gave: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
A1Neutral. Standard in all spoken and written registers.
Quick answer
What does “gave” mean?
The past tense form of the verb 'give', meaning to transfer the possession of something to someone without expecting payment.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The past tense form of the verb 'give', meaning to transfer the possession of something to someone without expecting payment.
To provide, bestow, offer, or supply something. Also used for abstract concepts like giving information, attention, or permission.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in the core usage of the word 'gave'. Minor differences may exist in collocations or frequency of certain idiomatic expressions.
Connotations
Identical connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Extremely high and identical frequency in both varieties. One of the most common verbs.
Grammar
How to Use “gave” in a Sentence
NP gave NP (NP) [He gave me the book]NP gave NP to NP [He gave the book to me]NP gave NP NP [He gave the child a sweet]NP gave (NP) away [He gave his fortune away]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “gave” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He gave me a ring for my birthday.
- The teacher gave us loads of homework.
- They gave way to oncoming traffic.
- She gave a brilliant performance at the theatre.
American English
- He gave me a call after the game.
- The professor gave us a ton of homework.
- They yielded to oncoming traffic.
- She gave an amazing performance on Broadway.
adverb
British English
- N/A for 'gave'. It is strictly a verb form.
American English
- N/A for 'gave'. It is strictly a verb form.
adjective
British English
- N/A for 'gave'. It is strictly a verb form.
American English
- N/A for 'gave'. It is strictly a verb form.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Common in contexts of transactions, presentations, and delegating tasks (e.g., 'She gave a presentation', 'They gave us a discount').
Academic
Used for attributing credit, providing evidence, or explaining causality (e.g., 'The study gave rise to new theories').
Everyday
Ubiquitous in daily life for describing transfers of objects, information, or help (e.g., 'He gave me a lift', 'I gave her the key').
Technical
Less common in pure technical writing, but appears in instructions or descriptions of system outputs (e.g., 'The sensor gave a reading').
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “gave”
- Using 'gived' (incorrect regularisation).
- Confusing 'gave' (past simple) with 'given' (past participle) in perfect tenses (e.g., 'I have gave' is wrong).
- Overusing 'gave' instead of more specific verbs like 'donated', 'awarded', or 'provided' in formal writing.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, 'gave' is the simple past form. For perfect tenses (have/had given), you must use the past participle 'given'.
'Gave up' means to stop trying or quit completely. 'Gave in' means to yield or surrender to pressure or a demand.
Not directly. 'Gave' is active voice. The passive is formed with the past participle: 'The book was given to me (by him).'
Because 'give' is an irregular verb. Learners often over-apply the regular '-ed' past tense rule to common irregular verbs like 'give'.
The past tense form of the verb 'give', meaning to transfer the possession of something to someone without expecting payment.
Gave is usually neutral. standard in all spoken and written registers. in register.
Gave: in British English it is pronounced /ɡeɪv/, and in American English it is pronounced /ɡeɪv/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “gave it a shot”
- “gave the game away”
- “gave someone a hand”
- “gave someone a piece of one's mind”
- “gave someone the cold shoulder”
- “gave up the ghost”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'save' and 'gave' - they rhyme and are both past tense forms of high-frequency verbs (save/saved, give/gave). 'I gave what I couldn't save.'
Conceptual Metaphor
GIVING IS TRANSFERRING (PHYSICAL AND ABSTRACT) / ATTENTION IS A COMMODITY ('give attention') / COMMUNICATION IS SENDING ('give an answer').
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'gave' incorrectly?