Representing actions with nouns
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Some everyday nouns used to represent actions | page 2 of 4 |
The form of delexical verb structures
The term delexical verbs refers to a small group of very common transitive verbs 
which take as their
object a noun which can also be used as a verb:
harm do harm wash do the washing advise give some advice answer give an answer look have a look influence have an influence compare make a comparison suggest make a suggestion bus take a bus examine take an examination
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The verbs which commonly collocate with these nouns, eg do,
give, have, make and take, typically have little or none
of their normal meaning. For example, when you talk about "taking the bus", you
are not taking it anywhere - in fact, it is taking you. |
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In some cases the noun has the same form as the verb, eg look and
answer, and in others, the noun takes a different form, eg advise
 advice,
compare comparison. |
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The most common determiner is the indefinite article, eg have a look. Other determiners
include some (especially with an uncountable noun), eg give some advice;
a quantifying determiner (sometimes with a plural noun), eg give five correct
answers; the definite article, eg take the bus; a possessive
pronoun, eg do their washing; and zero article, eg do [^]
harm. |
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Some verbs take direct objects which are closely related both in form and
in meaning to the verb: |
dance a dance die a death dream a dream laugh a laugh live a life sigh a sigh smile a smile smoke a smoke
For further information about direct objects which are closely related in form and
meaning to the verb, see 
Using transitive and intransitive
verbs: A special type of direct object.
The form of delexical verb structures
