高级英语词汇第030课 | Light Verbs、Delexical Verbs 与动词名词搭配 C1–C2

Series ID: EDKS-ADV-VOC-ZH-0030 · Advanced English Vocabulary (Chinese Edition) · Lesson No.030 · Batch 08 · C1 → C2 · 简体中文辅助

Sometimes the most important verb in an advanced sentence is almost empty by itself.
有时候，高级英语里最关键的动词，单独看反而没有多少词义。

Consider:

make a decision;
take responsibility;
have an impact;
give an explanation;
do research.

In many such constructions, the noun carries much of the event meaning. Make does not literally mean “manufacture” in make a decision. Take does not literally mean “carry away” in take responsibility. Have does not simply mean possession in have an impact.

The British Council calls common verbs such as have, take, make, give, go and do delexical verbs when much of the important meaning is carried by the noun or complement rather than by the verb itself. Cambridge learner-corpus work also identifies delexical-verb collocation as a persistent learner problem: combinations such as make an effort, do your duty and take a photo are only partly predictable, so learners often choose a verb that is semantically plausible but conventionally wrong.

这就是为什么中文母语学习者会写出：

do a decision;
make research;
give a mistake;
do a speech;
make a photo.

每个动词单独看都“说得通”，但英语并不是现场按中文逻辑自由组装的。

Do not learn “make”, “do” and “take” as isolated meanings. Learn the construction that English has conventionalised.
不要只学 make / do / take 的单词意思。要学英语已经固定下来的“动词＋名词结构”。

This lesson owns the Mandarin-supported C1–C2 route for light/delexical verbs and verb–noun construction control. It coordinates with Lesson No.004 on natural English, Lesson No.009 on corpus evidence, Lesson No.011 on complement patterns, Lesson No.018 on lexical bundles and the canonical collocation owner. Its narrower job is: when the noun carries the core event, which verb does English conventionally choose, and what does that choice contribute?

Advanced Vocabulary Hub · 返回高级英语词汇主页

Lesson No.029 · 程度、强度与量级词汇

1. What is a delexical verb? | 什么是 delexical verb？

In a delexical construction, a very common verb contributes relatively little lexical meaning, while the noun carries much of the event meaning.

have a look ≈ look;
take a walk ≈ walk;
give a sigh ≈ sigh;
make a decision ≈ decide.

2. “Light verb” and “delexical verb” overlap but terminology varies | light verb / delexical verb 术语有重叠

Linguistic traditions use related labels such as light verb, delexical verb, support verb and complex predicate. For learning purposes, the essential idea is that a common verb combines with a noun to build an event expression whose meaning cannot be learned by translating the verb alone.

3. The verb is not meaningless | 轻动词不是“完全没意义”

Research on light verbs shows degrees of “lightness”. The verb can still contribute constructional meaning, event perspective, agency, aspect or conventional phrase behaviour.

4. Learn the whole construction | 最稳的学习单位：verb + noun + grammar frame

make a decision about X;
take responsibility for X;
have an impact on X;
give rise to X;
do research on/into X, depending on variety/context.

5. Chinese one-verb translation creates errors | 中文一个“做”会对应多个英语结构

中文“做决定、做研究、做练习、做演讲、做实验”不能全部机械翻成 one English verb.

make a decision;
do/conduct research;
do an exercise;
give/make a speech;
do/conduct an experiment.

6. Cambridge’s do/make rule is only a starting heuristic | do / make 有大趋势，但不是万能公式

Cambridge notes that do generally focuses on performing an activity or job, while make often emphasises creating or producing something. This helps, but many combinations must still be learned as collocations.

7. Make often packages creation/result constructions | make 常与产出、决定、陈述、变化等搭配

make a decision;
make an effort;
make progress;
make a mistake;
make a claim;
make a statement;
make a suggestion;
make an assumption;
make a distinction;
make a contribution.

8. Do often packages activity/work constructions | do 常与活动、工作、任务搭配

do research;
do work;
do homework;
do an exercise;
do business;
do damage;
do harm;
do your duty;
do your best.

9. Take often packages bounded acts, responsibility and perspective | take 的搭配网络很广

take a break;
take a look;
take a risk;
take responsibility;
take action;
take measures;
take steps;
take notes;
take a position;
take account of X;
take into account X.

