Collins Cobuild English Grammar (69 page)

Here is a list of nouns that 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 actions involving something being said.

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

Here is a list of nouns that refer to actions involving something being said:

account

advice

answer

example

information

interview

lecture

news

reason

report

speech

summary

talk

thought

warning

nouns used with
make

3.44
    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 that 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.
He
commented
that he was only doing his job.
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
protested
that his comments were sexist.
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 that 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 actions involving something being said, or describe change, results, effort, and so on.

I’ll
make some enquiries
for you.
They agreed
to make a few minor changes
.
They
made an emotional appeal
for their daughter’s safe return.
He
made an attempt
to calm down.
He
has made a significant contribution
to the success of the business.

Here is a list of other nouns that 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

3.45
    There are some nouns that can be used after either
have
or
take
. In general
have
is more common with these nouns in British English and
take
is more common in American English. There is sometimes a slight difference in emphasis: using
have
puts more emphasis on the experience, and using
take
puts more emphasis on the performer of the action.

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
took a bath
, my second that day.

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

bath

break

drink

holiday

jog

paddle

rest

run

shower

stroll

swim

vacation
(American)

walk

Another group refer to actions that involve using our senses.

She should let a doctor
have a look
at you.
Even Sally
had a little sip
of wine.
A Harvard scientist was once allowed in to
have a peep
.
Mark
took a bite
of meat.

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

bite

feel

look

peep

sip

smell

sniff

taste

Verbs that can be used both with and without an object

3.46
    There are several reasons why you can use verbs both with and without an object.

different meanings

3.47
    One important reason for using verbs both with and without an object is that many verbs have more than one common meaning. For example, the verb
run
is used without an object when it is used in the sense
to move quickly
. But
run
has an object when it is used in the sense
to manage
or
operate
.

She
runs
in order to keep fit.
She
runs a hotel
.
She
reflected
for a moment and then decided to back out.
The figures
reflected
the company’s attempts to increase its profile.
I
can manage
perfectly well on my own.
I
can
no longer
manage my life
.
She
moved
rather gracefully.
The whole incident
had moved her
profoundly.

3.48
    Here is a list of verbs that can be used both with and without an object, depending on which meaning you are using:

add

aim

beat

blow

call

change

cheat

count

draw

dress

drive

escape

exercise

fit

fly

follow

hang

head

hold

hurt

leak

lose

manage

meet

miss

move

pass

play

point

press

propose

reflect

run

shoot

show

sink

spread

stand

stretch

strike

study

tend

touch

turn

win

verbs that do not always need an object

3.49
    Many verbs in English can be used with or without an object, with the same basic meaning. The object is not needed when it is obvious what type of thing you are talking about.