Reasons for choosing the topic
English has become an international language.It is used in many fields of the society such as: airports, international business, international conferences, science, technology, medicine, international completion, etc
The world is home to numerous languages, each with unique characteristics For many Vietnamese learners, mastering English poses challenges due to its inflectional nature, in contrast to Vietnamese, which is isolating and analytic This difference often leads to confusion among students when attempting to correctly classify and use various English constructions.
For example, a student may create such sentences
- I had a chance to see Mary (1)
- John gave a speech to Mary (2)
- She took a talk with her friend (3)
These sentences seem correct, they have forms of HAVE A, GIVE
The constructions "A" and "TAKE A" do not effectively differentiate themselves, as evidenced by the significant difference in meaning between the sentence "I chanced to see Mary" and its variations.
The sentence "John talked with Mary" differs from the basic structure, as it does not involve the subject's physical effort Consequently, these sentences cannot be considered equivalents of the constructions "HAVE A," "GIVE A," or "TAKE A."
As both future English students and teachers, we recognize the importance of addressing the challenges learners face in understanding the nuances of the phrase "have a." Therefore, we aim to provide clear criteria that help learners differentiate its usage effectively.
GIVE A and TAKE A constructions from other constructions involving
In this thesis, we only focus on the study of HAVE A GIVE A and TAKE A constructions
For all these reasons above, we have decided to choose this subject to study.
Aims of the study
The above reasons show that HAVE A, GIVE A and TAKE A constructions need more detailed study This study is aimed at:
- Giving the description and features of the three constructions
- Studying which verbs can be used in the three constructions or not
- Comparing the uses of the three constructions
Scope of the study
This thesis is about HAVE A, GIVE A and TAKE A constructions Firstly, we mention the criteria to distinguish the three constructions from other constructions involving three verbs "have", give" and "take"
Secondly, we concentrate on giving the syntax and semantic features of the three constructions
In this article, we highlight the distinctions between three specific constructions and those involving the verbs "have," "give," and "take." Understanding these differences is crucial for effective communication and enhances clarity in language use.
Methods of the study
In order to complete this writing, all the following methods are applied flexiblely: a The descriptive method
- Describing the uses of these constructions b The analytic and synthetic method
-Synthesizing materials to find out the helpul information for the subject c The comparative method
- Comparing the three constructions to find out the differences and similarities
1 Reasons for choosing the topic
INVESTIGATION
theoretical Background
“HAVE A VERB”, “GIVE A VERB” and “TAKE A VERB” constructions
2.1 Criteria to distinguish "have a", "give a" and "take a" constructions from other constructions involving "have", "give" and "take"
2.2.1 "Have a", "give a" and "take a" constructions with intransitive and transitive verbs
2.2.1.1 "Have a" construction with intransitive and transitive verbs 16 2.2.1.2 "Give a" construction with intransitive and transitive verbs 16 2.2.1.3 "Take a" construction with intransitive and transitive verbs 17
2.3.1 Semantic features of "have a" construction 17 2.3.2 Semantic features of "give a" construction 19 2.3.3 Semantic features of "take a" construction
2.4.1 Verbs bring meaning "MOTION" and "REST" 23
Differences in terms of syntax and semantics of the THREE constructions
3.1 Differences enabling to distinguish the three constructions with other constructions involving the three verbs: "have", "give" and "take"
3.1.1 "Have a" construction with the ones involving "have" 27 3.1.2 "Give a" construction with the ones involving "give" 28 3.1.3 "Take a" construction with the ones involving "take" 28 3.2 Differences among the three constructions 29
1 Reasons for choosing the topic
English has become an international language.It is used in many fields of the society such as: airports, international business, international conferences, science, technology, medicine, international completion, etc
The world is home to numerous languages, each with unique characteristics For many Vietnamese learners, mastering English poses challenges due to its inflectional nature, in contrast to Vietnamese, which is isolating and analytic This fundamental difference leads to difficulties in language usage, as certain constructions can be hard to classify and apply correctly, resulting in confusion among students.
