Alternative Constructions With Full Verbs
Many light verb constructions are closely similar in meaning to a corresponding full verb, e.g.
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- a. Sam did a revision of his paper.
- b. Sam revised his paper.
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- a. Larry wants to have a smoke.
- b. Larry wants to smoke.
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- a. Jim made an important claim that....
- b. Jim claimed that...
- a. Mary is taking a nap.
- b. Mary is napping.
Alternative formulations such as these lead to the insight that light verb constructions are predicates just like the corresponding full verb alternatives. There can be, however, nuanced differences in meaning across these alternative formulations. The light verb constructions produce possibilities for modification that are less available with the corresponding full verb alternatives.
Read more about this topic: Light Verb
Famous quotes containing the words alternative, full and/or verbs:
“If you have abandoned one faith, do not abandon all faith. There is always an alternative to the faith we lose. Or is it the same faith under another mask?”
—Graham Greene (1904–1991)
“California is a queer place—in a way, it has turned its back on the world, and looks into the void Pacific. It is absolutely selfish, very empty, but not false, and at least, not full of false effort.”
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“He crafted his writing and loved listening to those tiny explosions when the active brutality of verbs in revolution raced into sweet established nouns to send marching across the page a newly commissioned army of words-on-maneuvers, all decorated in loops, frets, and arrowlike flourishes.”
—Alexander Theroux (b. 1940)