The light-verb system: make a decision, do research, have a shower, take a break — and why mistakes here mark non-natives
I can pair nouns with their light verbs natively: make/do/have/take/pay/give.
Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?
Let's have a quick chat after lunch — I need to make a decision about the offer today.
Let's have a quick chat after lunch — I need to make a decision about the offer today.
She did the research, took the risk, and made a fortune — then paid the price.
She did the research, took the risk, and made a fortune — then paid the price.
Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?
Light verbs carry collocations, not meaning:
| Verb | Typical partners |
|---|---|
| make | a decision, a mistake, progress, an effort, money, a difference |
| do | research, homework, business, harm, your best, the dishes |
| have | a shower, a look, a chat, lunch, a go, fun |
| take | a break, a photo, a risk, responsibility, place |
| pay / give | attention, a visit / a hand, a call, rise to |
Rough logic: make = create a result, do = perform activity — but memorize by chunk, not rule.
Apply this grammar in C1 course exercises
Practice ExercisesLight verb translated from L1
Learn noun+verb as one chunk: make a decision, take a photo
Let's have a quick chat after lunch — I need to make a decision about the offer today.
Let's have a quick chat after lunch — I need to make a decision about the offer today.
have a chat + make a decision: two chunks.
She did the research, took the risk, and made a fortune — then paid the price.
She did the research, took the risk, and made a fortune — then paid the price.
Four light-verb chunks in one arc.
Practice in course
Apply this grammar in C1 course exercises