Astretched verb is acomplex predicate composed of a light verb and an eventive aspectnoun. An example is theEnglish phrase "take a bite out of", which issemantically similar to the simple verb "bite". The concept has been used in studies ofGerman and English.[1]
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 ofarticles,prepositions, oradverbs within the complex phrase; requiring the eventive noun to be identical orcognate with a synonymous simple verb; or at least requiring the stretched verb to be synonymous with some simple verb.[2]
In English, many stretched verbs are more common than a corresponding simple verb such as "get rid [of X from Y]" compared to the verb "rid [Y of X]"; or "offer (one's) condolences [to X]" vs "condole [with X]". Correct use of stretched verbs is about as difficult forEFL students as other types ofcollocation.[3]