For example, a student may create such sentences
- I had a chance to see Mary (1)
- John gave a speech to Mary (2)
- She took a talk with her friend (3)
These sentences seem correct, they have forms of HAVE A, GIVE
A, and TAKE A constructions but they do not satisfy the criterion to distinguish these constructions The sentence (1) has quite different meaning from the basic sentence “I chanced to see Mary” The meaning of
The structure of the sentence "John talked with Mary" differs significantly from other constructions, as it does not involve any physical effort from the subject Consequently, these sentences cannot be considered equivalent to the expressions "HAVE A," "GIVE A," or "TAKE A."
As both students and future teachers of English, we are deeply concerned about the challenges learners face To address this issue, we aim to provide guidance on the key criteria that differentiate the usage of "have" in various contexts.
GIVE A and TAKE A constructions from other constructions involving
In this thesis, we only focus on the study of HAVE A GIVE A and TAKE A constructions
For all these reasons above, we have decided to choose this subject to study
The above reasons show that HAVE A, GIVE A and TAKE A constructions need more detailed study This study is aimed at:
- Giving the description and features of the three constructions
- Studying which verbs can be used in the three constructions or not
- Comparing the uses of the three constructions
This thesis is about HAVE A, GIVE A and TAKE A constructions Firstly, we mention the criteria to distinguish the three constructions from other constructions involving three verbs "have", give" and "take"
Secondly, we concentrate on giving the syntax and semantic features of the three constructions
In conclusion, we highlight the distinctions that set apart the three constructions associated with the verbs "have," "give," and "take," clarifying their unique characteristics and differences.
In order to complete this writing, all the following methods are applied flexiblely: a The descriptive method
- Describing the uses of these constructions b The analytic and synthetic method
-Synthesizing materials to find out the helpul information for the subject c The comparative method
- Comparing the three constructions to find out the differences and similarities
1 Reasons for choosing the topic
Chapter 2: HAVE A VERB, GIVE A VERB and TAKE A VERB constructions
Chapter 3: Differences in terms of syntax and semantics of the constructions
Part II: investigation Chapter 1: theoretical background
Parts of speech are the categories into which words in a language are classified based on grammatical function, including nouns, adjectives, verbs, and more, as defined by the English-English-Vietnamese dictionary.
Randolph Quirk (2002) listed the pasts of speech into two groups:
"Closed-system" items refer to sets of elements that cannot typically be expanded by adding new members, such as pronouns in a language In contrast, "open-class" items allow for the continuous addition of new members It is uncommon for languages to invent or adopt new pronouns, highlighting the stability of closed systems in linguistic structures.
"closed system" There are six members in "closed system" items such as:
3 Pronoun : He, they, anybody, one, which
4 Preposition : Of, at, in, without, is spite of
5 Conjunction : And, that, when, although
6 Interjection : Oh, ah, ugh, phew
The term "open-class" refers to a category of words that share similar grammatical properties and structural possibilities with other members of the same class, while also being indefinitely extendable There are four main types of items that fall under the "open-class" category.
1 Noun : John, room, answer, play
2 Adjective : Happy, steady, new, large
According to L.G Alaxander, "A verb is a word (run) or a phrase (run out of) which expresses the existence of a state (love, seem) or the doing of an action (take, play)"
Randolph Quirk made a classification of verb relating the function of items in the verb phrase And he classified into lexical verbs and auxiliary verbs
L.G Alaxander has a different classification of verbs.He subtyped verbs into special verbs and ordinary verbs, in which special verbs are subtyped into auxiliary verbs and defective verbs
Auxiliary verbs play a crucial role in English grammar by providing additional information about actions and states when paired with full verbs For instance, the verb "be" can be combined with the present participle of a full verb to indicate that an action was ongoing at a specific time, as in "I was swimming." Similarly, the verb "have" is used with the past participle of a full verb to express that an action has been completed.
