A stretched verb is a complex predicate composed of a light verb and an eventive noun. An example is the English phrase "take a bite out of", which is semantically similar to the simple verb "bite". The concept has been used in studies of German and English.
There is no standard name or definition for the concept. Other names include "supported verb", "expanded predicate", "verbo-nominal phrase", and "delexical verb combination". Some definitions may place further restrictions on the construction: restricting the light verb to one of a fixed list; restricting the occurrence of articles, prepositions, or adverbs within the complex phrase; requiring the eventive noun to be identical or cognate with a synonymous simple verb, or at least requiring the stretched verb to be synonymous with some simple verb.
In English, many stretched verbs are more common than a corresponding simple verb: for example "get rid " compared to the verb "rid "; or "offer (one's) condolences " vs "condole ". Correct use of stretched verbs is about as difficult for EFL students as other types of collocation.
Famous quotes containing the words stretched and/or verb:
“It is the stretched soul that makes music, and souls are stretched by the pull of opposites—opposite bents, tastes, yearnings, loyalties. Where there is no polarity—where energies flow smoothly in one direction—there will be much doing but no music.”
—Eric Hoffer (1902–1983)
“The word is the Verb, and the Verb is God.”
—Victor Hugo (1802–1885)