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日本英語表現学会 紀要『英語表現研究』第 16 号 英文梗概
English Usage and Style No.16 Synopsis
A Study on the Capacity of Basic English Verbs to Form Idiomatic Expressions
Shuji Hasegawa
It is said that one of the lexical units which cause difficulties to non-native learners of English is “idioms.” According to an observation, “idioms” are grouped into two typical types of constructions: “verb + particle (s)” and “semi-clause.” Large dictionaries of English idioms tend to represent this classification, naming the former “Phrasal Verbs” and the latter “Idioms.” Although the names are different, the main entries in these dictionaries are occupied by the lexical units beginning with verbs.
On the basis of this observation, the current study was designed to detect which verbs have the greatest capacity to form idiomatic expressions. In order to complete this study, four dictionaries of English idioms were utilized as reference works. The verbs selected for this study were a total of 116 words from two sources: lexicographical research and A Course of Study. Results from the analysis indicate that there are eight verbs which demonstrate the greatest capacity to form idiomatic expressions.