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It can be difficult to choose the right verb before a noun made from another verb
THE PROBLEM OF VERB CHOICE WITH WORDS LIKE “RESEARCH”
English possesses numerous verb-noun combinations like give an answer and make a decision, where the noun is derived from a verb meaning the same as the whole combination (ANSWER and DECIDE in the examples). The noun is very often, but not always, of the “action” kind (see 280. Alternative Meanings of “Action” Nouns), while the new verb with it needs selecting from a limited but quite large group of possibilities.
One question concerning combinations of this kind – when they are preferable to the simple verb – is considered elsewhere within these pages in 39. “Decide” or “Make a Decision”?. The focus here is on matching verb-derived nouns with the correct partner verb. This is not always easy because the combinations are often based more on convention than logic.
Consider, for example, the verb needed with research (without a because it is uncountable). A common incorrect choice is MAKE. The right verb is DO, but there is nothing in the usual meanings of MAKE and DO that can indicate this.
The most frequent verbs used in combinations of this kind – some much more commonly than others – include the following:
ACHIEVE success
BRING ABOUT an end
CARRY OUT an action
CAUSE surprise
CONDUCT an inquiry
DO research
DRAW a conclusion
DRAW UP a list
EFFECT a change
FEEL regret
FIND a solution
MAKE a decision
GIVE a definition
HAVE a tendency
PAY attention
PERFORM an operation
PROVIDE assistance
PUT an end to
REACH an agreement
SUFFER loss
TAKE note
UNDERGO treatment
The sections below list common noun partners of these verbs, and seek clues to their discovery within the type of meaning that either they or the verbs express.
Readers seeking information in this blog about other kinds of verb-object combination are referred to 273. Verb-Object Collocations.
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NOUNS WITH make
MAKE is one of the commonest verbs in the combinations in question. A very likely kind of partner noun is derived from verbs of saying, and similarly can or must be followed by that.
Examples are an admission, an agreement, an allegation, an argument, an assertion, a claim, a comment, a comparison (+ between), a complaint, a criticism, a defence (+ of), a demand (+ for), a distinction (+ between), an enquiry (+ about), an implication, a list (+of), mention (+ of), an observation, a plea, a prediction, a promise, a proposal, a recommendation, (a) reference (+ to), a remark, a request, a speech (+ about), a statement, a suggestion, a threat, a turn and an utterance.
Alternatives to MAKE include DRAW UP with a list, DRAW with a distinction, and PUT FORWARD with an argument, a proposal and a recommendation. GIVE is also possible with the underlined verbs, though often with a slightly different meaning (see below).
In addition, “thought” nouns commonly have MAKE. Examples are a calculation, an analysis (+ of), an assessment, a connection (+ with/between), a decision, a discovery, an estimate, a judgement, a link (+ with/between), a mistake and a plan. However, an idea needs HAVE.
MAKE is also found with various other verb-derived nouns, including an acquisition, a change, a find, a gain, an impact, an improvement, a journey, a loss, a move, a movement, progress, a purchase, a recovery, reforms, a repair, a rush (+ for), a sale, a start, a surge and a visit (+ to).
For more about MAKE, see 141. Ways of Using MAKE.
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NOUNS WITH give
Most of the verb-related nouns that typically combine with GIVE also allow the more formal-sounding PROVIDE (exceptions in the lists below are underlined). Many come from verbs of saying, just as many MAKE ones do – a possible source of error. Common examples are one’s acceptance (of), an account (of), an answer, a command, consideration (to), a definition (of), a description (of), an explanation, an illustration (of), an indication, an instruction, an outline (of), a presentation (of), proof, a reaction (to), a response, a summary (of) and a warning.
In this list, nouns without a preposition can be followed by that. The prepositions are what I have elsewhere called “object-showing” (see 31. Prepositions after “Action” Nouns 1). It is notable that many of the nouns refer to an essay-writing activity. For a discussion of corresponding verbs, see 94. Essay-Instruction Words.
The typical meaning of GIVE with nouns like the above is the “supply” one rather than the basic ownership-transfer one (see 244. Special Uses of GIVE, #1). This latter meaning is sometimes found, though: usually with a noun that elsewhere would combine with a verb other than GIVE:
(a) Suggestions can be given to the Dean.
The typical verb with suggestions is MAKE. GIVE here implies more than just suggesting: that the suggestions are physically transferable – perhaps written on pieces of paper.
With some other nouns, GIVE meaning “supply” is an alternative to MAKE, but again is slightly different. To give an assessment, for example, is to make an existing one public for other people to appreciate, whereas to make an assessment is just to create one, not necessarily in public view. Other nouns with this dual use include an analysis, an argument, a comparison, a list and a summary.
A similar dual use involves nouns listed below under REACH, such as a conclusion. REACH is again personal, suggesting one’s own achievement, while GIVE is interpersonal, indicating sharing.
Apart from the categories listed above, GIVE nouns also include assistance, attention, a boost, a demonstration, help, reinforcement and service. For the use of PAY or TURN with attention instead of GIVE, see 132. Tricky Word Contrasts 4, #3.
