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English in a Minute Series 4

Intermediate level

Verbs to use with 'source'

Episode 250415 / 15 Apr 2025

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Introduction

A source refers to an original place, person or thing. There are some verbs that we often use with 'source'. We call these combinations collocations. Learn some of them here with Beth.

Common collocations with 'source'

be a source
provide a source
If something is a source of something or provides a source of something, it is the origin.

  • What is the source of that noise? I can't find where it's coming from.
  • Quotes often provide the main source of magazine articles.

use as a source
If you use something as a source for something else, you use the original to make something new.

  • I used this nature journal article as the main source of my biology essay.

tap into a source
If you tap into a source, you use that source for your own benefits.

  • When the company heard diamonds had been found, they wanted to tap into that source to sell the diamonds themselves.

locate a source
Find the source (origin) of something.

  • We're trying to locate the source of the problem, but it's impossible to see in this dark tunnel.

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TRANSCRIPT

Note: This is not a word-for-word transcript.

Beth

A source is an original place, person or thing. Source is often used with be.

Fish oil is a good source of Omega 3.

In the same way, we can say that something provides a source of something.

Small fish provide a food source for bigger sea creatures, like sharks and octopus.

We can use something as a source for something else. For example, I used a quote from this newspaper article in an academic essay. The newspaper was usedas a source.

If you tapintosources, it means you use something to bring beneficial results.

The charity wants to tapinto the energy source to help heat houses.

Sometimes you might need to locate the source of something – that means find it.

We must locate the source of that leak – there's water everywhere!

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