搭配詞的分類，較有系統的分類方式是由Benson, Benson和Ilson在其搭配詞典The BBI dictionary of English word combinations中提出的語法搭配（grammatical collocation）和詞義搭配（lexical collocation）兩種類別。所謂語法搭配是由一個支配字（dominant word）如名詞、形容詞或動詞，再加上介詞或其它語法結構如不定詞或子句所組成的片語，可進一步再區分為以下八種結構：

G1「名詞+介詞」： The price of apathy towards public affairs is to be ruled by evil men.

                  There is a rapidly growing literature on learning strategies.

G2「名詞+to+不定詞」：It was a pleasure to do business with you.

G3「名詞+that+子句」：I took an oath that I would do my duty. 

G4「介詞+名詞」：Major earthquakes can be predicted months in advance.

G5「形容詞+介詞」：We were hungry for more success.

                   A spoken definition is very different than a carefully throughout, written dictionary definition.

G6「形容詞+to+不定詞」：It is necessary to understand the nature of science.

G7「形容詞+that+子句」：He was afraid that he might lose his job.

G8為19種動詞模式（verb patterns）：依字母排列計有模式A到模式S共19種，例如模式A為與格移動轉換（dative movement transformation），也就是句子中的間接受詞可以轉移到直接受詞之前，並省略to；例句為I sent the book to her.可轉換為I sent her the book.其它動詞模式請參見Benson, Benson和Ilson的The BBI dictionary of English word combinations中之詳細解說。

而詞義搭配則通常不包含介詞、不定詞或子句，而是由名詞、形容詞、動詞和副詞所組成，也可再分為七種結構：

L1「動詞+名詞」（表創造或使活動） ：The computer software program can help young children compose music.

L2「動詞+名詞」（表根除或使無效）：How much does it cost to demolish a house?

L3「形容詞+名詞」：I can give you a rough estimate over the phone.

                  We are still far from a complete understanding of these problems.

L4「名詞+動詞」： Our burglar alarm goes off unexpectedly.

                  The data supported these expectations.

L5「名詞+of+名詞」：He sent her a bouquet of flowers.

                   This area of study has become the target of criticism.

L6「副詞+形容詞」：The good manager will be keenly aware of the needs of others.

                  Science and religion are two especially significant factors shaping the future of our civilization.

L7 「動詞+副詞」：Students vary considerably in their abilities to understand the second language.

                This disease is increasing dramatically in the western world.

以上Benson, Benson和Ilson這種對於詞語搭配的分類方式就成為後來許多搭配詞研究的基礎。