give

give — 動詞

1. to place something where another person can take it, so that they have it for th

1.動詞及物 / 不及物A1
釋義

給；遞交

將某物交到他人手中

to place something where another person can take it, so that they have it for their own use, whether as a gift, a loan, or just for a short while

例句

Lakshmi gave her teacher a thank-you card on the last day of school.

Lakshmi 在學期最後一天送了一張感謝卡給老師。

ditransitive: give + indirect object + direct object

Could you give me that blue notebook on the top shelf, please?

能不能請你把最上層書架上那本藍色筆記本拿給我？

request pattern: could you give [someone] [something]

同義詞
  • hand

    more specific — focuses on the physical passing motion

  • pass

    suggests giving from one person to another in a chain or casual way

  • offer

    implies the recipient can choose whether to accept

反義詞
  • take

    to remove something from someone

  • receive

    to be on the receiving end instead of the giving end

文法句型

give + someone + something

give + something + to + someone

用法筆記

This is the most basic physical sense of 'give'. Unlike sense 5 (TELL), the object here is always a physical item or something that can be literally handed over.

常見錯誤

❌I gave to him a book.
✅I gave him a book.' or 'I gave a book to him.
💡In the ditransitive pattern, the indirect object comes first without 'to'.

2. to pay a person a specific amount of money, especially as a wage, a price, or in

2.動詞及物B1
釋義

支付；付給

為工作或商品付費

to pay a person a specific amount of money, especially as a wage, a price, or in exchange for work or goods

例句

The restaurant gave each waiter a bonus at the end of the year.

那家餐廳在年底給每位服務生發了一筆獎金。

give + someone + money (payment for work)

Ziad gave the shopkeeper eight hundred dollars for the used motorcycle.

Ziad 付了八百美元給店老闆，買下那輛二手摩托車。

give + money + for + something (purchase price)

同義詞
  • pay

    more direct and common in financial contexts

  • offer

    suggests the amount is proposed, not necessarily accepted

反義詞
  • charge

    to ask for money instead of paying it

文法句型

give + someone + money

give + money + for + something

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 1 (HAND OVER): here the money is given as required payment, not as a gift or simple transfer. The preposition 'for' often introduces what is being purchased.

常見錯誤

❌I gave $50 for the dinner to the waiter.
✅I gave the waiter $50 for the dinner.
💡The indirect object (the person) normally comes right after 'give'.

3. to freely hand over things you own — such as cash, possessions, or hours of your

3.動詞及物B2
釋義

捐獻；奉獻

自願提供金錢或時間助人

to freely hand over things you own — such as cash, possessions, or hours of your day — so that other people or a charity can benefit from them

例句

Every month, Ife gives part of her salary to a local food bank.

Ife 每個月都把一部分薪水捐給當地的食物銀行。

give + money + to + charity

Sivan gave her Saturday mornings to teaching English at the community centre for two years.

Sivan 連續兩年每週六上午到社區中心義務教英文。

give + time + to + cause (long-term commitment)

同義詞
  • donate

    more formal; often used for money given to organizations

  • contribute

    suggests joining others in giving; common in group efforts

  • volunteer

    specifically about giving time or effort, not money

反義詞
  • withhold

    to keep back what could be given

文法句型

give + money/time + to + someone/something

常見錯誤

❌She gave to the charity money.
✅She gave money to the charity.
💡The direct object (what you give) comes before the 'to' phrase.

4. to use a large amount of your time, attention, or energy on a particular task, p

4.動詞及物B2
釋義

投入；專注

花費大量精力或時間於某事

to use a large amount of your time, attention, or energy on a particular task, problem, or activity

例句

Lakshmi gave all her attention to finishing the science project before the deadline.

Lakshmi 全心投入科學專題，趕在截止日前完成。

give + attention + to + task

The team gave the problem careful thought before making a final decision.

團隊仔細思考了這個問題，才做出最後決定。

give + thought + to + problem

同義詞
  • devote

    more formal; implies strong dedication

  • dedicate

    suggests a personal commitment over a long period

  • commit

    emphasizes the decision to use resources for a purpose

反義詞
  • neglect

    to fail to give enough attention or care

文法句型

give + energy/attention/thought + to + something

用法筆記

The direct object is always an abstract noun like 'attention', 'thought', 'effort', 'energy', or 'time'. This sense cannot take a concrete physical object — compare sense 1 (HAND OVER).

常見錯誤

❌I gave a lot of effort on the homework.
✅I gave a lot of effort to the homework.
💡Use 'to', not 'on'.

5. to tell someone facts, news, or an explanation so that they learn about somethin

5.動詞及物A2
釋義

告知；提供

傳達資訊或消息給他人

to tell someone facts, news, or an explanation so that they learn about something

例句

The teacher gave the class the exam results on Friday morning.

