Collins Cobuild English Grammar (68 page)

3.34
    In many cases, there is a verb that has a similar meaning to the meaning of the delexical verb + noun. For example, the verb
look
means almost the same as
have a look
. When
look
is a verb, as in
I looked round the room
, you are focusing on the action of looking. When you use
look
as a noun in a delexical structure, you are naming an event, something that is complete. This structure often seems to be preferred. Note that the verb corresponding 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 that are transitive.

Fans tried to
get a glimpse
of the singer.
I
glimpsed
a bright flash of gold on the left.
He
gave a little sniff
.
She
sniffed
the air.
Comis
took a photograph
of her.
They
photographed
the pigeons in Trafalgar Square.

with singular noun

3.35
    The noun that is the object of the delexical verb is often in the singular and is usually preceded by
a
or
an
.

She
made a remark
about the weather.
She
gave a cry
when I came in.
I
might take a stroll
.

There are some countable nouns that 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.

with plural noun

3.36
    You can also use a delexical verb followed by a plural noun.

She
took little sips
of the cold drink.
He
took photographs
of Vita in her summer house.
The newspaper
made unpleasant remarks
about his wife.

with uncountable noun

3.37
    It is also occasionally possible to follow a delexical verb with an uncountable noun.

We
have made progress
in both science and art.
Cal
took charge
of this side of their education.

talking about a brief event

3.38
    One difference in meaning between using a structure containing a delexical verb 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
.

using adjectives

3.39
    Another reason for choosing a delexical structure is that you can add further details about the event by using adjectives in front of the noun, rather than by using adverbs. It is more natural, for example, to say
He gave a quick furtive glance round the room
than to say
He glanced quickly and furtively round the room
.

He
gave a long lecture
about Roosevelt.
She
had a good cry
.
He was forced to
make a humiliating apology
.
These legends
hold a romantic fascination
for many Japanese.

nouns with no equivalent verb

3.40
    There are some nouns used in delexical structures that do not correspond in form to a verb that 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
.
I
decided
I wouldn’t resign after all.
He
made the shortest speech
I’ve ever heard.
lain
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

3.41
    In most cases, only one delexical verb is used with any particular noun.

The following examples show nouns that are used after
have
.

They
have a desperate need
to communicate.
They
had a fundamental belief
in their own superiority.
She
had a good cry
.
Let’s not
have a quarrel
.
We should
have a talk
.

Here is a list of nouns that are used after
have
:

argument

belief

chat

cry

dance

disagreement

fall

fight

grouse

grumble

need

quarrel

respect

sleep

talk

nouns used with
take

3.42
    The following examples show nouns that are used after
take
.

He
takes no interest
in his children.
…kids
taking turns
to use a playground slide.
He
was taking no chances
.
She was prepared
to take great risks
.
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 of nouns that are used after
take
. The first set of nouns are countable nouns; the second set of nouns are uncountable 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

3.43
    Many nouns can be used after
give
.

Some of these nouns refer to noises that people make, or expressions they make with their face. 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 soft chuckle
.

Here is a list of nouns that refer to noises people make, or expressions they make with their face:

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 (that is, an object that refers to the person or thing that received the action) because they describe activities that involve someone else, apart from the subject.

They
gave us a wonderfully warm welcome
.
Elaine
gave him a hug
.
He
gave her hand a squeeze
.
He
gave him a good kick
.
She
gave him a long kiss
.