3.44 nouns used with 'give'
Many nouns can be used after 'give'.
Some of these nouns refer to verbal or facial actions. Using 'give' with one of these nouns often suggests that the action is involuntary or that it is not necessarily directed at other people. For example, 'She gave a scream' suggests that she could not help screaming.
- She gave a cry when I came in.
- Roger gave a grin of sheer delight.
- He gave a shrill gasp of shock.
- Both of them gave an involuntary little giggle.
- He gave a rare chuckle.
Here is a list of nouns which refer to verbal or facial actions:
- chuckle, cry, gasp, giggle, glance, grin, groan, laugh, look, scowl, scream, shout, shriek, sigh, smile, sniff, snigger, whistle, yell
Another group of nouns are often preceded by an indirect object because they describe activities which involve someone else, apart from the speaker.
- They gave us a wonderfully warm welcome.
- Elaine gave him a hug.
- He gave her hand a squeeze.
- He gave him a good kick.
- She gave him a long kiss.
Here is a list of nouns which can be preceded by an indirect object:
- clue, hint, hug, kick, kiss, punch, push, ring, shove, slap, squeeze, welcome
A third group of nouns refer to speech actions.
- The Oxford poetry professor is required to give a lecture every term.
- Lord Young will be giving a first-hand account of the economic difficulties the Russians are struggling to overcome.
- Sir Stephen Brown has given warning that conflict over the plans could lead to a constitutional crisis.
Here is a list of nouns which refer to speech actions:
- account, advice, answer, example, information, interview, lecture, news, reason, report, speech, summary, talk, thought, warning