老師在星期五早上把考試成績告訴了全班。

ditransitive: give + someone + information

Could you give me directions to the nearest train station, please?

能不能請你告訴我去最近的火車站怎麼走？

request: give + someone + directions

同義詞
  • tell

    more direct; used for spoken communication

  • provide

    more formal; suggests supplying needed information

  • share

    implies the information is given willingly and personally

反義詞
  • withhold

    to keep information from someone

文法句型

give + someone + information

give + details/answer/reason

用法筆記

Unlike sense 1 (HAND OVER), the object here is always information or a message — never a physical item. Common objects include 'answer', 'news', 'reason', 'advice', 'details', 'example', 'opinion'.

常見錯誤

❌The doctor gave me an advice.
✅The doctor gave me some advice.
💡'Advice' is uncountable; use 'some advice' or 'a piece of advice'.

6. to officially order someone to spend a particular period of time in prison as pu

6.動詞及物B2
釋義

判刑；判處

法院判決特定刑期的懲罰

to officially order someone to spend a particular period of time in prison as punishment for a crime

例句

The judge gave the thief a prison sentence of three years for the robbery.

法官判處那名竊賊三年有期徒刑。

ditransitive: give + someone + sentence length

Christopher was given an eighteen-month term for the crime of breaking into cars.

Christopher 因破車行竊被判處十八個月徒刑。

passive: be given + prison term + for + crime

同義詞
  • sentence

    the legal term for this exact meaning; more formal

  • impose

    formal; used for fines or penalties in general

文法句型

give + someone + prison term

be given + term + for + crime

用法筆記

Commonly used in the passive voice ('he was given five years'). The indirect object is the person being punished. This sense is restricted to formal legal contexts and judges or courts as the subject.

7. to let someone have a portion of your time, often by pausing your own activity s

7.動詞及物B1
釋義

撥出（時間）

分配時間給人或活動

to let someone have a portion of your time, often by pausing your own activity so they can ask a question, get help, or finish something

例句

Give me a moment to check the schedule, please.

請給我一分鐘查看行事曆。

give + someone + time phrase

The teacher gave the class ten extra minutes to finish the quiz.

老師多給了全班十分鐘完成測驗。

give + someone + time + to-infinitive

同義詞
  • allow

    more formal; common in written schedules and rules

  • spare

    suggests giving time when it is difficult or limited

反義詞
  • deny

    refuse to give time someone asked for

文法句型

give + someone + time phrase

give + time + to + activity

8. to guess or calculate how much longer a thing or situation will remain usable or

8.動詞及物
釋義

估計；預測

預測某事物還能持續多久

to guess or calculate how much longer a thing or situation will remain usable or effective

例句

The weather report gives the storm another two hours before it moves away.

天氣預報估計這場暴風雨再過兩小時就會離開。

give + subject + time period + before clause

The mechanic gave my old car only six more months before it needs major repairs.

技師說我那輛舊車頂多再撐六個月就需要大修了。

同義詞
  • predict

    broader; can apply to any future event, not just duration

  • estimate

    suggests a more careful, numbers-based calculation

文法句型

give + something + time period + before/to-infinitive

用法筆記

Unlike sense 7 (PROVIDE), this sense expresses a prediction about remaining duration rather than allocating time. The subject is usually a non-personal source such as a weather report, mechanic, or expert. A 'before' clause or 'to'-infinitive often follows to describe the expected result.

9. to make someone experience a feeling, a physical condition, or a result — such a

9.動詞及物B1
釋義

引起；傳染

使人產生感受、疾病或結果

to make someone experience a feeling, a physical condition, or a result — such as causing shock, passing on a cold, or creating an opportunity

例句

The news of the earthquake gave everyone in the room a terrible shock.

地震的消息讓房間裡的每個人都嚇了一跳。

give + someone + feeling noun (shock)

The kindergarten teacher gave half the class a bad cold during flu season.

幼稚園老師在流感季節把重感冒傳染給了半個班級的小朋友。

give + someone + illness

同義詞
  • cause

    more formal; usually followed by a noun or clause without an indirect object

  • produce

    suggests a more deliberate or expected outcome

反義詞
  • prevent

    stop something from happening; opposite of causing

文法句型

give + someone + a feeling/result/illness

用法筆記

Often takes an indirect object (the person affected) before the direct object (the feeling, illness, or result). The direct object is typically an abstract noun — not a physical item.

常見錯誤

❌The news gave a shock to everyone' (unnatural ordering).
✅The news gave everyone a shock.
💡with this sense of give, the person affected comes first, then the thing caused.

10. if you are given to understand something, someone has told you or led you to bel

10.動詞
釋義

獲悉；據了解

被間接告知而相信某事

if you are given to understand something, someone has told you or led you to believe it is true, often when the information is unofficial or communicated indirectly

例句

I was given to understand that the meeting would begin at ten o'clock sharp.