Defective verbs are unique in that they do not function in all tenses and moods like regular verbs Instead, they require a main verb to convey their meaning effectively within a sentence.
Eg: - You must do your homework
A transitive verb is followed by a direct object
Eg: - I met Jim this morning
- I am reading a book Most transitive verbs can be used in the passive voice Some transitive verbs consist of more than one part
Eg: I listen to the radio
An intransitive verb is not followed by an objective and can never be used in the passive voice Some intransitive verbs consist of more than one part
Eg: My head aches The plane touched down
In Flower (2001), a phrasal verb is a verb plus one or two particles
In 1992, Alexander highlighted that a key feature of English verbs is their ability to combine with prepositions and adverb particles, commonly referred to as phrasal verbs While grammarians may have varying definitions of phrasal verbs, the term generally describes widely used combinations of verbs with either prepositions or adverb particles.
Sometimes this combination is essential to the use of verb So, for example, the verb “listen” must be followed by “to” when it has an object:
Eg: We spent the afternoon listening to records
The combination of a verb with a particle can enhance its meaning, as seen in the phrase "drink your milk." By adding "up," it emphasizes the action to suggest "finish drinking it" or "drink it all."
Eg: Drink up your milk ! or Drink your milk up
The meaning of a verb can significantly shift when it combines with a preposition or particle, resulting in the creation of a new verb that often carries a distinct idiomatic meaning or multiple interpretations For instance, the verb "make" can form various combinations such as "make for" (to go to a place), "make off" (to run away), and "make up" (to invent).
1.2.2.2 The use of phrasal verb in English
In informal English, there is a notable preference for phrasal verbs over their single-word counterparts For example, it's common to say "Come in!" rather than the more formal "Enter!" when responding to a knock at the door Likewise, the phrase "blow up" is often favored over "explode."
1.3 Senses of “to have”, “to give” and "to take"
The verb "to have" has a lot of senses and in reference to this writting, some prominent and common senses of "to have" are used only and listed as follows:
Used with the past participle to form perfect tenses
Eg: I’ ve finished my work
Eg: He has house in Boston and a beach house on the coast
Eg: I have no doubt that you are right
Used to express taking or accepting somebody
Eg: We usually have my mother staying in our houses
Used to express performing an action
Eg: Shall we have a game of card ?
Used to epress receiving or undergoing
Eg: I had a letter from my brother this morning
Eg: My wife is having a baby
“Give” is an ordinary verb and has many kinds of meanings,which are listed as follows:
Used to express causing somebody or something to have or receive
Eg: I gave each of the boys an apple
Used to express causing somebody to suffer
Eg: The judge gave him a nine - month suspended sentence
Eg: - Don’ t give me that rubbish about having a headache
- I know you don’ t want to go the party
Used to express performing of providing something
Eg: How many performances of the play are you giving?
Used to express expressing or declaring something
Eg: He gave a strangled cry and fell to the floor 1.3.3 Senses of “ to take ”
The verb "to take" is a versatile term with numerous applications, as highlighted by the Oxford English Dictionary, which identifies 94 distinct meanings This article explores some of the primary senses of "to take," showcasing its diverse usage in the English language.
* “To take‟ has meaning which is contrast with the meaning of “give‟
- “To take” means „ to gather‟ or “to receive”
Eg: - She took my plate and gave me a clean one
- Andrew’ s not in just now Can I take a message?
- “To take” means “to take something from / out of / off a place and from a person”
Eg: - Could you take some money out of my wallet?
- She took the letter from the postman
* “To take”: its meaning is opposite to that of "to put"
- “To take” means “to remove something from its place”
Eg: - I took off my coat and put on a dressing grown
- He took a ring out of his pocket and put it on her finger
1.4 “Have a” , “give a” and “take a” constructions
“Have a” construction occurs primarily with intransitive verbs