ИСТИНА

In the paper we explore semantic properties of typical Russian and English Verb-Object constructions with light verbs (LV). In section 1 our approach to the problem is outlined. In section 2 the criteria for delimiting the constructions under study are formulated. In section 3 two semantic constraints on the choice of a LV for a given «key» noun are proposed (one based on aspectual features, and the other — on argument structure). Section 4 focuses on LV-construction of the type have a V (swim, nap etc.) and its Russian partial equivalent. In section 5 semantic properties of LV construction of the type give a V (laugh, grunt etc.) are described and two existing ways of translating it into Russian are compared.