Using transitive and intransitive verbs
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A special type of direct object | page 4 of 4 |
A list of verbs which take special direct objects 
There are two main types of verb which take special direct objects: verbs which are closely (lexically) related to the direct object, and verbs which have almost no meaning, and which are not at all related to the direct object.
Verbs which are closely (lexically) related to the direct object
The following 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 |
The following verbs take direct objects which are not directly related to the verb in form, but are still related in meaning:
| act a part (in a play) | do a job |
| pay money | perform a somersault |
| play a role | run a race |
Verbs which are not at all related to the direct object
With the following verbs, the representation of the action has shifted entirely to the direct object, and the verb has almost none of its normal meaning:
| give a smile | have a look |
| make a start | take a shower |
Because these verbs have almost none of their usual meaning when they are used in this
way, they are referred to as delexical verbs. For further information about
delexical verbs, see 
Representing actions with nouns:
Some everyday nouns used to represent actions.
A list of verbs which take special direct objects
