give

Everyday

1. To give is to let someone have something of yours: give a present. tree →
2. To give is to pass or hand something: give me the salt. tree →
3. To give is to do an action: give a hug, give a talk. tree →
4. To give up is to stop trying. tree →
5. To give way is to let others go first, or to break. tree →
6. To give in is to stop arguing and let the other side win. tree →
7. (casual) «Give us a go» (UK, Australia) means let me have a turn; «give or take» means about, more or less; «I don't give a toss» (rude, UK) means I don't care. tree →
8. (rough) «Give it here!», «give it back!» demand something roughly; «give someone a hard time» means to tease or nag them. tree →
9. (formal) The exam voice says «donate», «transfer», «allocate», «bestow», «furnish», «relinquish» (give up), and «given that» means «we know that». tree →

In the lessons

moving things from one person to another (the giver has less, the receiver more); «gives each of N children M» = equal groups (multiply); in everyday life «give back», «give away», «give up», «give in», «give way» (a road sign in the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand); in stories kindness and gifts; in casual talk «give us a go», «give or take»; in rough talk «give it here»; in the exam voice «transfers», «allocates», «relinquishes», and «given that» to introduce the facts

Examples

• Ben has 6 books. Ben gives 3 books to a friend. How many books are left? tree →
• Anna has 17 stickers. A friend gives Anna 5 more stickers. tree →
• Mum gives each of her 3 children 4 sweets. tree →
• Give the ball back, please. tree →
• Grandpa gave me a book for my birthday. tree →
• The teacher gave us a hard test. tree →
• Never give up! tree →
• Cars must give way to people at the crossing. tree →
• Give it here, it's my turn! tree →
• about 30 people coming, give or take tree →
• gave 4 to my sister, no wait, 5, how many left out of 12 tree →
• Given that Ben transfers 3 of his 6 volumes to an associate, determine the number he retains. tree →
• "Give me my Bunny!" he said. tree →

Note

Ask who gives to whom: the giver has less (subtract), the receiver has more (add); «transfers» and «allocates» in an exam work the same way. Trap: «gives each of N children M» is equal groups: multiply. Past «gave», past participle «given». «give up» means stop, not a number change. «give or take» means about. In a self-correction («gave 4, no wait, 5») the last number counts: 12 − 5 = 7. «Given that» in an exam is not giving anything: it introduces the facts.

In Jewish tradition

In these texts "give" often means to grant, hand over or set apart something for God, for a person or for a purpose. It also means to give a daughter in marriage. God "gives" the land, the laws and the commandments.

Interpretation. Tradition stresses that the land, the Torah and life itself are gifts from God. People in turn must give tithes, offerings and charity.

Examples

• And I gave Gilead unto Machir. (Torah DEU.3.15, JPS 1917) tree →
• And Abraham gave all that he had unto Isaac. (Torah GEN.25.5, JPS 1917) tree →
• I pray you give her unto him to wife. (Torah GEN.34.8, JPS 1917) tree →
• Hast thou given the horse his strength? (Writings JOB.39.19, JPS 1917) tree →
• How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? (Prophets HOS.11.8, JPS 1917) tree →
• Nay; but He would give heed unto me. (Writings JOB.23.6, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Ask who gives to whom: the giver has less (subtract), the receiver has more (add); «transfers» and «allocates» in an exam work the same way. Trap: «gives each of N children M» is equal groups: multiply. Past «gave», past participle «given». «give up» means stop, not a number change. «give or take» means about. In a self-correction («gave 4, no wait, 5») the last number counts: 12 − 5 = 7. «Given that» in an exam is not giving anything: it introduces the facts.