10. Have often packages experience/state/event possession | have 常把事件当成“经历/拥有”

have a look;
have a discussion;
have an argument;
have a conversation;
have an effect;
have an impact;
have difficulty;
have access to;
have responsibility for;
have an opportunity to.

11. Give often packages transfer, communication and momentary acts | give 常与传递、表达、短动作搭配

give advice;
give an answer;
give an explanation;
give a presentation;
give a speech;
give a warning;
give permission;
give an example;
give rise to;
give consideration to.

12. Get also enters light/delexical networks | get 的网络更口语、更动态

get permission;
get access;
get a chance;
get an answer;
get feedback;
get results.

But get often carries stronger acquisition/change meaning than classic light-verb cases. Learn it through actual phrase networks.

13. Not every verb–noun collocation is equally “light” | 不要把所有搭配都硬叫 delexical

Conduct an analysis, reach a conclusion and pose a question are valuable verb–noun collocations, but the lexical verbs retain more specific meaning. This lesson includes them as the advanced extension of the same production problem: which verb conventionally selects this noun?

14. Delexical constructions often allow noun modification | noun 变成核心后，可以加 adjective

make a difficult decision;
take a short break;
have a serious discussion;
give a clear explanation;
make a substantial contribution.

15. This can change information packaging | light-verb construction 往往方便给“事件名词”加修饰

Compare:

They discussed the issue.
They had a long, difficult discussion about the issue.

The second construction gives the event a noun slot that accepts descriptive modification naturally.

16. Light-verb constructions can change aspect or boundedness | 结构可以改变“事件怎么看”

look → have/take a look;
walk → take a walk;
rest → have/take a rest;
think → have a think, in some varieties/registers.

The noun construction may present an action as a bounded episode rather than an ongoing process.

17. Verb choice can vary by variety | 英式、美式、区域英语有时会选择不同 light verb

For some nouns, both have and take can occur, with variety/register differences. Do not convert one dictionary example into a universal rule.

18. World Englishes research still finds strong conventional preferences | 有变化，不代表可以自由乱配

Corpus research on light make, take and give across several World Englishes found substantial consistency in semantic preferences. Variation exists, but constructions are not random.

19. Learn alternatives as networks, not corrections only | 一个 noun 往往有多个合法 verbs，但意义/语域不同

Target: decision.

make a decision;
take a decision — possible in some formal/BrE contexts;
reach a decision — emphasises arriving at an outcome after consideration;
reverse a decision;
announce a decision;
justify a decision.

20. The noun creates a verb-choice family | 名词应该反过来带你学习一整组动词

For every important abstract noun, build:

light/default verb;
process verb;
result verb;
change verb;
evaluation verb.

21. Example: research | research 的 verb network

do research;
conduct research;
carry out research;
undertake research;
publish research;
review research.

These are not interchangeable in every sentence. Do is broad; conduct/carry out are often more formal/process-oriented; publish describes dissemination rather than performance.

22. Example: analysis | analysis 的 verb network

conduct an analysis;
perform an analysis;
carry out an analysis;
provide an analysis;
support an analysis;
challenge an analysis.

23. Example: impact | impact 的 verb network

have an impact on;
make an impact;
assess the impact;
reduce the impact;
mitigate the impact;
measure the impact.

24. Example: responsibility | responsibility 的 verb network

take responsibility for;
accept responsibility for;
have responsibility for;
assign responsibility to;
share responsibility for;
deny responsibility for.

25. Example: attention | attention 的 verb network

pay attention to;
draw attention to;
attract attention;
focus attention on;
direct attention to;
receive attention.

26. Example: consideration | consideration 的 verb network

give consideration to;
take into consideration;
take into account;
deserve consideration;
require consideration.

27. Example: effect | effect 的 verb network

have an effect on;
produce an effect;
cause an effect — often redundant/awkward depending context;
observe an effect;
measure an effect;
reduce an effect.

28. Example: change | change 的 network

make a change;
introduce a change;
implement a change;
undergo a change;
experience a change;
reverse a change.

29. Example: progress | progress 的 verb network

make progress;
show progress;
measure progress;
monitor progress;
accelerate progress;
impede progress.

