Multi-word verbs are

verb A verb is a word that generally conveys an action (''bring'', ''read'', ''walk'', ''run'', ''learn''), an occurrence (''happen'', ''become''), or a state of being (''be'', ''exist'', ''stand''). In the usual description of English, the basic f ...

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

periphrasis In linguistics and literature, periphrasis () is the use of a larger number of words, with an implicit comparison to the possibility of using fewer. The comparison may be within a language or between languages. For example, "more happy" is periph ...

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 consisting of a verb followed by a particle (e.g., ''turn down'', ''run into,'' or ''sit up''), sometimes collocated 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 aspect ...

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

References

External links

Phrasal Verbs and other multi-word verbs

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