Collocations for follow - verb
1. go after sb/sth
ADV.
closely
Johnson finished first, closely followed by Stevens and Higgins.
Johnson finished first, closely followed by Stevens and Higgins.
dutifully, obediently
The dog followed obediently at her heels.
The dog followed obediently at her heels.
blindly
She followed blindly, stumbling over stones in her path.
She followed blindly, stumbling over stones in her path.
on
You go ahead and we''ll follow on later.
You go ahead and we''ll follow on later.
VERB + FOLLOW
beckon (to) sb to
She beckoned him to follow her.
She beckoned him to follow her.
2. happen after sth
ADV.
closely, quickly, shortly, swiftly
The next programme will follow shortly.
The next programme will follow shortly.
immediately
in the period immediately following the election
in the period immediately following the election
3. happen/be true as a result of sth
ADV.
not necessarily
It does not necessarily follow that sleep loss would cause these symptoms.
It does not necessarily follow that sleep loss would cause these symptoms.
PREP.
(on) from
Several conclusions follow on from his statement.
Several conclusions follow on from his statement.
4. accept advice/instructions
ADV.
carefully
Follow my instructions very carefully.
Follow my instructions very carefully.
dutifully, obediently
5. copy
ADV.
faithfully
The film follows the book faithfully.
The film follows the book faithfully.
blindly, slavishly
It wasn''t in his nature to follow blindly. | slavishly following the views of his teachers
It wasn''t in his nature to follow blindly. | slavishly following the views of his teachers
VERB + FOLLOW
be expected to, be likely to
Banks are expected to follow the building societies in raising mortgage rates.
Banks are expected to follow the building societies in raising mortgage rates.
PHRASES
follow suit
(figurative) (= act or behave in the way that sb else has just done)
(figurative) (= act or behave in the way that sb else has just done)
6. understand sth
ADV.
not quite
I''m sorry, but I don''t quite follow you (= understand what you are saying).
I''m sorry, but I don''t quite follow you (= understand what you are saying).
VERB + FOLLOW
be easy to | be difficult to, be hard to, be impossible to
His argument was difficult to follow.
His argument was difficult to follow.