Definitie & Betekenis van "dummy verb"

What is a "dummy verb"?

A dummy verb is a verb that does not have a specific meaning on its own and is used primarily to support other verbs or to fill a grammatical role in a sentence. In English, the most common dummy verbs are "do," "be," and "have." For example, in the phrase "take a walk," the verb "take" acts as a dummy verb because it does not convey its usual meaning but instead supports the expression of the action. Dummy verbs are useful for forming questions, negatives, and various verb tenses, allowing for smoother sentence construction and clearer communication.