Give vs. Gave: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
Give is the present tense verb meaning to present or hand over something, while Gave is the simple past tense form of Give, used to describe an action already completed.
Key Differences
Give is a verb in its base form, used to describe the action of presenting, offering, or providing something to someone. It is used in the present tense for current or habitual actions. Gave, on the other hand, is the simple past tense form of Give. It is used to talk about actions that were completed at a specific time in the past.
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Nov 14, 2023
When using Give in a sentence, it often implies that the action is happening now or generally, as in "I give him advice regularly." Gave indicates that the action was completed in the past, as in "I gave him advice yesterday."
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Nov 14, 2023
The verb Give can also be used in different tenses with the help of auxiliary verbs, like "will give" for the future tense. Gave is strictly used for past actions and doesn’t change form; it doesn’t require auxiliary verbs for different past tenses.
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Nov 14, 2023
In imperative sentences, Give is used for commands or requests, for example, "Give me the book." Gave cannot be used in imperative sentences, as it refers to past actions.
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Nov 14, 2023
Give can be part of various verb phrases and is used in present, future, and present perfect tenses. Gave, being in the past tense, is often used with time expressions like "yesterday," "last week," or "in 2010."
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Nov 14, 2023
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Comparison Chart
Auxiliary Verbs
Used with "will," "can," etc.
No auxiliary verbs for past tense.
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Imperative Form
Yes, e.g., "Give me the pen."
No, cannot be used in commands.
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Nov 14, 2023
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Give and Gave Definitions
Gave
Bestowed or granted something previously.
The committee gave her an award last year.
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Nov 14, 2023
Gave
Past tense of give; handed over something in the past.
She gave me her old bicycle.
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Nov 14, 2023
Give
To allow someone to have or use something.
I give you permission to leave early.
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Nov 14, 2023
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Gave
Provided or supplied something in the past.
He gave a speech at the conference.
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Gave
Past action of offering something without compensation.
We gave our time to help the community.
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Gave
Allowed someone to have or use something in the past.
They gave us permission to enter the building.
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Nov 14, 2023
Give
To deliver in exchange or recompense; pay
Gave five dollars for the book.
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Oct 19, 2023
Give
To let go for a price; sell
Gave the used car away for two thousand dollars.
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Oct 19, 2023
Give
To bestow, especially officially; confer
The Bill of Rights gives us freedom of speech.
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Oct 19, 2023
Give
To put temporarily at the disposal of
Gave them the cottage for a week.
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Oct 19, 2023
Give
To entrust to another, usually for a specified reason
Gave me the keys for safekeeping.
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Oct 19, 2023
Give
To communicate, convey, or offer for conveyance
Give him my best wishes. Give us the latest news.
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Oct 19, 2023
Give
To endure the loss of; sacrifice
Gave her son to the war.
Gave her life for her country.
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Oct 19, 2023
Give
To submit for consideration, acceptance, or use
Give an opinion.
Give an excuse.
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Oct 19, 2023
Give
To consent to engage (oneself) in sexual intercourse with another person.
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Oct 19, 2023
Give
To be a source of; afford
His remark gave offense. Music gives her pleasure.
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Oct 19, 2023
Give
To cause to catch or be subject to (a disease or bodily condition)
The draft gave me a cold.
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Oct 19, 2023
Give
To guide or direct, as by persuasion or behavior. Used with an infinitive phrase
You gave me to imagine you approved of my report.
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Oct 19, 2023
Give
To manifest or show
Gives promise of brilliance.
Gave evidence of tampering.
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Oct 19, 2023
Give
To take an interest to the extent of
"My dear, I don't give a damn" (Margaret Mitchell).
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Oct 19, 2023
Give
To collapse from force or pressure
The roof gave under the weight of the snow.
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Oct 19, 2023
Give
The quality or condition of resilience; springiness
"Fruits that have some give ... will have more juice than hard ones" (Elizabeth Schneider).
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Oct 19, 2023
Give
(ditransitive) To move, shift, provide something abstract or concrete to someone or something or somewhere.
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Oct 19, 2023
Give
To transfer one's possession or holding of (something) to (someone).
I gave him my coat.
I gave my coat to the beggar.
When they asked, I gave my coat.
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Oct 19, 2023
Give
To make a present or gift of.
I'm going to give my wife a necklace for her birthday.
She gave a pair of shoes to her husband for their anniversary.
He gives of his energies to the organization.
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Oct 19, 2023
Give
To provide (something) to (someone), to allow or afford.
I gave them permission to miss tomorrow's class.
Please give me some more time.
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Oct 19, 2023
Give
To cause (a sensation or feeling) to exist in.
It gives me a lot of pleasure to be here tonight.
The fence gave me an electric shock.
My mother-in-law gives me nothing but grief.
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Oct 19, 2023
Give
To carry out (a physical interaction) with (something).
I want to give you a kiss.
She gave him a hug.
I'd like to give the tire a kick.
I gave the boy a push on the swing.
She gave me a wink afterwards, so I knew she was joking.
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Oct 19, 2023
Give
To pass (something) into (someone's hand, etc.).
Give me your hand.
On entering the house, he gave his coat to the doorman.
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Oct 19, 2023
Give
To cause (a disease or condition) in, or to transmit (a disease or condition) to.
My boyfriend gave me chlamydia.
He was convinced that it was his alcoholism that gave him cancer.
