Light Verbs For Intermediate learners

What Are Light Verbs?

Light verbs (verbos de apoyo) are semantically weak verbs that combine with a noun to form a single verbal meaning. The noun or complement carries the main idea; the light verb fulfills grammatical function by showing the tense, mood, and person.

Grammatical Structure

The light verb and the noun form a verb phrase where the noun acts as the object of the verb. Like any other noun, the light verb complement can take articles and adjectives and form noun phrases.

Example

Hacer una pregunata → Hizo una pregunta difícil.

To pose a question → He/she posed a difficult question.

Tomar una decisión → Tenemos que tomar una decisión importante.

To make a decision → We have to make an important decision.

Common Light Verbs in Spanish

Some of the most common light verbs in Spanish are:

Dar: used to form phrases related to providing or giving something or performing an action:

Example

dar un paseo

to take a walk

dar un consejo

to give advice

dar un grito

to shout

Hacer: used commonly in expressions related to activities and actions:

Example

hacer una llamada

to make a call

hacer daño

to do harm

hacer un comentario

to make a comment

Tener: used to show existence of a state or refer to experiences:

Example

tener miedo

to be afraid

tener sueño

to be sleepy

tener hambre

to be hungry

Poner: often used in expressions about states:

Example

poner atención

to pay attention

poner nervioso

to get nervous

poner fin (a)

to put an end (to)

Other common light verbs: echar, tomar, llevar, sacar

Example

tomar medidas

to take measures

echar un vistazo

to take a look

llevar una vida

to lead a life

sacar provecho

to take advantage

Simple Verb Alternatives

Most light verb constructions have single-word verb alternatives that correspond with the sense of the noun, but these alternatives might have slightly different connotations or differ in register. Using the light verbs allows greater grammatical flexibility and idiomatic variety. For example:

Example

Hizo una pregunta al profesor. / Preguntó al profesor.

I posed a question to the professor. / I asked the professor a question.

The light verb alternative is slightly more formal.

Tomar una decisión. / Decidir.

To make a decision. / To decide.

The light verb alternative connotes a more deliberate process.

Dar un paseo. / Pasear.

To take a walk. / To walk.

The light verb alternative shows a more leisurely pace than general walking.