Unit 3 - Section 4: 〜てくれる
Giving/Receiving Verbs - Complete Summary
Master all three giving/receiving verbs and their variations. These patterns are fundamental to expressing social relationships in Japanese.
Complete Comparison Table
| Verb | Pattern | Example | When to Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| あげる | [Person]に [Thing]を あげる | 兄に本をあげた | I give to someone |
| もらう | [Person]から [Thing]を もらう | 兄からもらった | I receive (neutral) |
| くれる | [Person]が [Thing]を くれる | 兄がくれた | Someone gives to me (appreciative) |
| あげる+action | [Verb て]あげる | 手伝ってあげた | I help (do for) |
| もらう+action | [Verb て]もらう | 手伝ってもらった | I get help (from) |
| くれる+action | [Verb て]くれる | 手伝ってくれた | Someone helps me |
Dialogue Example
Scenario: Three friends discussing what they did on the weekend
友達A: 昨日、両親に誕生日のプレゼントをあげました。
[Kino, ryoushin ni tanjoubi no purezento wo agemashita]
Yesterday, I gave my parents a birthday present.
友達B: いいですね。私は友達からチケットをもらいました。
[Ii desu ne. Watashi wa tomodachi kara chiketto wo moraimashita]
That's nice. I received a ticket from my friend.
友達C: それはいいね。私は兄が本を買ってくれたんです。
[Sore wa ii ne. Watashi wa ani ga hon wo katte kureta n desu]
That's nice. My older brother bought a book for me.
友達A: こんど、私たちで何か一緒に楽しいことをしようよ。
[Kondo, watashitachi de nanika issho ni tanoshii koto wo shiyou yo]
Next time, let's do something fun together.
友達A: 昨日、両親に誕生日のプレゼントをあげました。
[Kino, ryoushin ni tanjoubi no purezento wo agemashita]
Yesterday, I gave my parents a birthday present.
友達B: いいですね。私は友達からチケットをもらいました。
[Ii desu ne. Watashi wa tomodachi kara chiketto wo moraimashita]
That's nice. I received a ticket from my friend.
友達C: それはいいね。私は兄が本を買ってくれたんです。
[Sore wa ii ne. Watashi wa ani ga hon wo katte kureta n desu]
That's nice. My older brother bought a book for me.
友達A: こんど、私たちで何か一緒に楽しいことをしようよ。
[Kondo, watashitachi de nanika issho ni tanoshii koto wo shiyou yo]
Next time, let's do something fun together.
Key Takeaways
Particle Usage:
- に: Used with あげる (toward someone)
- から: Used with もらう (from someone)
- が: Used with くれる (subject of the giving action)
Perspective is Key:
- あげる: "I do something for others" (generous/helpful perspective)
- もらう: "I get something" (neutral, matter-of-fact)
- くれる: "Someone does for me" (appreciative, emphasizes kindness)
Action Verbs are Most Useful:
- ～てあげる: "I help you" - offers assistance
- ～てもらう: "Can you help me?" - requests help politely
- ～てくれる: "Thanks for helping me" - appreciates help received
Practice Exercises
Translate to Japanese:
- I gave a gift to my sister.
- I received help from my friend.
- My teacher explained the lesson to me.
- I gave the book to him.
- He gave me the book.
- I got the book from him.
Study Tips
Master Giving/Receiving Completely:
- Same event, three perspectives: The same exchange can be described with all three verbs
- Create minimal pairs: Write the same situation three ways (with あげる、もらう、くれる)
- Action verbs first: Start by practicing ～てあげる、～てもらう、～てくれる with common verbs
- Real gratitude: Learn which verb shows genuine appreciation (くれる with ~てくれる)
- Conversation practice: Use these verbs naturally in dialogues about favors and gifts
Course Navigation
Study Tips
- Read each example carefully
- Practice pronunciation aloud
- Create your own sentences to reinforce memory
- Finish the section quiz