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OTHER COMMON VERBS
1. DO
Relevant noun objects of this verb seem rather random but tend to represent brief actions. They include *an appraisal, a calculation, damage, a deal, a deed, (an) exercise, an experiment, homework, *an investigation, practice, a repetition, *research, *a review, *a survey, a task and work.
The underlined nouns allow CARRY OUT to make the action sound more extended. Nouns marked * allow UNDERGO to express a passive action. Damage allows SUFFER instead. An appraisal, a calculation and a deal additionally allow MAKE.
In addition, there is DO + an examination and a test, meaning “undergo academic assessment” (the role of teachers being to SET or GIVE it). By contrast, with the medical meaning of examination and test, the role of doctors is expressed with CARRY OUT, that of patients with UNDERGO.
For more, see 212. Special Uses of “Do 1“.
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2. CARRY OUT, PERFORM and CONDUCT
These typically accompany extended actions, often of the data-gathering kind. CARRY OUT and PERFORM can accompany all of the nouns in the list below. CARRY OUT is perhaps a little less formal (see 108. Formal & Informal Words). CONDUCT is an additional possibility with the underlined nouns.
The nouns are an action, *an analysis, *an appraisal, *an assessment, *a check, *an examination (non-academic), an experiment, an interview (not PERFORM), an investigation, a procedure, *(a) reconstruction, registration (not PERFORM), *reforms (not PERFORM), research, a review, *repairs, research (allows DO but not PERFORM), *a search, *a survey, treatment and *a study.
The nouns marked * here can be brief as well as extended, and then more typically have MAKE or, less formally, DO.
Some other meaning contrasts also exist. If you make a decision you decide to do something, whereas to carry out one is to make it happen. To make an enquiry is to ask something, but to carry out or conduct one is to gather information over time, in the manner of police or researchers. To perform an operation is to administer surgery, but to carry out one is just to do something.
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3. HAVE
Combination with verb-related nouns is one of numerous uses of HAVE (see 116. Rarer Uses of HAVE, #7). Unlike with MAKE and GIVE, there is often an implication that the noun meaning (often an emotion) is uncontrolled or even passive. This is the case, for example, with *a belief, *a desire, *a feeling, *hope, a liking, a need, *regret, sight of, success, *a suspicion, a tendency, *a wish and *a yearning. The nouns marked * can combine with that. Most of the emotion nouns also allow FEEL.
Other partner nouns express an action involving other people. Examples are an argument, a debate, a disagreement, a discussion, an encounter, an impact, an influence and a meeting. Impact also allows MAKE (suggesting more intention). Note that an argument after HAVE possesses the non-academic, everyday meaning of “verbal fight”: the academic meaning of “reasoned case” (see 167. Ways of Arguing 1) needs PUT FORWARD or MAKE.
HAVE also combines informally with many action nouns spelled the same as their verb, such as a go, a look and a try.
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4. REACH
Many objects of this verb are metaphorical destinations. Examples are agreement, an answer, a climax, a compromise, a conclusion, a decision, a diagnosis, an end, an estimate, fulfilment, mastery, an outcome, a proof, retirement, satisfaction, a solution and an understanding. In many cases, COME TO is a less formal alternative (see 290. Ways of Using COME, #4)
Underlining above shows usability with GIVE to mean communicating rather than achieving. A decision and an estimate replace REACH with MAKE when the time involved is brief. A conclusion also allows DRAW. Other alternative verbs are ACHIEVE (a compromise, mastery, satisfaction, a solution, success), ATTAIN and FIND (a compromise, satisfaction, a solution, success).
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5. TAKE
With some noun objects, the meaning of “acquire” is evident, e.g. control, hold, a measurement, note, ownership, possession, receipt and a view (see 264. Variations in the Use of TAKE, #10). TAKE also accompanies action, aim, care, flight, heed, a risk and a step. With a decision, it can replace MAKE, with a look HAVE.
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6. UNDERGO and SUFFER
Like some uses of HAVE, these verbs give passive meaning to an object noun. For example, undergoing a doctor’s examination is the passive of conducting one. With UNDERGO, the noun tends to represent a service provided by other people (see 21. Active Verbs with Non-Active Meanings). Further examples are analysis, change, checks, an investigation, repairs, review, scrutiny, training, transformation, transmission, treatment and trial.
SUFFER is commoner with nouns representing undesirable events, e.g. damage, decline, deprivation, disruption, doubt, erosion, a fall, infection, a loss, oppression, punishment, reduction, repression and restrictions.
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7. CAUSE, EFFECT and BRING ABOUT
These verbs can accompany many of the object nouns that passive-suggesting verbs also accompany. Common nouns (with their typical passive-suggesting verbs) are (a) change (UNDERGO), damage (SUFFER), a drop (SUFFER), an end (REACH), a fall (HAVE, SUFFER), an increase (EXPERIENCE), a reconciliation, a reduction (SUFFER), renewal (UNDERGO), a rise (EXPERIENCE), success (HAVE) and a surprise (HAVE).
A change and a reduction also allow MAKE, while damage also allows DO.
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8. PUT
This is relatively rare before a verb-related noun. It accompanies an end (to), a stop (to) and emphasis (on). The last of these also allows PLACE and GIVE (+ to).
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