Language Focus: Verbs Where the Object Changes the Meaning

Some common verbs change meaning completely depending on the noun (object) that follows them. The collocation "unlocks" the right sense — perfect for natural news retelling and storytelling.

run
run a company / business / organization
manage / operate / control
  • The CEO has been running the company for 15 years.
  • She runs a small online business from home.
run a test / experiment / check
perform / carry out
  • Doctors ran several tests before diagnosing the problem.
  • Scientists are running experiments on the new vaccine.
run late / run out of time / run into problems
be delayed / encounter difficulty
  • The train is running late due to bad weather.
  • We're running out of time to finish the report.
hold
hold a meeting / event / conference
organize / conduct / have
  • They held an emergency meeting after the accident.
  • The company is holding its annual conference next month.
hold a position / job / role
occupy / have (a formal role)
  • She holds the position of chief editor.
  • He currently holds the world record in the 100m sprint.
hold someone responsible / accountable
blame / consider at fault
  • Police are holding the driver responsible for the crash.
  • The court held the company accountable for the pollution.
raise
raise a child / children / family
bring up / rear / care for
  • They raised three children on a small income.
  • She was raised by her grandparents after her parents passed away.
raise a question / issue / concern
mention / bring up for discussion
  • Witnesses raised questions about the official story.
  • Several parents raised concerns at the school meeting.
raise money / funds / awareness
collect / gather / increase attention
  • The charity raised over $10,000 for victims.
  • The campaign aims to raise awareness about mental health.
cover
cover a topic / subject / area
discuss / deal with / include
  • The lecture covered recent advances in technology.
  • This chapter covers everything you need to know about verbs.
cover costs / expenses / damage
pay for / compensate
  • Insurance will cover the repair costs.
  • The company covered all travel expenses for the conference.
cover a story / event / news
report on (journalism)
  • Our reporter covered the protest live from the scene.
  • The newspaper covered the scandal in detail.
handle
handle an object / item / material
touch / manipulate / hold physically
  • Handle the glass carefully — it's fragile.
  • Always wear gloves when handling chemicals.
handle a situation / problem / complaint / case
manage / deal with / cope with
  • The manager handled the customer complaint very well.
  • Police are handling the investigation into the theft.
  • She knows how to handle difficult situations calmly.

Common in news: "Authorities are handling the crisis."

issue
an issue / problem / matter
topic / subject / concern
  • Climate change is a serious global issue.
  • The main issue is lack of funding.
issue a ticket / warning / passport / statement
officially give / distribute / release
  • Police issued a warning to drivers about ice on roads.
  • The government issued new passports last month.
  • The court issued a statement denying the claims.
charge
charge a fee / price / money
ask for payment
  • The hotel charges extra for breakfast.
  • They charge $50 per hour for lessons.
charge someone with a crime / offence
formally accuse
  • The suspect was charged with robbery and assault.
  • Police charged him with driving under the influence.
address
address an audience / crowd / nation
speak to formally
  • The president addressed the nation on TV.
  • She addressed the conference on climate change.
address a problem / issue / concern
deal with / solve / tackle
  • The report addresses safety concerns after the accident.
  • We need to address the root cause of the issue.
deliver
deliver a package / goods / letter
transport / bring / hand over
  • The courier delivered the parcel this morning.
  • They deliver groceries to your door within two hours.
deliver a speech / verdict / performance / message
give / present / pronounce
  • The judge delivered a guilty verdict.
  • She delivered an emotional speech at the ceremony.

Quick Summary & Tip

The object after the verb decides its meaning: literal/physical (package, child, glass) vs. abstract/business/news (issue, situation, story, verdict). In news retelling, pay close attention to the collocation — e.g., "cover a story" = report, not "cover a child" = hide. Practice: Take any recent news headline and try using 3 of these verbs correctly.