Giving and Receiving – あげます/くれます/もらいます

Today’s Grammar Point: あげます/くれます/もらいます

“Giving and Receiving” are 2 sides of 1 action. When a giver gives something to a receiver, the receiver receives the item from the giver. Depending on who the subject is you need to use the correct verb. In Japanese, however, when somebody gives me something, we need to use a third verb. Watch the video for more explanation.

Connection & Meaning

[giver]は [receiver] に [item]を あげます/あげる = [giver] gives [receiver] [item].
[receiver]は [giver] に/から [item]を もらいます/もらう = [receiver] receives [item] from [giver].
[giver]は [わたし] に [item]を くれます/くれる = [giver] gives me [item].

Explanation Video

Examples

1.  父ちちは 母ははに 花はなを あげました。
   Dad gave Mum some flowers.
2. 母ははは 父ちちに 花はなを もらいました。
   Mum received flowers from Dad.
3. 兄あには 私わたしに チョコレートを くれました。(私わたしに can be omitted)
   My brother gave me some chocolate.
4.  私わたしは兄あにに チョコレートを もらいました。
   I received some chocolate from my brother.
5. メアリーさんは ジョンさんに ケーキを あげた。
   Mary gave John some cake.
6. ジョンさんは メアリーさんに ケーキを もらった。
   John received some cake from Mary.
7. エイミーさんは アイスクリームを くれた。(くれた implies the receiver is “me”)
   Amy gave me some ice cream.
8. わたしは エイミーさんに アイスクリームを もらった。
   I was given some ice cream by Amy.

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