30. Example: effort | effort 的 verb network

make an effort;
put effort into;
require effort;
reward effort;
coordinate efforts;
intensify efforts.

31. The “light verb” is often the default entry point | 先学默认高频组合，再扩展更具体 verbs

For decision, learn make a decision before building reach/reverse/announce/justify a decision.

32. Default does not mean always best | 默认组合只是安全起点

Make a decision may be less precise than reverse a decision when reversal is the real event.

33. Light verbs support lexical activation | 主动输出时，noun 可以先出来，verb 再跟上

A learner remembers decision but pauses over the verb. Training the pair make a decision makes retrieval faster than composing verb + noun from scratch.

34. This matters in real-time speech | 第025课实时口语特别依赖现成 verb–noun 单位

Phrase-level retrieval reduces the time needed to assemble common actions.

35. Learn stress/pronunciation across the whole phrase | 声音也要整块学

MAKE a deCIsion;
TAKE responsiBILity;
HAVE an IMpact;
GIVE an exPLANation.

Exact sentence stress varies, but the phrase should be pronounceable as a unit.

36. Learn article/count behaviour with the construction | noun grammar 不能漏掉

make a decision;
make progress — usually uncountable;
do research — often uncountable;
make an effort;
give advice — usually uncountable.

37. Countability errors often travel with verb errors | “make a research” 同时错 verb 与 article/countability

Repair the whole lexical frame, not only the verb.

38. Prepositions belong to the construction | 后续介词一起存

make a contribution to;
take responsibility for;
have an impact on;
give rise to;
pay attention to;
take account of.

39. Noun modification belongs too | adjective + event noun 常形成高价值搭配链

make a major contribution;
take full responsibility;
have a significant impact;
give a clear explanation;
make steady progress.

40. Degree vocabulary plugs into light-verb constructions | 第029课可以直接接上

have a substantial impact;
make a slight improvement;
take full responsibility;
give serious consideration to.

41. Do not double-count meaning | light verb + noun 有时会产生冗余风险

Example:

perform an implementation

Often simpler:

implement X / carry out the implementation, if the noun genuinely needs to be a discourse object.

42. Verb form may be clearer than light-verb nominalisation | 有时直接 verb 更轻

make an assessment → assess;
conduct an analysis → analyse;
make a comparison → compare;
give an explanation → explain.

43. But noun constructions sometimes add useful structure | 不要把所有 nominal construction 都改成动词

Noun versions can:

accept adjectives;
be referenced later;
form categories;
support comparison;
package an event as a discourse object.

44. Compare: analyse vs conduct an analysis | 两种结构承担不同信息设计

We analysed the data. — direct action.
We conducted a detailed sensitivity analysis. — noun allows classification/modification.

45. Compare: decide vs make a decision | direct verb 与 noun construction 都可能自然

We decided to postpone the launch.
We made a difficult decision to postpone the launch.

The noun construction foregrounds the decision as an event/object and allows difficult.

46. Compare: discuss vs have a discussion | register/event packaging changes

We discussed the problem.
We had a long discussion about the problem.

47. Compare: look vs take a look | bounded episode / interpersonal tone

Look at this.
Take a look at this.

The second can sound less abrupt and more invitation-like in many contexts.

48. Light-verb choice can affect register | 同一个 noun，verb 可以改变正式度

do research — broad/neutral;
conduct research — formal/professional;
carry out research — formal-neutral;
undertake research — formal and often project-oriented.

49. Do not replace common light verbs merely to sound advanced | make / take / have 本身不是低级词

Make a decision is normal advanced English. Replacing make with a rare verb can make the sentence worse.

50. Advanced vocabulary includes common words in advanced constructions | “高级词汇”不等于“高级拼写长度”

A C2 speaker may use take constantly—but inside precise conventional constructions such as take precedence, take issue with, take account of, take responsibility for.

56. Learn fixed phrases separately from productive patterns | 有些结构可以扩展，有些更接近固定表达

Give rise to should be learned as a whole phrase. Do not attempt to infer its meaning from ordinary give + ordinary rise.

57. “Give rise to” is not the same as “cause” in every context | phrase-level meaning仍要守边界

Give rise to often introduces resulting phenomena, but causal strength and register should still be checked.

