Multi-word verbs are

verb A verb () is a word ( part of speech) that in syntax generally conveys an action (''bring'', ''read'', ''walk'', ''run'', ''learn''), an occurrence (''happen'', ''become''), or a state of being (''be'', ''exist'', ''stand''). In the usual descr ...

s that consist of more than one word. This term may cover both

periphrasis In linguistics, periphrasis () is the use of one or more function words to express meaning that otherwise may be expressed by attaching an affix or clitic to a word. The resulting phrase includes two or more collocated words instead of one ...

as in combinations involving modal or semi-modal auxiliaries with an additional verbal or other lexeme, e.g. ''had better'', ''used to'', ''be going to'', ''ought to'',

phrasal verb In the traditional grammar of Modern English, a phrasal verb typically constitutes a single semantic unit composed of a verb followed by a particle (examples: ''turn down'', ''run into'' or ''sit up''), sometimes combined with a preposition (e ...

s, as in combinations of verbs and particles, and

compound verb In linguistics, a compound verb or complex predicate is a multi- word compound that functions as a single verb. One component of the compound is a '' light verb'' or ''vector'', which carries any inflections, indicating tense, mood, or aspec ...

s as in light-verb constructions, e.g. ''take a shower'', ''have a meal''.

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Phrasal Verbs and other multi-word verbs

Multi-word verbs (phrasal verbs)
Verb types Lexical units {{syntax-stub