Verb + Noun Collocations

Greek verb–noun collocations often package an ordinary action with a broad verb such as κάνω, δίνω, παίρνω, βάζω, βγάζω, or ρίχνω. The noun identifies the event; the verb is its conventional partner. English chooses different partners surprisingly often, so learn παίρνω απόφαση as “make a decision,” not as two words to assemble during conversation.

This page is a learner-facing reference. The structural explanation belongs to Light Verbs, while the κάνω reference, δίνω reference, παίρνω reference, and βάζω reference give each verb's wider range.

Core inventory

Articles and number vary with meaning: κάνω λάθος / κάνω ένα σοβαρό λάθος, δίνω εξετάσεις / δίνω μία εξέταση, παίρνω μια δύσκολη απόφαση. Preserve the verb–noun partnership while adapting the noun phrase.

Κάνω: activities and everyday states

With these nouns, κάνω organizes an activity without necessarily meaning literal “make.” Κάνω μπάνιο is broader than English have a bath: depending on setting, it can mean bathe, wash, or swim in the sea. Κάνω παρέα may be reciprocal, or it may take με for the people involved.

The dedicated κάνω expressions page owns other meanings in that family rather than restocking this list.

Δίνω and παίρνω: viewpoint matters

The candidate δίνει εξετάσεις. A journalist normally παίρνει συνέντευξη από someone, while the interviewee δίνει συνέντευξη. These are not contradictory: the two verbs select opposite roles in the same event.

With παίρνω, English transfer moves in the other direction. Greek uses παίρνω for making a decision, calling someone, and taking leave. Παίρνω τηλέφωνο τη Μαρία uses a direct-object accusative for the person called. With τηλεφωνώ, an overt name occurs in a σε + accusative phrase (τηλεφωνώ στη Μαρία), while a weak-pronoun recipient is genitive in neutral Standard Greek (της τηλεφωνώ).

Βάζω, βγάζω, and ρίχνω: vivid source meanings

These verbs retain more imagery. Βάζω μπρος sets a mechanism or plan in motion; βάζω στοίχημα places a wager. Βγάζω φωτογραφία presents the photograph as an output, while ρίχνω μια ματιά presents a glance as a quick, bounded action.

Βγάζω λόγο is current for giving a speech, though εκφωνώ λόγο is the more formal reporting choice. The phrase does not license arbitrary replacements of βγάζω with English-style make.

Common Mistakes

Using English make for απόφαση

Assuming παίρνω εξετάσεις means “sit exams”

In educational contexts, candidates δίνουν εξετάσεις. Παίρνω τις εξετάσεις can instead be understood literally as collecting the papers or results, so it is not marked ungrammatical.

Translating “take a photo” with παίρνω without checking context

Παίρνω μια φωτογραφία από το συρτάρι means take a physical photo from the drawer. For creating an image, use βγάζω or τραβάω φωτογραφία.

Treating κάνω μπάνιο as only a bathtub expression

The location supplies the reading; at the beach it normally refers to swimming or bathing in the sea.

Key Takeaways

• Learn the whole frame, then vary its grammar: παίρνω μια δύσκολη απόφαση, πήραμε οριστική απόφαση.
• Candidates δίνουν εξετάσεις; interviewees δίνουν συνέντευξη; people παίρνουν αποφάσεις, τηλέφωνο, and άδεια.
• Βγάζω φωτογραφία creates an image; παίρνω μια φωτογραφία may simply move a physical photograph.
• Participant viewpoint explains some contrasts, but conventional partner selection must still be learned.