden meaning or doubting the truth.
Which preposition follows “value” when talking about price?
When using it as a verb, we use “at” (e.g., “Valued at one million dollars”). When using it as a noun, we use “of” (e.g., “A value of one million dollars”).
Are there any differences in these collocations between US and UK English? For example, would 'good value for money' be more common in one than the other, or are they pretty universal?
That's a very practical question, Sophie! For the collocations discussed in this article, such as 'good value for money,' 'market value,' 'sentimental value,' and 'take at face value,' the usage is largely universal across both US and UK English. While there are certainly regional differences in idioms and vocabulary, these 'value' collocations are widely understood and used in both major dialects. Great to be aware of these potential differences, though!
I'm a beginner, and even though some of this is challenging, I feel like I learned so much from reading it! The examples make it really clear. Thank you!
What about 'value added tax' (VAT)? Is that considered a collocation of 'value' or more of a fixed term? It uses 'value' as a sort of adjective, which is different from the other examples.
Excellent question, Omar! 'Value-added tax' is indeed a fixed term, a compound noun specifically referring to a type of consumption tax. While 'value-added' acts adjectivally to describe the tax, it functions as a single unit in this economic context, much like 'high-value target' is a fixed phrase. It definitely fits under the umbrella of 'value' concepts!
I find 'don't take his promises at face value' so interesting because in some cultures, challenging someone's words directly can be seen as rude. Understanding this idiom helps navigate Western communication styles better. Are there any cultural nuances associated with other 'value' collocations?
That's a fascinating insight, Jung! You've hit on a key point: language is deeply intertwined with culture. While 'face value' itself is a common idiom, the *implication* of not taking someone at 'face value' certainly varies culturally. Generally, most other 'value' collocations like 'market value' or 'nutritional value' are more objective and carry fewer direct cultural nuances, but it's always great to consider the broader context!
I always just guessed with these phrases, especially 'sentimental value' and 'market value.' Now I finally understand the clear distinction. This saves me from sounding awkward in conversations!
Great article! The explanation of why collocations are important is spot on. Could you perhaps do a follow-up article on collocations with 'worth' or 'importance' to complement this one? I think that would be incredibly valuable.
That's a brilliant suggestion, David! We absolutely agree that 'worth' and 'importance' share conceptual links with 'value' and would make excellent subjects for future articles. We've added your idea to our content calendar. Thank you for helping us create even more valuable resources for our community!
Collocations are so hard! I feel like I have to memorize them all. But this article gives me hope because it explains the logic behind some of them. Thanks for making it less scary!
Is 'worth its weight in gold' a collocation with value, even though 'value' isn't explicitly in the phrase? It implies high value, right? Just curious how closely related these concepts are.
That's a very clever connection, Ricardo! While 'worth its weight in gold' isn't a direct collocation with the word 'value,' it is an idiomatic expression that strongly conveys the idea of immense value or worth. Collocations are specific word partnerships, whereas idioms are phrases where the meaning isn't obvious from the individual words. Both are crucial for fluent English!
This article is a must-read for anyone working in an international business environment. Using 'add value' or understanding 'market value' correctly can make a huge difference in clarity and professionalism. I'm going to share this with my colleagues.
That's fantastic to hear, Wei! We designed this article with business communication in mind, knowing how critical precise language is in professional settings. We appreciate you sharing it with your colleagues – the more people who master these collocations, the clearer our global communication becomes!
OMG, I love this blog! Every article makes English easier to understand. Collocations were a mystery to me, but now I get it. 'Sentimental value' is my favorite new phrase! My grandma's old teacup has huge sentimental value for me. 🥰