A light verb complements other words with more meaning in a sentence, such as auxiliary verbs, phrasal verbs, noun plus verb forms, and the use of “to have.” Understanding light verbs can help language learners communicate more effectively with native speakers.
A light verb is a verb that doesn’t have much significant meaning in a sentence. Most commonly, the light verb complements other words that have more meaning. The light verb is often called by other names, such as a vector verb, a subtle verb, or a helper verb.
Light verb constructions can occur in many different ways within a given language. In English, the auxiliary verb is a specific form of a light verb that is often called an auxiliary verb. These verbs complement other primary verbs that carry the most meaning within the sentence. For example, if someone says that someone is “doing something,” the word “is,” a form of the verb “to be,” is the auxiliary verb.
In addition to auxiliary verbs, phrasal verbs also exhibit a light verb construction. The phrasal verb is most commonly the combination of a verb and a preposition. Together, the verb and the preposition form a sort of two-word verb that describes an action. For example, an English speaker might be talking about whether or not to “take up” a problem, where the phrasal verb “take” replaces a verb such as “approach”.
Another case of using light verbs in sentence construction is a “noun plus verb” form. In many of these forms, the verb acts as a relatively insignificant modifier to a noun. For example, in the sentence “to take a nap” the entire sentence means the act of going to sleep for a short time. The alternative verb “to nap” has the same meaning. In contrast to these two sentences, it is clear that the use of the verb “to take” itself has little meaning.
Another common type of light verb involves the use of the word “to have.” An English speaker might say that someone “has hopes” of doing something. Alternatively, someone could be talking about someone else who “has an opinion.” In this type of case, the word “have” plays a secondary and relatively insignificant role.
Those who are just starting to learn English or another language can learn a lot by analyzing the many ways a light verb is used. It is common in some societies to replace technical verbs with a light verb construction, which can cause slight changes in meaning that define “common usage” and the local dialect. With a thorough understanding of these details, a language student can communicate more effectively with native speakers of that language.
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