This lesson practises 30 C2 collocations on Time, Space & Quantity. Collocations are fixed word pairings that native speakers expect — Cambridge examiners test them in Use of English Part 1 and reward precise lexis in Writing. Run through the interactive drills first, then open this glossary to revise every item in the set. For question-by-question feedback, use Review mode after you finish the session.
vacant parking space
She found a vacant parking space near the library.
A substantial quantity of
A substantial quantity of food was prepared for the festival.
epic proportions
The repair bill grew to epic proportions after hidden damage was found.
large percentage
A large percentage of the budget goes on maintenance.
sprinkling of cinnamon
A sprinkling of cinnamon gave the drink a warmer flavour.
troop of monkeys
A troop of monkeys gathered near the visitor centre.
small minority
Only a small minority opposed the revised timetable.
date back to
The tradition dates back to the nineteenth century.
waste of space
Leaving the room empty would be a waste of space.
a significant number of
A significant number of passengers changed trains at the station.
lasting contribution
The volunteer made a lasting contribution to the town archive.
occur at regular intervals
The maintenance checks occur at regular intervals throughout the year.
meet with a stony silence
The proposal was met with a stony silence from the committee.
foreseeable future
The council does not expect to reopen the route in the foreseeable future.
wide variation
The survey revealed wide variation in travel times.
exceed the permitted limit
Vehicles that exceed the permitted limit will be redirected before the tunnel.
enter their PIN
Customers must enter their PIN before the payment can be approved.
over the course of time
Over the course of time, the neighbourhood developed a stronger identity.
a substantial amount of
A substantial amount of evidence supported the legal claim.
unknown quantity
The new software remains an unknown quantity until the pilot ends.
bygone era
The exhibition recreates a bygone era of steam travel.
a significant amount of
A significant amount of funding was allocated to the research project.
incessant noise
The incessant noise from the works made concentration difficult.
wide variety
The market sells a wide variety of local produce.
touch of sadness
The photograph carried a touch of sadness despite the bright colours.
put one’s nose to the grindstone
To finish on time, the apprentices had to put their noses to the grindstone.
a significant quantity of
A significant quantity of waste was removed from the river.
A good number of
A good number of residents attended the town-planning meeting.
take up a lot of space
The old equipment takes up a lot of space in the office, leaving little room for staff.
inordinate amount
The form asks for an inordinate amount of personal information.