我獲悉會議會在十點整開始。

passive: be given to understand + that-clause

The employees were given to understand that the factory would not close down after all.

員工據了解工廠終究不會關閉。

同義詞
  • be led to believe

    similar formality; can suggest the information might be misleading

  • understand

    less formal; does not imply someone told you

文法句型

be given to understand (that) + clause

用法筆記

Almost always in the passive voice. The subject is the person receiving the information, not the person giving it. Often implies the information was communicated unofficially or with some uncertainty.

常見錯誤

❌The manager gave me to understand the news.' (active voice sounds unnatural).
✅I was given to understand that the manager had approved the plan.
💡use the passive construction with a that-clause.

11. to express a personal estimate or belief about a quantity, distance, age, or ide

11.動詞
釋義

認定；判定

推測距離、數量或年齡等

to express a personal estimate or belief about a quantity, distance, age, or identity, without presenting it as a definite fact

例句

I give it to be about two hours by car from here to the coast.

我估計從這裡開車到海邊大約要兩小時。

give it to be + distance/time estimate

Élise gave it to be roughly fifty people at the outdoor concert last night.

Élise 估計昨晚戶外音樂會大約有五十人。

同義詞
  • reckon

    informal; common in everyday British speech

  • estimate

    more precise and neutral in register

文法句型

give it to be + noun phrase / clause

用法筆記

A somewhat formal and dated pattern, more common in British English than American. The word 'it' is a fixed grammatical element — it does not refer to anything specific. The whole phrase functions like 'reckon' or 'estimate'.

12. to do something that is named by a noun that follows the verb — for example, you

12.動詞及物A2
釋義

進行；作

執行名詞所表示的動作

to do something that is named by a noun that follows the verb — for example, you can give a speech, give a hug, give a reply, or give a kiss, instead of using the verbs 'speak,' 'hug,' or 'reply'

例句

The mayor gave a speech at the opening ceremony of the new library.

市長在新圖書館的開幕典禮上發表了演講。

give + a/an + action noun (give a speech)

Dewi gave her mother a warm hug before getting on the morning train.

Dewi 在上火車前給了母親一個溫暖的擁抱。

give + someone + action noun (give someone a hug)

同義詞
  • perform

    more formal; used for planned or public actions

文法句型

give + a/an + action noun

give + someone + action noun

用法筆記

This is a 'light verb' pattern: give carries little meaning by itself, and the noun carries the real action. For example, 'give a hug' means the same as 'hug', and 'give an answer' means the same as 'answer'. The person who receives the action usually comes right after give.

常見錯誤

❌I gave a hug to her' (grammatical but less natural in everyday speech).
✅I gave her a hug.
💡with give, the person who receives the action comes before the action noun.

13. to organise and carry out a social event such as a party, dinner, or celebration

13.動詞及物A2
釋義

舉辦

主辦聚會或宴會等活動

to organise and carry out a social event such as a party, dinner, or celebration, taking care of the food, drink, and arrangements for guests

例句

The school is giving a farewell party for the retiring head teacher next Friday.

學校下週五要為即將退休的校長舉辦一場歡送會。

give + a + [event type] + for + [person]

Mira gave a small dinner party to welcome her new neighbours.

Mira 辦了一場小型晚宴來歡迎她的新鄰居。

同義詞
  • throw

    more informal; 'throw a party' is common in everyday speech

  • host

    emphasises the role of receiving guests rather than the act of organising

  • hold

    slightly more formal; 'hold a reception' sounds official or planned

文法句型

give + noun phrase (party / dinner / reception)

用法筆記

The object is always an event noun (party, dinner, reception, concert). This sense does NOT mean 'to physically hand something to someone.'

14. to try doing something, especially an activity you have not done before, to see

14.動詞及物 / 不及物B1
釋義

嘗試

嘗試某事以查看是否適合自己

to try doing something, especially an activity you have not done before, to see if you like it or can succeed at it.

例句

Nkechi decided to give yoga a try after her doctor suggested it.

在醫生建議之後，Nkechi 決定試試看做瑜伽。

give + [activity] + a try

Alessia had never played chess before, but she agreed to give it a go.

Alessia 從來沒下過西洋棋，但她同意試試看。

give + it + a go

同義詞
  • attempt

    more formal; 'attempt' does not use the 'give a try' structure

  • try

    simpler and neutral; 'try yoga' is the plain form without the 'give' pattern

文法句型

give + noun phrase + a try / a shot

give + it + a try / a go

用法筆記

Always used with a following expression like 'a try', 'a go', or 'a shot'. The object can be an activity (give yoga a try) or the pronoun 'it' (give it a go). Cannot be used without this complement.

常見錯誤

❌I will make a try of cooking Thai food.
✅I will give cooking Thai food a try.
💡English uses 'give + noun + a try', not 'make a try of'.

