Practice
Delexical verbs: meaning and examples
You may know the noun decision, but English usually says make a decision. You may know the noun break, but English usually says take a break. Learning the verb and noun together helps you build a natural sentence.
Recognize common delexical verb expressions and choose the verb that naturally goes with the noun.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
take a look /teɪk ə lʊk/
The short answer
Learn a delexical verb expression as a whole phrase. Ask which verb English normally uses with the noun, then change the verb form when the time changes: make a decision, made a decision, or will make a decision.
After the meeting, we made a decision.
Why it works: Make and decision form a usual English partnership. The noun decision tells us what action happened.
5 more examples
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Please take a look at the attached schedule.
Take a look means look briefly or examine something. The noun look carries the main idea of seeing.
Not this:Please
look atthe attached schedule. What changes: The direct verb look is also natural. Take a look is a longer, familiar expression with a similar message. -
We need to make a decision before the store closes.
Make is the usual verb with decision in this everyday expression.
Not this:We need to
decidebefore the store closes. What changes: Decide is a single lexical verb. It gives the same general action without the noun decision. -
The doctor gave me some advice about sleep.
Give advice is the normal verb-noun partnership. Advice is uncountable, so we say some advice, not an advice.
Not this:The doctor
advised meto rest more. What changes: Advise is a single verb. It can be followed by an object and a to-infinitive. -
After lunch, I took a short break from my screen.
Take a break is a common expression for stopping an activity for a short time.
Not this:After lunch, I
restedfor ten minutes. What changes: Rest is a direct verb. It describes a similar action with different grammar. -
She made two mistakes in the final calculation.
Make a mistake is a fixed partnership that can change for number and tense.
Not this:She
calculated the final total incorrectly. What changes: The direct verb phrase describes the same result, but it does not use the noun mistake.
Read the full guide
Start with a small, useful group of expressions instead of trying to choose any verb that seems possible. Notice the whole phrase in a sentence, say it aloud, and save it with one example. That gives you a pattern you can use again.
Learn the whole expression
A dictionary can tell you what decision means, but the noun alone does not tell you which verb to choose. Record make a decision as one item. Put it beside a sentence that has a real reason for the decision.
The team made a decision after reading the report.
The team decided after reading the report. Both sentences are natural, but the grammar is different.
Choose the usual verb: We need to ___ a decision today.
Use make: We need to make a decision today.
Notice the noun that carries the idea
In give advice, advice names the useful information. In take a break, break names the pause. The verbs give and take are broad, so the noun helps you understand the full expression quickly.
My colleague gave me helpful advice about the interview.
Advice is uncountable. Say some advice or a piece of advice, not an advice.
Complete the phrase: Could you ___ me some advice?
Use give: Could you give me some advice?
Change the grammar, not the partnership
The expression stays together when you talk about another time. Make becomes made in the past, and take becomes took. The noun can also change when the meaning needs it.
I made three phone calls before I took a break.
The past forms made and took change, but the usual partnerships remain make a call and take a break.
Put the verb in the past: Yesterday, we ___ a short break at 3 p.m.
Use took: Yesterday, we took a short break at 3 p.m.
Compare a phrase with a direct verb
Many delexical expressions have a direct-verb alternative. You can say take a look or look, make a decision or decide, and give advice or advise. The best choice depends on the grammar and tone of the sentence.
Could you take a look at this form before I send it?
Could you look at this form before I send it? The direct verb is shorter and means nearly the same thing here.
Choose the direct verb: We should ___ now instead of making a decision later.
Use decide: We should decide now instead of making a decision later.
Build a useful phrase bank
Keep a small list of expressions you meet often. Group them by verb if that helps: make a plan and make a mistake; take a photo and take a break; give advice and give an answer. Check an example before you add a new pair.
I took a photo of the instructions so I could read them later.
Take a photo is a common expression. The noun photo can become photos when you mean more than one image.
Choose the usual expression: Please ___ a look at question 4.
Use take: Please take a look at question 4.
Before you go
Remember this
Learn common expressions as complete pieces: make a decision, give advice, have a rest, take a break, and take a look. The noun often carries the main idea, while the verb tells you the usual English pattern. Keep one short example with every new expression.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "Delexical verbs: meaning and examples"
What is a delexical verb?
A delexical verb is a common verb used with a noun in a familiar expression. In make a decision or take a break, the noun gives much of the specific meaning. The learner's practical job is to remember the verb and noun together.
Please take a look at the attached schedule.
Do I need to memorize every expression?
No. Start with expressions that appear in your reading, work, study, or daily conversations. Save each phrase with one short sentence. A smaller phrase bank that you use often is more useful than a long list that you never review.
Please look at the attached schedule.
Can I use a direct verb instead?
Often, yes. You can say decide instead of make a decision, advise instead of give advice, or look instead of take a look. Check the sentence structure after you change the form because a direct verb may need a different object or preposition.
We need to make a decision before the store closes.
Why is the verb important if the noun has the meaning?
English has usual verb-noun partnerships. A different verb may be understandable, but it can sound less natural. Learning make a mistake, give advice, and take a photo as complete units helps you choose the usual partnership when you speak or write.
We need to decide before the store closes.
Can these expressions change tense or number?
Yes. Change the verb for tense and subject, and change the noun when the meaning allows it. For example, make becomes made in the past, and one photo can become several photos. The basic word partnership stays the same.
The doctor gave me some advice about sleep.