58. “Take into account” is a discourse operation | 不只是“take” 的一个意思

It means include a factor in consideration or reasoning.

59. “Make use of” differs from simple “use” mainly in packaging/register | 不要为了高级自动换

Use is often clearer. Make use of can be useful when the action is being presented as deliberate exploitation of a resource or when the construction suits the discourse.

60. “Have an impact” can be weaker/more neutral than “cause” | impact construction 与因果强度不同

X had an impact on Y says X affected Y. It does not automatically specify the exact causal mechanism or direction.

61. Light constructions interact with stance | 第020课：verb–noun phrase 也有证据强度

make a claim;
provide evidence;
draw a conclusion;
raise a possibility;
give an indication.

62. Do not synonym-swap the verb without stance check | draw a conclusion / reach a conclusion / jump to a conclusion 不同

The verb can encode process, result or evaluation.

63. Light constructions interact with semantic prosody | 第027课：noun partner 也有典型环境

Do harm, pose a threat, raise concerns, take precautions cluster around risk/problem environments.

64. Light constructions interact with specificity | 第028课：noun 决定具体度

take action — broad;
take legal action — narrower;
take disciplinary action — different subtype;
take immediate corrective action — adds timing/function.

65. Light constructions interact with degree | 第029课：event noun 可以接 degree adjective

make a substantial improvement;
have a major impact;
take full responsibility;
give serious consideration.

66. Learn phrase families around one noun | noun-centred notebook 比 verb list 更有效

Target: risk.

take a risk;
pose a risk;
create a risk;
reduce a risk;
mitigate a risk;
assess risk;
manage risk;
accept risk;
expose someone to risk.

67. The verb tells you the relationship to the noun | 这些不是“同一个 risk 的不同高级说法”

take risk = willingly engage;
pose risk = constitute danger;
mitigate risk = reduce severity/probability/impact depending context;
assess risk = evaluate;
manage risk = control/handle.

68. Learn phrase families around evidence | evidence network

provide evidence;
present evidence;
gather evidence;
examine evidence;
support with evidence;
lack evidence;
weigh the evidence;
evidence suggests/indicates/supports.

69. Learn phrase families around conclusion | conclusion network

reach a conclusion;
draw a conclusion;
support a conclusion;
justify a conclusion;
challenge a conclusion;
jump to a conclusion.

70. Learn phrase families around problem | problem network

have a problem;
identify a problem;
address a problem;
solve a problem;
cause a problem;
create a problem;
pose a problem;
overcome a problem? Often overcome a difficulty/challenge may be more natural depending context.

71. The wrong verb often reveals conceptual confusion | verb 选错有时说明你还没弄清关系

If you cannot decide between address, solve, mitigate, you may not yet know whether the intended relation is response, resolution or reduction.

72. Use semantic role questions | 选 verb 前先问关系

Am I creating it?
Experiencing it?
Performing it?
Accepting it?
Reducing it?
Starting it?
Completing it?
Communicating it?

73. Then choose the conventional verb | 语义关系确定后，再查英语习惯

74. Use corpus evidence for uncertain combinations | 不确定 make/do/take 时，语料非常高效

Compare candidates in authentic examples. Check frequency, grammar, register and sense.

75. Do not decide from raw frequency only | 高频组合也可能属于另一个义项

Read concordance lines.

76. Use learner dictionaries because they encode collocation evidence | learner dictionary 是 light-verb 学习核心工具

Oxford and Cambridge examples reveal common verb–noun partners, prepositions, register and countability.

77. Use collocation dictionaries/resources for production | production gap 时查 phrase，不查中文单词

Search the noun decision and inspect the verbs that naturally occur with it.

78. Build noun-first retrieval | 从 noun 提取 verb network

Prompt: decision.

Retrieve:

make;
reach;
announce;
reverse;
justify;

79. Build relation-first retrieval | 从关系提取 verb+noun

“arrive at an outcome after consideration” → reach a decision;
“become accountable” → take responsibility;
“create a negative result” → cause damage / do harm depending meaning;
“include factor in reasoning” → take into account.

80. Build contrast retrieval | make / do / take 的边界用最小对比练

make an effort / do your best;
make progress / do work;
take a risk / make a mistake;
give a speech / make a speech / do a presentation? Check target variety and phrase.

