What is the difference between あげる vs くれる vs もらう?

Japanese picks the verb by direction, seen from the speaker. あげる: the giver gives to someone outside the speaker's side — 私は友達に本をあげた. くれる: someone gives to the speaker or to someone on the speaker's side (family, close friends) — 友達が私に本をくれた. もらう: the receiver is the subject and the giver takes に or から — 私は友達に本をもらった. The same three attach to the て-form for favours: 教えてあげる, 教えてくれる, 教えてもらう. Never use あげる for something given to you.

When do you use あげる?

Give — from me (or anyone) to someone outside my side

When do you use くれる?

Give — to me or someone on my side

あげる vs くれる vs もらう: what's the difference?

Japanese chooses the giving verb by direction: あげる gives outward, くれる gives to me, もらう is "receive". With て-form favours, examples and a drill.

Draft: written with AI help and not yet checked by a teacher. If something looks wrong, please report it.

The patterns

あげるGive — from me (or anyone) to someone outside my sideOpen the lesson
くれるGive — to me or someone on my sideOpen the lesson
もらうReceive — from someoneOpen the lesson

The difference

Japanese picks the verb by direction, seen from the speaker. あげる: the giver gives to someone outside the speaker's side — 私わたしは友達ともだちに本ほんをあげた. くれる: someone gives to the speaker or to someone on the speaker's side (family, close friends) — 友達ともだちが私わたしに本ほんをくれた. もらう: the receiver is the subject and the giver takes に or から — 私わたしは友達ともだちに本ほんをもらった. The same three attach to the て-form for favours: 教おしえてあげる, 教おしえてくれる, 教おしえてもらう. Never use あげる for something given to you.

Side by side

あげる私わたしは妹いもうとに誕生日たんじょうびプレゼントをあげました。I gave my little sister a birthday present.

くれる姉あねが私わたしに誕生日たんじょうびプレゼントをくれました。My older sister gave me a birthday present.

Away from me: あげる. Towards me: くれる.

くれる田中たなかさんが私わたしにお土産みやげをくれました。Tanaka-san gave me a souvenir.

もらう私わたしは田中たなかさんにお土産みやげをもらいました。I received a souvenir from Tanaka-san.

The same event from two angles: くれる makes the giver the subject, もらう the receiver.

あげる友達ともだちに日本語にほんごを教おしえてあげました。I taught my friend some Japanese.

くれる友達ともだちが日本語にほんごを教おしえてくれました。My friend taught me some Japanese.

Favours follow the same directions with the て-form.

もらう母ははに駅えきまで送おくってもらいました。I got my mother to take me to the station.

くれる母ははが駅えきまで送おくってくれました。My mother kindly drove me to the station.

てもらう: I received the favour (often asked for). てくれる: they did it for me.

Quick drill

Pick the word that fits the blank. You get the answer straight away.

父ちちが私わたしに時計とけいを＿＿。
私わたしは先輩せんぱいから本ほんを＿＿。
友達ともだちの誕生日たんじょうびに、私わたしはケーキを作つくって＿＿。
隣となりの人ひとが道みちを教おしえて＿＿。
友達ともだちが私わたしの弟おとうとにおもちゃを＿＿。
田中たなかさんは山田やまださんに花はなを＿＿。
その傘かさ、どうしたの？— 駅えきで知しらない人ひとに＿＿んだ。

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