how to state in php “the_search_query” is blank/empty

what i would like to do is have a search box display the word “search” if the_search_query() has no value. but when someone searches for something it shows the search phrase.

i have virtually no experience with php, and this was the best i could come up with, am i close?

<input type=”text” value=
<?php if(!empty(the_search_query())) : ?>
“Search…”
<?php else : ?>
“<?php the_search_query(); ?>”
<?php endif; ?>
class=”searchboxentry” name=”s” id=”s”/>