81. Avoid translation drills that hide collocation | 中→英单词表会让 verb 选择消失

Instead of:

决定 = decision

store:

make/reach a decision about X; decision to do Y

82. Learn noun + adjective + verb triangle | 三角形比单词卡更稳

Target: impact.

verbs: have, assess, reduce, mitigate;
adjectives: major, significant, limited, long-term;
preposition: on.

83. Learn a “core sentence” for each triangle | 一个核心句帮助绑定网络

The change had a substantial impact on response time.

84. Then vary one slot at a time | 每次只换一格

had a limited impact;
had a long-term impact;
assessed the impact;
mitigated the impact.

85. Use light-verb error logs | 记录“我总是用错哪个 verb”

Error	Repair	Why
make research	do/conduct research	conventional verb–noun collocation
do a decision	make a decision	conventional default
make a photo	take a photo	conventional phrase
do a speech	give/make a speech	Cambridge collocation pattern

86. Track source-language trigger | 错误旁边写中文触发词

If many errors come from translating “做” into do or make, practise noun-centred retrieval instead.

87. Worked case: Maren “makes research” | 案例一

Maren knows research and make. Chinese “做研究” pushes her toward make research.

Her tutor builds a research network:

do research;
conduct research;
carry out research;
research a topic — direct verb;
research findings;
research evidence.

中文分析：修复不是“记住 make 错”。而是把 research 变成一个完整英语节点。

88. Worked case: Iona over-formalises every light verb | 案例二

Iona replaces make a decision with execute a decision-making determination-style wording because she wants academic language.

Her tutor shows that common light verbs remain central in expert English. Advanced control means conventional precision, not lexical inflation.

89. Worked case: Leonie uses the right noun with the wrong relation verb | 案例三

Leonie says make a risk. The noun is right; the relation is unclear.

Her tutor asks:

Do you mean willingly engage? → take a risk.
Create danger? → create/pose a risk.
Reduce it? → mitigate/reduce risk.
Evaluate it? → assess risk.

90. Worked case: direct verb is better | 案例四

A learner writes:

We made an analysis of the data.

Possible repairs:

We analysed the data.
We conducted an analysis of the data.

The best choice depends on discourse purpose and register.

91. The FENCE light-verb system | FENCE 轻动词系统

Fence	Question	Action
F0 Noun	What event/concept noun do I need?	identify noun
F1 Relation	Am I doing, creating, taking, receiving, causing, reducing?	semantic role
F2 Default	What conventional light verb goes with it?	retrieve core phrase
F3 Alternatives	Which more specific verbs exist?	build network
F4 Grammar	Article/countability/preposition?	complete frame
F5 Register	Common vs formal/professional?	choose variant
F6 Meaning	Did the verb change relation/stance?	semantic audit
F7 Evidence	Is the phrase conventional?	dictionary/corpus
F8 Transfer	Can I retrieve the phrase from the noun/meaning?	production drill

92. Build a light-verb card | 建立“noun-centred 搭配卡”

Field	Example: decision
Core noun	decision
Default light verb	make
Other verbs	reach, announce, reverse, justify
Adjectives	difficult, final, strategic
Prepositions/frames	decision about X; decision to do Y
Direct verb	decide
Warning	do a decision ✗

93. A 15-minute delexical-verb session | 15 分钟轻动词训练

Time	Task
0–3 min	Choose five event nouns.
3–6 min	Retrieve default verbs.
6–9 min	Add one specific alternative verb.
9–12 min	Add article/preposition/adjective.
12–15 min	Produce five new sentences.

94. A 30-minute noun-network workshop | 30 分钟 noun-centred 搭配训练

Time	Task
0–5 min	Select three high-value nouns from your field.
5–12 min	Collect 5–8 verb partners each.
12–18 min	Group verbs by semantic relation.
18–23 min	Verify corpus/register.
23–27 min	Write contrast sentences.
27–30 min	Closed-note retrieval.

