Collocations for relationship - noun
1. between people/groups/countries
ADJ.
friendly, good, happy, harmonious, healthy, strong | broken, difficult, failed, fragile, poor, stormy, strained, troubled, uneasy | close, intense, intimate, special
Britain''s special relationship with the US
Britain''s special relationship with the US
enduring, lasting, long-standing, long-term, permanent, serious, stable, steady
He was not married, but he was in a stable relationship.
He was not married, but he was in a stable relationship.
brief, casual | family, human, interpersonal, one-to-one, personal | doctor-patient, parent-child, etc. | business, contractual, formal, marital, physical, power, professional, sexual, social, working | caring, love-hate, loving
VERB + RELATIONSHIP
enjoy, have
They enjoyed a close working relationship. | The school has a very good relationship with the community. | He had brief relationships with several women.
They enjoyed a close working relationship. | The school has a very good relationship with the community. | He had brief relationships with several women.
begin, build (up), develop, establish, foster
Building strong relationships is essential. | They established a relationship of trust.
Building strong relationships is essential. | They established a relationship of trust.
cement, improve, strengthen | continue, maintain | handle, manage
He''s not very good at handling personal relationships.
He''s not very good at handling personal relationships.
break off
She broke off the relationship when she found out about his gambling.
She broke off the relationship when she found out about his gambling.
destroy
Lack of trust destroys many relationships.
Lack of trust destroys many relationships.
RELATIONSHIP + VERB
exist
We want to improve the relationship that exists between the university and the town.
We want to improve the relationship that exists between the university and the town.
blossom, deepen, develop | flourish | work
I tried everything to make our relationship work.
I tried everything to make our relationship work.
continue, last | deteriorate, go wrong, worsen | break down, break up, fail
RELATIONSHIP + NOUN
difficulties, problems | goals
PREP.
in a/the ~
In normal human relationships there has to be some give and take. | At the moment he isn''t in a relationship.
In normal human relationships there has to be some give and take. | At the moment he isn''t in a relationship.
~ among
The focus is on relationships among European countries.
The focus is on relationships among European countries.
~ between, ~ to
their relationship to each other
their relationship to each other
~ with
PHRASES
the breakdown of a relationship, a network/web of relationships
2. family connection
ADJ.
blood, family, kin, kinship
PREP.
in a/the ~
Some people think only about themselves, even in family relationships.
Some people think only about themselves, even in family relationships.
~ between
‘What''s the relationship between you and Tony?’ ‘He''s my cousin.’
‘What''s the relationship between you and Tony?’ ‘He''s my cousin.’
~ to
What relationship are you to Pat?
What relationship are you to Pat?
3. connection between two or more things
ADJ.
close
There''s a close relationship between increased money supply and inflation.
There''s a close relationship between increased money supply and inflation.
direct | clear | complex | significant | true | particular | inverse, negative
the inverse relationship between gas consumption and air temperature
the inverse relationship between gas consumption and air temperature
positive | causal, dynamic, reciprocal | linear, spatial | economic, functional, legal | natural, organic | symbolic
VERB + RELATIONSHIP
bear, have
The fee bears little relationship to the service provided.
The fee bears little relationship to the service provided.
examine, explore, look at, study
His latest book examines the relationship between spatial awareness and mathematical ability.
His latest book examines the relationship between spatial awareness and mathematical ability.
discover, find
They discovered a relationship between depression and lack of sunlight.
They discovered a relationship between depression and lack of sunlight.
demonstrate, show | see, understand | stand in
Women and men stand in a different relationship to language.
Women and men stand in a different relationship to language.
PREP.
in a/the ~
The different varieties of the language are in a dynamic relationship with each other.
The different varieties of the language are in a dynamic relationship with each other.
~ between
I can''t see the relationship between the figures and the diagram.
I can''t see the relationship between the figures and the diagram.
~ to
the relationship of a parasite to its host
the relationship of a parasite to its host
~ with
PHRASES
the nature of the relationship