Which phrase demonstrates a de-lexicalised verb?

• A. Take your time
• B. Go home
• C. Read a book
• D. Cook dinner

Answer: (A)

A de-lexicalised (light) verb is a verb that carries little concrete meaning on its own, with the real sense coming from the following noun phrase or the overall expression. In “take your time,” the verb take doesn’t describe a literal act of grabbing something. Instead, it’s an idiomatic use where the whole phrase conveys slowing down or not rushing, and the main meaning comes from “your time.” So the verb’s own semantic content is minimal, making it de-lexicalised.

In contrast, phrases like “go home,” “read a book,” and “cook dinner” pair verbs with clear, concrete actions and objects that carry distinct semantic content: going denotes movement toward a destination, reading involves the act of reading, and cooking involves preparing food. That’s why the first phrase best illustrates a de-lexicalised verb.