gave

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "gave" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the act of transferring something to someone, typically in the past tense. Example: "She gave her friend a thoughtful gift for her birthday."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Among the last set of polls, three showed the main parties level-pegging, three had the Conservatives in front by a single point and one gave Labour a two-point advantage.

The Guardian

"They gave me their word a year ago and now I want them to honour that.

The Guardian - Sport

As he knows, the nominative and accusative cases are the reason that we don't say gibberish like "Her gave it to he and then sat by we here!" No idea is more basic to English syntax and grammar.

The Economist

He gave off a good feeling".

The Guardian

I'll wear my lucky suit, the one Prada gave me to wear at the Golden Globes".

The Guardian - Film

What's the best advice anyone ever gave you?

The Guardian

I even gave her a little back massage.

The Guardian

"We will stay up on the balcony for as long as it takes," said a 21-year-old woman who gave her name as Mouse.

The Guardian

The reason for this conflict, Schelling explained, was that not wearing a helmet conferred a slight advantage on the ice; crucially, it gave the player better peripheral vision, and it also made him look fearless.

The Economist

Rebecca gave us a group course in reiki, then individual "healing" sessions.

The Guardian - Travel

O'Farrell's former chief of staff, Peter McConnell, also gave advice to Koelma on drafting letters on behalf of O'Farrell in support of AWH.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "gave", ensure the context clearly indicates what was transferred and to whom. For example, "She gave a book to her friend" is clearer than "She gave".

Common error

Avoid using present tense verbs after "gave". "She gave the book to him yesterday and he reads it" should be "She gave the book to him yesterday and he read it."

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "gave" is as the past tense of the verb "give". It indicates a completed action of transferring, providing, or bestowing something in the past. Ludwig examples show it used in various contexts to describe actions already performed. It corresponds to what Ludwig AI defines as grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "gave" is the past tense of "give", used to indicate the completed action of transferring or providing something. Ludwig AI confirms that it is grammatically correct. As demonstrated by Ludwig's numerous examples, it is commonly used in diverse contexts, particularly in News & Media. To ensure clarity, specify what was transferred and to whom. Alternatives include "provided", "offered" and "granted". Avoid using present tense verbs following "gave", and remember that "gave" is the simple past tense, while "given" is the past participle.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

provided

Emphasizes the act of supplying or making something available.

offered

Highlights the act of presenting something for acceptance or rejection.

supplied

Similar to 'provided', but often used for necessities or requirements.

bestowed

Implies conferring something as a gift or honor.

granted

Focuses on formally giving or allowing something.

presented

Highlights the act of formally offering something.

conferred

Emphasizes the act of bestowing a title, degree, or right.

handed over

Focuses on the physical act of transferring something.

passed on

Highlights the act of transferring something from one person to another.

yielded

Implies reluctantly giving way or surrendering something.

FAQs

How can I use "gave" in a sentence?

"Gave" is the past tense of "give" and is used to indicate the act of transferring something to someone. For example, "She "gave" him a present" or "The company "gave" its employees a bonus".

What can I say instead of "gave"?

Alternatives to "gave" include "provided", "offered", "granted", or "supplied depending" on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Which is correct, "gave" or "given"?

"Gave" is the simple past tense, while "given" is the past participle. Use "gave" for completed actions in the past (e.g., "He "gave" a speech"). Use "given" with auxiliary verbs like "have" or "be" (e.g., "He has "given" a speech" or "The task was "given" to her").

What's the difference between "gave" and "offered"?

"Gave" implies the actual transfer of something, while "offered" suggests presenting something for acceptance, which might not be accepted. For example, "He "gave" her a ride" means he actually transported her, while "He "offered" her a ride" means he proposed to transport her.