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Hot verbs, empty verbs - Exercises with do, give, have, make,
take
A couple of people have landed on this blog after googling 'hot verbs'. This is not a term I'm very
familiar with, so I thought I'd better check it out.
Hot verbs
As far as I can see, the term hot verb is mainly used the in the New Headway series of course books
for a few high-frequency verbs. They include both literal use and an 'empty' meaning which I'll discuss
in a moment. In various units I've been able to find the following:
Apart from this, I've found an exercise at the Folkuniversitetet of Estonia on what they call hot verbs -
do, get, make, take. A few other websites also refer to these four verbs as hot verbs. Most of the
other references I've seen are simply questions on language forums asking what hot verbs are.
Delexicalised verbs
Occasionally people talk about delexicalised verbs. These are verbs that carry very little meaning. An
article at the British Council website, for example, lists: get, go, take, make, do, have, give, set, put.
Empty verbs
Other people, for example English Result Upper-intermediate, use the term empty verbs with the same
meaning. English Result lists: have, take, make, give. This is a bit less of a mouthful than
delexicalised verbs, so that's the expression I'll use.
Light verbs
This is an expression commonly used by linguists to refer to delexicalised or empty verbs. Wikipedia
and About.com agree on the main ones - do, give, have, make, take, although Wikipedia also
includes get.
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For example, we often use an empty verb plus noun rather than the corresponding action verb:
We also use get in a lot of expressions such as get wet, get lost and get married. Here the verb
doesn't carry a lot of meaning, but it is not entirely 'empty', as in these expressions it has one of its
base meanings - become. It is also used reflexively in such expressions as get washed, get dressed
etc.
I've already devoted a post to this versatile verb (see below), so it won't feature very heavily here.
They are not entirely without meaning, as can be seen in the difference between these two sentences.
And in most uses, the choice of empty verb seems to make some sense, to this native speaker at
least.
Other verbs
There are a few other verbs used like empty verbs, especially in certain expressions. These include
come, pay, put. And there are quite a few expressions with go.
After the exercises you'll find some lists of common collocations with empty verbs. But try the
exercises before you look.
Make or do?
These verbs can prove especially tricky, as many languages have one verb for both. As a rough guide,
use the verb 'do' when speaking about things in general. In other words, when we do not exactly name
an activity. This form is often used with the words 'something, nothing, anything, everything, etc.'
If you're not doing anything today, we could go to the beach.
He is doing everything he can to help.
She does nothing all day except complain.
Could you do something for me?
Make suggests creating something physical, but this is not always the case.
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Make or do?
Exercise 1a - choose the correct option
Do Make
1. ... up your jacket / shoes (fasten)
2. ... an exception
3. ... 60 kph
4. ... some good
5. ... trouble
6. ... (the) arrangements
7. ... your hair / nails
8. ... the accounts (add up figures)
9. ... an enquiry (ask for information)
10. ... up your mind
11. ... an attempt (to do sth)
12. ... a dance (eg on stage)
13. ... a promise
14. ... a mess
15. ... a university degree
Do Make
1. ... the ironing / washing etc
2. ... a fuss
3. ... fun of somebody
4. ... a lot of damage / harm
5. ... a move
6. Let's play ... believe (pretend)
7. ... your apologies to somebody
8. ... up a room (decorate)
9. ... time (= spend time in prison)
10. ... an effort (to do sth)
11. ... a difference
12. ... the best of sth (for example a bad situation)
13. ... your best
14. ... somebody a good turn / a favour
15. ... a start
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Have or give?
Exercise 4 - Choose the correct option
Have Give
1. ... a bath
2. ... somebody a bath
3. I'll ... you an example
4. Do you ... any examples?
5. ... somebody a kiss
6. ... birth to a baby
7. ... a haircut
8. ... a shout / yell / scream
9. ... somebody a haircut
10. These ... priority over those.
11. Could you ... this priority, please.
12. I don't ... a damn / a toss.
13. ... a read of this.
14. I think I'll ... it a miss.
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On the phone
Exercise 5a - Enter a verb from the box to complete each sentence
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An office meeting
Exercise 6 - fill gaps with suitable forms of the verbs in the box.
OK, everyone, I'd like to (1) this meeting under way now, so could you all (2)
your seats please. And Peter, could I ask you to (3) the minutes, please.
We're (4) this meeting today to discuss next month's product launch. Now, I can't
stress how important it is that nothing (5) wrong with this, and I'd like you all to (6)
me a big favour and (7) a huge effort to ensure that everything (8)
smoothly. And if I could (9) a suggestion - try and (10) all
your staff behind you on this one.
The good news is we've (11) a deal with a local printers for publicity material. Sammy,
could you and your people (12) a think about what's to go into the brochures and (13)
something ready for us to (14) a look at before you (15) the
final arrangements with the printers.
We'll be inviting the press to the launch of course. Pat, could you (16) responsibility for
that side of things. We want to (17) (create) a good impression, of course, but I think
we'll (18) the Champagne a miss this year, what with funds being so limited.
Now we need to (19) into consideration that there's still a little work to be (20)
on the product itself, and we may need to (21) some last-minute changes.
Mike will be (22) us some examples of possible changes later. But so far, everything
(23) the impression of being under control.
Next week, Dave's department will be (24) an overall progress review and we can
(25) another chat about everything then.
The only other thing I'd like to say at the moment, is to ask you all to (26) this top
priority and (27) your best to (28) this launch a great success.
So, now's the time to (29) any comments , and then we'll take a short break for coffee.
After that, Sue will (30) us a short presentation on expected sales of the new product.
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Sentence transformation
All the expressions used in these two exercises can be found in the collocations selection below.
Exercise 7a - Complete the second sentence so it has a similar meaning to the first, using the
word(s) given. Don't change the word given. Use between two and five words, inclusing the
words given.
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Exercise 7b - Complete the second sentence so it has a similar meaning to the first, using the
word(s) given. Don't change the word given. Use between two and five words, inclusing the
words given.
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brush · clean · hand · iron · kick · miss · nudge · polish · push · ring ·
smile · tidy · try · wave · wink
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