Meaning & use
vague verbs
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Meaning
phrasepluraltechnical
Verbs with a very general meaning, such as 'do', 'get', or 'have', that do not say exactly what happens.
Grammar: Countable; the singular is 'vague verb'. Often used in grammar teaching.
Patterns
- use a vague verb
- replace a vague verb with something
- a vague verb like get
In 'do the dishes', 'do' is a vague verb until the object makes it clear.
Good writing replaces vague verbs like 'get' with precise ones such as 'obtain' or 'receive'.
The teacher circled every vague verb in the paragraph.
Word forms
| singular | vague verb |
|---|
Common combinations
- a vague verb like 'get'
- A vague verb like 'get' can mean obtain, receive, or become.
- replace vague verbs
- Editors replace vague verbs with stronger, more exact choices.
- avoid vague verbs
- In business reports, avoid vague verbs that hide who did what.
- use a vague verb
- It is fine to use a vague verb in speech when the context is obvious.
Synonyms and how they differ
- light verbs
- Light verbs (do, make, take) are a technical class; vague verbs is a looser, more everyday label.
- general verbs
- General verbs cover many situations; vague verbs are criticized for hiding detail.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: vague verbs or phrasal verbs?
vague verbs vs phrasal verbs
Phrasal verbs are verb plus particle combinations like 'give up'; vague verbs are simply verbs with weak, general meaning.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'vague verbs' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Vague verbs' is a plural noun phrase for weak, general verbs, so option 2 fits. Option 3 confuses it with 'vagaries', and the others use it as a verb or in the wrong number.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “vague verbs”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.