Verbs with little meaning: delexical verbs

3.33 There are a number of very common verbs which are used with nouns as their object to indicate simply that someone performs an action, not that someone affects or creates something. These verbs have very little meaning when they are used in this way.

For example, 'had' in 'She had a shower' has very little meaning in itself. Most of the meaning of the sentence is carried by the noun 'shower'.

We were having a joke.

Roger gave a grin of sheer delight.

He took a step towards Jack.

verbs which are often delexical 3.34 In this section we focus on the very common verbs which are used in this transitive structure. They are called delexical verbs, and the structure which consists of a delexical verb followed by a noun group is called a delexical structure.

Here is a list of verbs which are used as delexical verbs. The first four are very commonly used in this way.

give have make

take ~ do

hold keep set

Note that 'have got' is not used instead of 'have' in delexical structures.

Delexical structures are very common in current English. Although the total number of delexical verbs is small, they include some of the very commonest words in the language. Delexical structures contribute to the impression of fluency in English given by a foreign user.

3.35 In many cases, there is a verb which has a similar meaning to the meaning of the delexical structure. For example, the verb 'look' means almost the same as 'have a look'. When the word is a verb, as in 'I looked round the room', you are focusing on the action of locking. When you use the word as a noun in a delexical structure, you are naming an event, something which is complete. This structure often seems to be preferred to a structure in which the verb has greater prominent which corresponds to the delexical structure is often intransitive.

She made a signal.

She signalled for a taxi.

A couple were having a drink at a table by the window.

A few students were drinking at the bar.

She gave an amused laugh.

They both laughed.

He gave a vague reply.

They replied to his letter.

There are also some verbs which are transitive.

I had a glimpse of the speedometer.

I glimpsed a bright flash of gold on the left.

He gave a little sniff.

I sniffed the room.

Comis took a photograph of her.

They photographed the pigeons in Trafalgar Square.

3.36 The noun which is the object of the delexical verb is often in the singular and is usually preceded by the indefinite article.

She made a remark about the weather.

She gave a cry when I came in.

I might take a stroll.

There are some count nouns which are almost always used in the singular after a delexical verb. Here is a list of these nouns:

cry feel grouse

grumble need read

smell taste try

Note that these words are more commonly used as verbs in the language as a whole.

3.37 You can also use a delexical verb followed by a plural noun.

She took little ladylike sips of the cold drink.

He took photographs of Vita in her summer house.

The newspaper had made disparaging remarks about his wife.

3.38 It is also occasionally possible to follow a delexical verb with an uncount noun.

We have made progress in both science and art.

Cal took charge of this side of their education.

3.39 One difference in meaning between using a delexical structure and a verb with a similar meaning is that the delexical structure can give the impression that the event you are describing is brief. For example, 'She gave a scream' suggests that there was only one quick scream, whereas 'She screamed' does not suggest that the event was brief.

Mr. Sutton gave a shout of triumph.

Zoe gave a sigh of relief.

He gave a laugh.

3.40 Another reason for choosing a delexical structure is that you can add farther details about the event by using adjectives in front of the noun, rather than by using adverbs. It is more common, for example, to say 'He gave a quick furtive glance round the room' than to say 'He glanced quickly and furtively round the room', which is felt to be rather clumsy and unnatural.

He gave a long lecture about Roosevelt.

She had a good cry.

Benn made a sincere personal appeal to the Committee.

These legends hold a romantic fascination for many Japanese.

3.41 There are some nouns used in delexical structures which do not correspond in form to a verb which has a similar meaning to the delexical structure. Sometimes there is such a verb, but the form is slightly different.

Work experience allows students to make more effective career decisions.

The Prime Minister decided she had heard enough.

He made the shortest speech I've ever heard.

Iain spoke candidly about the crash.

In other cases, there is no corresponding verb with a similar meaning at all and so there is no other structure that can be used.

He had been out all day taking pictures of the fighting.

That is a very foolish attitude to take.

She made a number of relevant points.

Try not to make so much noise.

nouns used with 'have' 3.42 In most cases, only one delexical verb is used with any particular noun.

The following examples show nouns which are used after 'have'.

They have a desperate need to communicate.

The Americans had a nonchalant belief in their technological superiority.

She had had a good cry.

Let's not have a quarrel.

We could have a talk.

