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Look at the arrow: the gift goes from me to my friend. Use 「あげます」 when giving someone something.

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Lesson notes · ≈ JLPT N5 · Beginner 2

あげます／あげましたagemasu / agemashita

give something to someone

Use 「あげます」 to give something to someone and 「あげました」 when the giving is already complete.

How it works

  1. Look at the arrow: the gift goes from me to my friend. Use 「あげます」 when giving someone something.

    Look at the arrow: the gift goes from me to my friend. Use 「あげます」 when giving someone something.

  2. The giver can also be someone else. 「あげます」 can describe one person giving something to another.

    The giver can also be someone else. 「あげます」 can describe one person giving something to another.

  3. Who receives it? Put 「に」 after the recipient. 「母に」 means “to my mother.”

    Who receives it? Put 「に」 after the recipient. 「母に」 means “to my mother.”

  4. What is being given? Put 「を」 after the item. 「花を」 tells us that the gift is flowers.

    What is being given? Put 「を」 after the item. 「花を」 tells us that the gift is flowers.

  5. Use 「あげました」 when the item has already been given. It is the past form of 「あげます」.

    Use 「あげました」 when the item has already been given. It is the past form of 「あげます」.

  6. The example 「プレゼントをあげます」 leaves out who gives the present and who receives it. The listener can work this out from the situation.

The example 「プレゼントをあげます」 leaves out who gives the present and who receives it. The listener can work this out from the situation.

Example sentences

  • プレゼントぷれぜんとpurezentoをoあげます。あげますagemasu

    I will give a present.

  • 私わたしwatashiはわwa母ははhahaにniプレゼントぷれぜんとpurezentoをoあげました。あげましたagemashita

    I gave my mother a present.

In a conversation

  • A
    誕生たんじょう日びに何なにをあげましたか。か

    A: What did you give for the birthday?

  • B
    花はなをあげました。あげました

    B: I gave flowers.

  • A
    誰だれにあげましたか。か

    A: Who did you give it to?

  • B
    母ははにあげました。あげました

    B: I gave it to my mother.

Check yourself

  1. Level 1 · Recognise

    Which sentence is correct?

  2. Level 1 · Recognise

    Listen and choose the meaning

  3. Level 2 · Build

    Put the words in order

    I will give flowers to my friend.

  4. Level 3 · Use

    What goes in the blank?

    プレゼントを 。

    I will give a present.

More grammar in this theme

  • 〜に住んでいますsay where you live
  • 〜と〜人で住んでいますwho you live with and how many
  • 〜ています／〜をしていますongoing work or studies
  • 〜が〜人／匹いますcount people or small animals
  • 〜が上手です／下手ですskill at an activity
  • 〜は〜が〜ですdescribe someone's features
  • 〜くて〜／〜で〜link two qualities
  • あげます／あげましたgive something to someone
  • もらいますreceive: get from someone
  • くれますsomeone gives to me/us
Previous〜くて〜／〜で〜Nextもらいます

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