give
A1Core verb, neutral register, used in all contexts.
Definition
Meaning
To voluntarily transfer possession or control of something to someone else without expecting payment.
To perform an action; to provide; to yield under pressure; to dedicate time or effort.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
One of the most common and semantically rich English verbs. Its meaning shifts significantly based on particles (give up, give in, give away) and context. Often part of ditransitive constructions.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Limited. Spelling: 'give' is consistent. The past participle 'given' is universal.
Connotations
Similar in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally high frequency in both dialects.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
give + IO + DO (He gave me the book)give + DO + to + IO (He gave the book to me)give + DO (She gave a sigh)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “give and take”
- “give someone the cold shoulder”
- “give it your best shot”
- “give the game away”
- “give as good as you get”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
'Give a presentation', 'give a discount', 'give notice'.
Academic
'Give an account of', 'give rise to', 'given that...'.
Everyday
'Give me a minute', 'Can you give me a hand?', 'give it back'.
Technical
'Give a command', 'give access', 'give way' (in traffic).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He'll give you a ring later.
- She gave way at the roundabout.
- Can you give us a lift to the station?
American English
- He'll give you a call later.
- She yielded at the intersection.
- Can you give us a ride to the station?
adverb
British English
- (No standard adverbial form 'gively' exists; 'generously' or 'freely' is used.)
American English
- (No standard adverbial form 'gively' exists; 'generously' or 'freely' is used.)
adjective
British English
- The charity's mission is to support those in need, the give-and-take of negotiations was crucial.
American English
- The organisation is known for its giving spirit, the give-and-take of the debate was healthy.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I give my sister a birthday present.
- Please give me the red pen.
- He gives his dog food every day.
- They gave us a very warm welcome.
- Could you give me some advice on this project?
- The teacher gave us a lot of homework.
- His testimony gave rise to a new police investigation.
- The old chair gave way under his weight.
- She has given up trying to convince him.
- The judge gave him a suspended sentence.
- The new policy gave impetus to the reform movement.
- He gave himself over to his studies completely.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
GIVE: Generously Invites Voluntary Exchange.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMMUNICATION IS A GIFT (e.g., 'give a speech', 'give advice'); LIFE IS A GIFT.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid overusing 'give' for Russian 'дать' in all contexts. 'Give an answer' is fine, but 'give a look' sounds unnatural; use 'look'. 'Give a kiss' is less common than 'kiss'. 'Give a meeting' is wrong; use 'have a meeting'.
- In phrasal verbs: 'give up' (бросать, сдаваться) vs. 'give in' (уступать).
Common Mistakes
- *She gave to me the pen. (Incorrect word order; 'She gave me the pen.')
- *He is giving a party for me. (Possible but less idiomatic; 'He is throwing/having a party for me.')
- *Can you give me an advice? (Uncountable; 'Can you give me some advice?')
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'give' INCORRECTLY?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. It often is (ditransitive), but it can be used with a single object ('give a shout', 'give way') or as part of a phrasal verb ('give in', 'give up').
'Give up' means to stop trying or quit something entirely. 'Give in' means to reluctantly agree or yield to pressure from someone else.
Both are very common. The passive 'I was given...' often shifts focus to the recipient, while 'They gave me...' focuses on the action and giver.
They are near-synonyms with different connotations. 'Donate' implies charity, 'grant' implies formal approval or a right, while 'give' is the general, neutral term.
Collections
Part of a collection
Daily Verbs
A1 · 50 words · Essential action words used in everyday conversation.