Give / Gave / Given
This short guide shows how to use give and related forms with clear examples. Focus on the three key forms: give, gave, and given.
Give
Use give for actions in the present or habitual actions, and also in instructions or when talking about the near future with helpers like will or going to.
Examples
Gave
Use gave for completed actions in the past when the moment is clear or when you tell a story about what happened.
Examples
Given
Given appears as a past participle used in perfect tenses, passive voice, or as an adjective. Use it after forms of have for actions that connect to the present or another time.
Examples
| English Example | English Example |
|---|---|
| ☕ I give my colleague a coffee every morning. | 📝 I give my teammate the notes before the meeting. |
| 🍎 I give a snack to the coworker next to me. | 📬 I give my manager the report in person. |
| 🪄 I give a helpful tip during the team chat. | 🎨 I give creative ideas in brainstorming sessions. |
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Key Expressions
Short expressions with give appear frequently in speech and writing. Learn a few common phrases to sound natural.
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Summary
Remember: use give for present or general actions, gave for specific past actions, and given in perfect or passive structures. Practice with short sentences to make these forms automatic.
Gave
Examples
| English Example | English Example |
|---|---|
| ☕ I gave Sarah a coffee when she was swamped. | 📝 I gave John the meeting agenda yesterday. |
| 🍎 I gave a snack to Mike during our break. | 📬 I gave my manager the finalized report. |
| 🪄 I gave a quick tip to the new team member. | 🎨 I gave ideas that shaped the project plan. |
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Given
Examples
| English Example | English Example |
|---|---|
| 📝 I have given the client their requested documents. | 📧 The team has been given the updated schedule. |
| 🎁 She was given recognition for her hard work. | 🗂️ We were given access to the shared folder. |
| 🪧 They have been given clear instructions. | ✔️ All tasks have been given priority labels. |
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Last updated: Tue Sep 16, 2025