Definition:
A light verb is a verb that contributes grammatical structure (tense, aspect, agreement) but has reduced or bleached lexical meaning, combining with a noun, adjective, or other element to form a complex predicate. The “heavy” semantic content comes from the non-verbal element. English examples: “take a walk,” “make a decision,” “have a look.” The quintessential Japanese light verb is する (suru, “to do”).
In-Depth Explanation
Light verbs differ from their “heavy” (full lexical) counterparts:
| Use | “Take” as heavy verb | “Take” as light verb |
|---|---|---|
| Example | “She took the book” | “She took a walk” |
| Verb meaning | Full: physically grasped | Bleached: no physical taking |
| Real action | In the verb | In the noun (“walk”) |
Light verbs in Japanese:
する (suru) is the most productive light verb in Japanese and arguably in any language. It combines with Sino-Japanese nouns (漢語, kango) and loanwords to create verbs:
| Noun | + する | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 勉強 (benkyō) | 勉強する | to study |
| 練習 (renshū) | 練習する | to practice |
| 掃除 (sōji) | 掃除する | to clean |
| コピー (kopī) | コピーする | to copy |
| ドライブ (doraibu) | ドライブする | to drive/go for a drive |
This pattern is massively productive — new する verbs are coined constantly, especially from English loanwords (グーグルする, “to Google”). For learners, recognizing する as a light verb means understanding that the noun carries the meaning and する provides the verbal grammar (conjugation, tense, politeness).
Other Japanese light verbs include:
- なる (naru): “to become” — combines with adjectives and nouns: 静かになる (to become quiet)
- やる (yaru): Colloquial alternative to する in some contexts
Light verbs are also productive in other Asian languages: Korean 하다 (hada, “to do”), Hindi करना (karnā), Persian کردن (kardan) — all parallel to Japanese する in function.
Related Terms
See Also
Research
- Grimshaw, J., & Mester, A. (1988). Light verbs and θ-marking. Linguistic Inquiry, 19(2), 205–232. — Foundational analysis of light verb constructions and their argument structure properties.
- Miyagawa, S. (1989). Light verbs and the ergative hypothesis. Linguistic Inquiry, 20(4), 659–668. — Analysis specific to Japanese light verb する.