あげる / くれる / もらう

Giving and receiving — direction of action

Formation

あげる: speaker gives to others / くれる: others give to speaker / もらう: speaker receives

Usage

These three verbs express the direction of giving and receiving. Critical for understanding who does what for whom in Japanese.

Example sentences

友達に本をあげました。

I gave a book to my friend.

母がケーキをくれました。

My mother gave me a cake.

友達からペンをもらいました。

I received a pen from my friend.

先生が辞書をくださいました。

My teacher gave me a dictionary.

彼にプレゼントをあげるつもりです。

I plan to give him a present.

Related grammar