15. at a formal dinner or celebration, to invite everyone present to lift their glas

15.動詞及物B2
釋義

敬酒

舉杯向某人表達敬意的公開舉動

at a formal dinner or celebration, to invite everyone present to lift their glasses as a sign of respect for a particular person or to mark a special event.

例句

The best man gave a heartfelt toast to the newly married couple at the reception.

伴郎在婚宴上誠摯地向這對新婚夫婦敬酒。

give + a toast + to + [person]

Liang stood up and gave a toast to his grandmother's ninetieth birthday.

Liang 在晚餐桌前站起來，向祖母的九十歲生日敬酒。

同義詞
  • propose

    more formal and traditional; 'propose a toast' is the classic expression

  • offer

    less common in this context; 'offer a toast' is grammatically correct but not idiomatic

文法句型

give + a toast + to + [person]

give + [person] + a toast

用法筆記

Common at formal dinners, weddings, and banquets. The pattern is 'give + a toast + to + person/occasion'. A shorter alternative is 'propose a toast', which sounds slightly more traditional.

16. to bend, stretch, move, or break under physical force or weight, instead of stay

16.動詞不及物B2
釋義

塌陷；伸展

物體受力後彎曲、伸展或斷裂

to bend, stretch, move, or break under physical force or weight, instead of staying rigid or intact

例句

The old wooden chair gave under Tomás's weight, and he crashed to the floor.

那張舊木椅承受不住 Tomás 的重量突然塌了，他摔到地板上。

give + under + [weight / pressure]

Devika felt the climbing rope give slightly as she leaned back to rest.

Devika 感覺到攀岩繩在她往後靠著休息時稍微伸長了一些。

同義詞
  • bend

    implies a gradual change in shape rather than sudden breakage

  • stretch

    focuses on lengthening under tension, not necessarily breaking

  • collapse

    implies complete structural failure, usually sudden

  • snap

    a sharp, quick break, often with a sound

文法句型

give + (under / with / after) + noun phrase

用法筆記

Intransitive only — the thing that fails is the subject. Frequently used with a prepositional phrase indicating the cause (under the weight, with a crack, at the seams). Cannot take a direct object.

常見錯誤

❌He gave the rope.' (to mean the rope broke)
✅The rope gave under the strain.
💡'give' in this sense is intransitive; the object or material is the subject.

17. in sports such as tennis, cricket, and football, for an official to announce a r

17.動詞及物B2
釋義

判定

裁判在比賽中做出官方判決

in sports such as tennis, cricket, and football, for an official to announce a ruling during play — for example, whether a competitor is out or safe, or whether the ball was inside the playing area.

例句

The umpire gave the tennis player out after a close call at the baseline.

裁判在底線一個接近的判決後，判定那位網球選手出局。

give + [player] + out (cricket/tennis)

The referee gave a penalty kick when the defender handled the ball.

後衛手球犯規時，裁判判了一個罰球。

同義詞
  • call

    more general; 'call a player out' is common in baseball and tennis

  • rule

    slightly more formal; 'rule the ball in' is used in official contexts

  • declare

    used in some sports like boxing for official decisions

文法句型

give + [player / ball] + [adjective] (out / in / good / safe)

用法筆記

The object is always a sports-related noun (a player, the ball, a goal), followed by an adjective describing the call (out, in, good, safe, not out). The pattern is 'give + noun + adjective' — e.g. give the batter out.

18. to stop opposing someone or something and finally agree to what they want, after

18.動詞不及物B2
釋義

妥協；讓步

停止堅持並接受對方所求

to stop opposing someone or something and finally agree to what they want, after a period of argument or resistance.

例句

After three hours of negotiation, the manager gave way and accepted the team's proposal.

經過三小時的協商，主管終於讓步，接受了團隊的提案。

give way + and + [agreement]

The children begged until their grandmother gave in and bought them ice cream.

孩子們一直吵到奶奶讓步，買了冰淇淋給他們。

give in + and + [action after agreeing]

同義詞
  • yield

    more formal; 'yield to pressure' is common in formal writing

  • concede

    suggests admitting defeat in an argument or competition

  • surrender

    stronger emotional tone; implies complete loss of resistance

  • back down

    informal; suggests retreating from a position after initial firmness

反義詞
  • resist

    to keep opposing something and refuse to change your position

  • stand firm

    phrasal; to refuse to change your opinion or decision despite pressure

文法句型

give + in / way / ground + (to + [person / demand])

用法筆記

Often used with a particle: give in (surrender to persuasion), give way (yield under pressure), give ground (concede a position in an argument). All three imply a change from refusal to acceptance.

常見錯誤

❌He gave in to go to the party.
✅He gave in and went to the party.
💡'give in' is not followed directly by an infinitive; use 'and' + verb, or 'give in to + noun'.

give — 名詞