The Bbi Dictionary of English Word Combinations: Revised Edition

Even native speakers of English need a little help sometimes and this book helps settle any questions regarding troublesome prepositions, especially if you work between different languages and sometimes get confused.

When I first knew of the existence of this book, I wondered: why, there should be such a dictionary in every language! And, yet, how come I didn't even once think of searching for that kind of dictionary in English?? I should have known of it much earlier! English is my second language, and even though I belong to the cateogry of "advanced" learner, I still have difficulty, for instance, in locating the right preposition or adverb that go with certain verbs or adjectives. For example, the very subtle difference in meaning between "be familiar to vs. be familar with" is a very difficult one for a non-native English speaker like me to grasp. The BBI dictionary of English Word Combinations aims to address problems unique to ESL learners, including the one I just mentioned. Keep it handy, and it will let you command more accurate & "real" English.

This is an extraordinary tool for translators into English. It is a dictionary of collocations, and provides information that is hard to find in other dictionaries. It helps you find that elusive word that goes with another, and answers many questions about which preposition to use.

The BBI Dictionary of English Word Combinations is useful for the ESL student, but also for professional translators. Translators are often "in the zone," between both the source and target language and forget the simplest phrasal verbs. I've found this book helpful in sweeping up those messy pronouns that betrayed the original source language of my translation. Praise to the authors. They would have gotten 5 stars if there was more emphasis on modern use of the word combinations. The ESL reader still won't know what it means "to come out" (as in announcing a sexual preference or a hidden attribute) by consulting this book. But, I know, writing a dictionary is like sweeping the beach!

I have studied English as Second Language for a long time. Personally reading is easier than writing because my country's education system emphasizes reading and I didn't have many opportunities to practice writing. It is always confusing to me to decide what idiom and word combination are correct. I took ESL classes for 2 semesters at Community College in Michigan. At that time, I only depended on LongMan Dictionary. However, while writing my homework, I felt my dictionary was not enough to support my poor English skill. In writing class, my instructor recommended this dictionary. I bought it. I am using it effectively. If you feel something is missing in your dictionary, I strongly recommend this dictionary for supplement.