Here is a list of nouns which are used after 'have':

belief chat cry

dance fall grouse

grumble need quarrel

respect sleep talk

nouns used with 'take' 3.43 The following examples show nouns which are used after 'take'.

His work was to take photographs while flying over Germany.

...kids taking turns to use a playground slide.

He was taking no chances.

She was prepared to take great risks.

Mr Korwin takes a protectionist attitude towards women who, he claims, look for someone to take care of them.

Davis took the lead in blaming the pilots.

The Government fought against suggestions that it should take full blame for the affair.

Here is a list or nouns which are used after 'take'. The first set of nouns are count nouns; the second set of nouns are uncount nouns or always either singular or plural:

attitude chance decision interest photo photograph

picture risk turn ~ blame care

charge consequences form lead offence office

power responsibility shape time trouble

nouns used with 'give' 3.44 Many nouns can be used after 'give'.

Some of these nouns refer to verbal or facial actions. Using 'give' with one of these nouns often suggests that the action is involuntary or that it is not necessarily directed at other people. For example, 'She gave a scream' suggests that she could not help screaming.

The young cashier gave a patient sigh.

Roger gave a grin of sheer delight.

He gave a shrill gasp of shock.

Both of them gave an involuntary little giggle.

He gave a rare chuckle.

Here is a list of nouns which refer to verbal or facial actions:

chuckle cry gasp giggle

grin groan laugh scowl

scream shout shriek sigh

smile sniff snigger whistle

yell

Another group of nouns are often preceded by an indirect object because they describe activities which involve someone else, apart from the subject.

They gave us a wonderfully warn welcome.

Elaine gave him a hug.

He gave her hand a squeeze.

He gave him a good kick.

She gave him a long kiss.

Here is a list of nouns which can be preceded by an indirect object:

clue glance hint

hug kick kiss

look punch push

ring shove slap

squeeze welcome

A third group of nouns refer to speech actions.

The Oxford poetry professor is required to give a lecture every term.

Lord Young will be giving a first-hand account of the economic difficulties the Russians are struggling to overcome.

Sir Stephen Brown has given warning that conflict over the plans could lead to a constitutional crisis.

Here is a list of nouns which refer to speech actions:

account advice answer

example information interview

lecture news reason

report speech summary

talk thought warning

3.45 Many nouns can be used after 'make'.

The delexical structures using a lot of these nouns are closely related to reporting structures, which are explained in Chapter 7. There is usually a related verb which can be used followed by a reported clause.

She made a remark about the weather.

Allen remarked that at times he thought he was back in America.

Now and then she makes a comment on something.

Henry Cecil commented that the ground was too firm.

I haven't made a full confession, sir.

Fox confessed that he had stolen the money.

The cricketers made a public protest against apartheid.

She was greeted by supporters protesting that Reagan had betrayed his allies.

I made a secret signal to him.

The Bank of England signalled that there would be no change in interest rates.

You made the right decision.

One candidate resigned, deciding that banking was not for her.

Here is a list of nouns which are used after 'make' and have a related reporting verb:

arrangement claim comment

confession decision promise

protest remark signal

suggestion

Other nouns used with 'make' express speech actions other than reports, or describe change, results, effort, and so on.

I'll make some enquiries for you.

They agreed to make a few minor changes.

McEnroe was desperate to make one last big effort to win Wimbledon again.

He made an attempt to calm down.

It was put to him that he was making a serious charge against Mrs Thatcher.

Here is a list of other nouns which are used after 'make':

appeal attempt change charge

contribution effort enquiry impression

noise point progress recovery

sound speech start success

Note that, unlike the other nouns in this list, 'progress' is uncountable.

nouns used with 'have' and 'take' 3.46 There are a number of nouns which can be used after either 'have' or 'take'. 'Have' is more common with these nouns in British English, whereas 'take' is more common in American English.

One group of these nouns refer to physical activities.

I'd rather have a swim.

Have a drink.

She decided to take a stroll along the beach.

I look a bath, my second that day.

Here is a list of nouns which refer to physical activities:

bath break drink

holiday jog paddle

rest run shower

stroll swim walk

Another group refer to actions which involve using our senses.

She should let a doctor have a look at you.

Even Lally had a little sip of wine.

A Harvard scientist was once allowed in to have a peep.

Meadows look a bite of meat.

Here is a list of nouns which refer to such actions:

bite feel

look peep

sip smell

sniff taste