What are delexicalised verbs?

One of the most important concepts when it comes to vocabulary learning is that of delexicalised verbs. These are verbs like get/go/take/make/do/have/give/put/set that are the building blocks of the most common chunks in English. Also known as empty or light verbs, they are common verbs that, when used in certain combinations with other words, lose their original, specific meaning and take on the meaning of the word – often a noun – that they are paired with.

For instance, in the collocation “take a nap”, it is “nap” that expresses the most important information. Here the literal, lexical meaning of take (i.e. move or go with someone or something from one place to another) is irrelevant. In a way delexicalised verbs are arbitrary, which explains why learners struggle to get them right. There is no logical reason why we wouldn’t “do” a nap rather than “take” one.  

If we want to improve our learners’ collocational competence, that is, their ability to use collocations correctly and naturally, we need to train them to notice delexicalised verbs as a distinct category of vocabulary deserving special attention. A big part of noticing delexicalised verbs is noticing that they are part of a collocation or other form of chunk. Because these verbs are so ubiquitous – that is, they are everywhere – they are not salient. It is up to us as teachers to make these collocations more noticeable by drawing our learners’ attention to them.

Look at the following short text. Can you identify the chunks containing delexicalised verbs?

As inflation sets new records consumers are having to make do with less. At a recent political rally protesters had a go at a politician after a local factory went bust. She was making an appearance to promote her candidacy for mayor and promised to do away with unnecessary and costly regulations that local businesses have had to put up with.

The following text contains another delexicalised verb. It appears in five different chunks. Can you identify them?

City Struggles as Financial Deficits Run Rampant

In a worrying turn of events for local residents, the city council has revealed that it is running a deficit, with expenditures surpassing revenues for the third consecutive fiscal quarter. The persistently unfavourable economic climate has not helped, causing widespread concern among residents.

Economists have drawn attention to the potential long-term consequences of the situation, warning that if uncontrolled deficits continue to run rampant, the city could face severe financial crises that may negatively impact public services and infrastructure developments.

In other news, two siblings, known for their active involvement in community affairs, have announced that they will run for public office in the next city council election. Politics seems to run in the family – their mother, a revered civil rights activist, once served on the same council for over a decade.

“We’ve seen the challenges our city is facing first-hand. The deficits are only one aspect of the complex problems we aim to tackle,” says the older of the two siblings, Alicia, determined to turn the tide for their city.

Political analysts are intrigued by the prospect of a brother-sister duo potentially joining the council. Their shared passion for the city’s welfare, combined with a fresh approach, could be the force needed to address the deep-seated issues that the city is running up against.