95. A seven-day light-verb challenge | 七天轻动词挑战

Day	Focus
1	make vs do
2	take networks
3	have networks
4	give networks
5	academic/professional noun networks
6	direct verb vs noun construction
7	full collocation audit

96. A 30-day light-verb challenge | 30 天动词名词搭配升级

Build 30 noun-centred verb networks.
Repair 30 make/do/take/have/give errors.
Collect 50 high-value academic/professional verb–noun collocations.
Compare 20 direct verbs with noun constructions.
Record 20 article/countability frames.
Record 20 dependent prepositions.
Complete 20 noun→verb retrieval drills.
Complete 10 timed speaking drills using phrase-level retrieval.

97. A 12-week progression | 12 周轻动词路线

Weeks	Focus	Evidence of progress
1–2	make/do/take/have/give basics	fewer translation-based errors
3–4	noun-centred verb networks	more lexical depth
5–6	articles/prepositions/modifiers	complete phrases
7–8	formal alternatives	better register control
9–10	direct verb vs noun packaging	less heavy English
11–12	spontaneous retrieval	collocations appear automatically

98. The first weak link diagnostic | 第一个弱点诊断

Symptom	Likely first weak link	Repair
I use make for every Chinese “做”.	L1 mapping	noun-centred retrieval
I know the noun but guess the verb.	collocation	default verb card
I use formal verbs everywhere.	register inflation	common light-verb baseline
I write make a research.	collocation + countability	do/conduct research
I know make a decision but not other verbs.	network depth	reach/reverse/justify/announce
I overuse noun constructions.	packaging	direct-verb comparison
I forget prepositions.	frame storage	phrase + prep retrieval
I speak slowly despite knowing words.	phrase retrieval	chunked oral practice

99. Practice A — choose make or do | 练习 A

___ research;
___ progress;
___ an effort;
___ homework;
___ a mistake;
___ business;
___ a contribution;
___ damage.

100. Practice B — choose the conventional light verb | 练习 B

___ responsibility;
___ an impact;
___ an explanation;
___ a break;
___ a decision;
___ attention;
___ rise to;
___ account of X.

101. Practice C — choose the relationship verb | 练习 C

Target noun: risk.

willingly engage in danger → ___ a risk;
constitute danger → ___ a risk;
evaluate → ___ risk;
reduce → ___ risk;
control over time → ___ risk.

102. Practice D — direct verb or noun construction? | 练习 D

We conducted an analysis of the data. Rewrite with direct verb.
We decided quickly. Rewrite to foreground a difficult decision.
We discussed the issue for two hours. Rewrite to foreground the discussion as an event.
We compared the two models. Rewrite so the comparison becomes a discourse object.

103. Practice E — repair Chinese-transfer errors | 练习 E

make research;
do a decision;
make a photo;
do a speech;
make homework;
give a mistake;

104. Answers A | 练习 A 参考

do/conduct research;
make progress;
make an effort;
do homework;
make a mistake;
do business;
make a contribution;
do damage.

105. Answers B | 练习 B 参考

take/accept responsibility depending relation;
have/make an impact depending construction;
give/provide an explanation;
take/have a break depending variety/context;
make/reach a decision depending relation;
pay attention;
give rise to;
take account of.

106. Answers C | 练习 C 参考

take;
pose/create;
assess;
mitigate/reduce;
manage.

107. Answers D | 练习 D 参考

We analysed the data.
We made a difficult decision quickly.
We had a two-hour discussion about the issue.
We made/conducted a comparison of the two models, depending register and intended packaging.

108. Answers E — model repairs | 练习 E 参考

do/conduct research;
make a decision;
take a photo;
give/make a speech;
do homework;
make a mistake.

109. How a strong tutor teaches light verbs | 高水平导师怎样教 make / do / take / have / give？

A weak lesson gives five columns to memorise. A stronger lesson asks:

Which noun is the event centre?
What relation does the verb express?
What is the conventional default phrase?
Which more precise verbs can replace the light verb?
What article/countability pattern is required?
What preposition completes the frame?
Would the direct verb be clearer?
Can the learner retrieve the phrase under speaking pressure?

110. The learner should become their own collocation constructor | 最终，学习者要从“翻译动词”升级到“调用 construction”

Before choosing make/do/take/have/give, ask:

What noun is central?
What is the default verb with this noun?
Am I creating, performing, receiving, accepting or experiencing the event?
Is there a more precise verb?
Does the phrase need an article?
What preposition follows?
Does register require a formal alternative?
Have I verified an uncertain combination?

