Stretched verb


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.
Other names for a stretched verb 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 condolences " vs "condole ". Correct use of stretched verbs is about as difficult for EFL students as other types of collocation.