Sentence examples for an empty verb from inspiring English sources

The sentence starts with an empty verb, kāna, followed by a noun, 'the US Secretary-General', and then a verb, 'expressed'expressed

According to Khalil (2000), Arabic syntactic devices, such as the empty verb kāna and its 'sisters', help to determine whether a constituent is previously mentioned, or not.

If its ropey lineage is anything to go by, an otherwise entertaining pop star is left with nothing but a list of empty verbs such as "rise", "survive", "thrive", "dream" and – in the case of Bryan Adams and Nelly Furtado's 2010 Vancouver Winter Games soundtrack – "banging the drum".

Furthermore, the attached footnote seems to claim that some sentences with "mock proper names" (i.e., an empty singular term) are true, when the name is governed by an attitudinal verb.

I'm less an artist than an empty shirt and tie, hauling around a beaten-up satchel and drilling verbs with businessmen so that they can conduct smoother international deals and improve relations between branches of giant trans-global corporations.

Into an empty cube.

Have an empty clip?

Grab an empty pillowcase.

Use an empty dishwasher.

Find an empty channel.

Find an empty washer.