111. Canonical ownership and collision boundary | 本课的所有权边界

This lesson owns the Mandarin-supported C1–C2 route for light/delexical verbs and noun-centred verb–noun construction control. It coordinates but does not replace:

How Collocation Turns Vocabulary Knowledge into Natural, Precise English — canonical collocation mechanism owner.
Lesson No.009 — corpus verification.
Lesson No.011 — dependent prepositions and complement patterns.
Lesson No.016 — nominalisation and direct-verb alternatives.
Lesson No.018 — lexical bundles and sentence frames.

112. Recommended reference floor | 推荐参考资源

British Council LearnEnglish — Delexical verbs: have, take, make, give, go and do — core explanation of delexical constructions and common noun partners.
Cambridge Grammar — Do or make? — process/activity versus product/outcome tendency plus common noun collocations.
Cambridge Grammar — make/give a speech — direct illustration that verb choice in collocation cannot be freely translated.
Cambridge Grammar — Collocation — overview of unpredictable verb–noun combinations and common learner errors.
Cambridge English — Collocation and the Learner — learner-corpus evidence showing persistent errors with delexical verbs even across higher CEFR levels.
English Language & Linguistics — Light Verb Semantics in the International Corpus of English — corpus research on make/take/give, semantic alternatives and degrees of lightness across World Englishes.
Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary — noun-centred collocation, countability, preposition and register verification.

113. SEO language map | 本课关键词范围

This lesson naturally serves delexical verbs English, light verbs English, make do take have give collocations, make or do advanced English, verb noun collocations C1 C2, make a decision do research take responsibility have an impact give rise to, English collocation Chinese learners, academic verb noun collocations, professional English collocations, light verb constructions, support verbs English, common verbs advanced vocabulary, make do mistakes Chinese speakers, 英语轻动词, 英语弱化动词, make do take have give 搭配, 英语动词名词搭配, 高级英语搭配, 做决定英语, 做研究英语, 中文母语英语学习, C1 英语 and C2 英语.

114. Your assignment | 本课作业

Choose ten abstract nouns you use frequently in school, university or work—for example decision, research, impact, risk, responsibility, progress, evidence, analysis, change, conclusion.

Write the default light/common verb for each noun.
Add three more specific verbs that create different relationships.
Add one common adjective.
Add article/countability information.
Add the common preposition/frame.
Write one direct-verb alternative where available.
Write a sentence using the light/default construction.
Rewrite the sentence with a more specific verb.
Explain what changed semantically.
Close your notes and retrieve the verb network from the noun alone.
Repeat the retrieval in speech.
Two days later, use five of the nouns in a new topic without displaying the verbs.

Then search your recent writing for every instance of make, do, take, have and give. Do not automatically replace them. For each, ask whether the construction is conventional, whether a more specific verb would improve meaning, and whether the simple light verb is already the best English.

115. The final rule | 最后一条规则

Learn the noun’s verb network, not the Chinese verb’s English translation.

不要从中文动词去找英文翻译；从英文名词出发，学习它自己的动词网络。

Do not ask, “Does 做 mean make or do?” Ask, “What does English normally do with research, decision, effort, responsibility, impact or progress?”

When the noun is research, English gives you do, conduct, carry out, undertake, publish, review—each with a different relationship. When the noun is decision, English gives you make, reach, reverse, announce, justify. When the noun is risk, English gives you take, pose, assess, mitigate, manage.

At C1–C2, these networks matter more than another list of isolated “advanced verbs”.

真正自然的高级词汇，不是你认识更多动词，而是当一个名词出现时，你知道英语通常会让哪些动词站在它旁边，以及每一个动词究竟改变了什么关系。

Back to Advanced Vocabulary Hub · 返回高级英语词汇主页

Series: EDKS-ADV-VOC-ZH · Lesson 030 · Batch 08.

Small Group Tutorials

How to Learn Advanced English Vocabulary (Chinese Edition) | Lesson No.030 | Master Light Verbs and Delexicalised Expressions Without Overusing “Make / Do / Take / Have / Give” | 第030课：掌握轻动词与弱化词义表达，避免 make / do / take / have / give 乱搭配