Lesson article
Spot the signal, compare it, then read it in context
Read all 3 sections in order. Notice the target form, compare it with the nearby alternative, then use the reading and practice below to check the meaning in context.
Section 1 of 3
あげる and くれる depend on viewpoint
あげる is used from the giver’s side toward someone else. くれる is used when someone gives something to the speaker or the speaker’s side. The object is the same, but the viewpoint changes.
Target signal
わたしは妹にノートをあげた。
I gave my younger sister a notebook.
The speaker is the giver, so あげた is natural.
Vocabulary notes
- ノート
- notebook
- わたし
- I; me
- あ
- ah; oh
Compare in context
母がわたしにかばんをくれた。
My mother gave me a bag.
Because the gift comes to the speaker, くれた is used.
Vocabulary notes
- かばん
- bag
- くれた
- gave (to me/us)
- わたし
- I; me
Compare in context
先生は田中さんに本をあげた。
The teacher gave Tanaka a book.
This sentence is still from the giver’s side, even though the speaker is not the giver.
Vocabulary notes
- 田中さん
- Tanaka
- さん
- Mr.; Ms.; polite name suffix
- 先生
- teacher; instructor; doctor
Section 2 of 3
もらう focuses on the receiver
With もらう, the receiver becomes the subject. The helper or giver is usually marked with に.
Target signal
わたしは母にかばんをもらった。
I received a bag from my mother.
The event is the same as くれる-type sentences, but the sentence viewpoint changes.
Vocabulary notes
- かばん
- bag
- わたし
- I; me
- か
- question marker; or
Preview
田中さんは友だちに本をもらった。
Tanaka received a book from a friend.
The receiver 田中さん is the subject of the sentence.
Vocabulary notes
- 田中さん
- Tanaka
- 友だち
- friend
- さん
- Mr.; Ms.; polite name suffix
Preview
子どもは先生にノートをもらった。
The child received a notebook from the teacher.
The receiver can also be another person, not just the speaker.
Vocabulary notes
- ノート
- notebook
- 子ども
- child; children
- 先生
- teacher; instructor; doctor
Section 3 of 3
Read the speaker’s side first
When you read these verbs, first decide whose side the sentence is following. That will usually tell you whether あげる, くれる, or もらう is natural.
Target signal
母がわたしに本をくれた。
My mother gave me a book.
The speaker receives the book, so くれた is natural.
Vocabulary notes
- くれた
- gave (to me/us)
- わたし
- I; me
- が
- subject marker
Preview
わたしは母に本をもらった。
I received a book from my mother.
This describes the same event from the receiver’s point of view.
Vocabulary notes
- わたし
- I; me
- に
- to; at; in; on
- は
- topic marker
Preview
わたしは妹に本をあげた。
I gave my younger sister a book.
Here the speaker is the giver, so あげた is used instead.
Vocabulary notes
- わたし
- I; me
- あ
- ah; oh
- に
- to; at; in; on