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Oct 19, 2023
Give
(transitive) To provide, as, a service or a broadcast.
They're giving my favorite show!
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Oct 19, 2023
Give
(ditransitive) To estimate or predict (a duration or probability) for (something).
I give it ten minutes before he gives up.
I give it a 95% chance of success.
I'll give their marriage six months.
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Oct 19, 2023
Give
(intransitive) To yield or collapse under pressure or force.
One pillar gave, then more, and suddenly the whole floor pancaked onto the floor below.
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Oct 19, 2023
Give
(intransitive) To lead (onto or into).
The master bedroom gives onto a spacious balcony.
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Oct 19, 2023
Give
To exhibit as a product or result; to produce; to yield.
The number of men, divided by the number of ships, gives four hundred to each ship.
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Oct 19, 2023
Give
To allow or admit by way of supposition; to concede.
He can be bad-tempered, I'll give you that, but he's a hard worker.
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Oct 19, 2023
Give
To communicate or announce (advice, tidings, etc.); to pronounce or utter (an opinion, a judgment, a shout, etc.).
The umpire finally gave his decision: the ball was out.
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Oct 19, 2023
Give
To grant power, permission, destiny, etc. (especially to a person); to allot; to allow.
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Oct 19, 2023
Give
(reflexive) To devote or apply (oneself).
The soldiers give themselves to plunder.
That boy is given to fits of bad temper.
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Oct 19, 2023
Give
(slang) To be going on, to be occurring; what gives?
Your outfit is giving!
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Oct 19, 2023
Give
The amount of bending that something undergoes when a force is applied to it; a tendency to yield under pressure; resilence.
This chair doesn't have much give.
There is no give in his dogmatic religious beliefs.
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Oct 19, 2023
Give
To bestow without receiving a return; to confer without compensation; to impart, as a possession; to grant, as authority or permission; to yield up or allow.
For generous lords had rather give than pay.
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Oct 19, 2023
Give
To yield possesion of; to deliver over, as property, in exchange for something; to pay; as, we give the value of what we buy.
What shall a man give in exchange for his soul ?
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Oct 19, 2023
Give
To yield; to furnish; to produce; to emit; as, flint and steel give sparks.
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Oct 19, 2023
Give
To communicate or announce, as advice, tidings, etc.; to pronounce; to render or utter, as an opinion, a judgment, a sentence, a shout, etc.
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Oct 19, 2023
Give
To grant power or license to; to permit; to allow; to license; to commission.
It is given me once again to behold my friend.
Then give thy friend to shed the sacred wine.
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Oct 19, 2023
Give
To exhibit as a product or result; to produce; to show; as, the number of men, divided by the number of ships, gives four hundred to each ship.
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Oct 19, 2023
Give
To devote; to apply; used reflexively, to devote or apply one's self; as, the soldiers give themselves to plunder; also in this sense used very frequently in the past participle; as, the people are given to luxury and pleasure; the youth is given to study.
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Oct 19, 2023
Give
To set forth as a known quantity or a known relation, or as a premise from which to reason; - used principally in the passive form given.
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Oct 19, 2023
Give
To attribute; to assign; to adjudge.
I don't wonder at people's giving him to me as a lover.
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Oct 19, 2023
Give
To excite or cause to exist, as a sensation; as, to give offense; to give pleasure or pain.
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Give
To cause; to make; - with the infinitive; as, to give one to understand, to know, etc.
But there the duke was given to understandThat in a gondola were seen togetherLorenzo and his amorous Jessica.
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Oct 19, 2023
Give
To afford a view of; as, his window gave the park.
Whatsoever we employ in charitable uses during our lives, is given away from ourselves.
I fear our ears have given us the bag.
One that gives out himself Prince Florizel.
Give out you are of Epidamnum.
The Babylonians had given themselves over to all manner of vice.
He has . . . given upFor certain drops of salt, your city Rome.
I'll not state themBy giving up their characters.
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Oct 19, 2023
Give
To yield to force or pressure; to relax; to become less rigid; as, the earth gives under the feet.
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Give
To shed tears; to weep.
Whose eyes do never giveBut through lust and laughter.
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Oct 19, 2023
Give
To have a misgiving.
My mind gives ye're reservedTo rob poor market women.
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Oct 19, 2023
Give
To open; to lead.
This, yielding, gave into a grassy walk.
They gave back and came no farther.
The Scots battalion was enforced to give in.
This consideration may induce a translator to give in to those general phrases.
Rooms which gave upon a pillared porch.
The gloomy staircase on which the grating gave.
It would be well for all authors, if they knew when to give over, and to desist from any further pursuits after fame.
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Oct 19, 2023
Give
The elasticity of something that can be stretched and returns to its original length
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Give
Cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense;
She gave him a black eye
The draft gave me a cold
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Oct 19, 2023
Give
Be the cause or source of;
He gave me a lot of trouble
Our meeting afforded much interesting information
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Oct 19, 2023
Give
Transfer possession of something concrete or abstract to somebody;
I gave her my money
Can you give me lessons?
She gave the children lots of love and tender loving care
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Oct 19, 2023
Give
Convey, as of a compliment, regards, attention, etc.; bestow;
Don't pay him any mind
Give the orders
Give him my best regards
Pay attention
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Oct 19, 2023
Give
Organize or be responsible for;
Hold a reception
Have, throw, or make a party
Give a course
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Oct 19, 2023
Give
Convey or communicate; of a smile, a look, a physical gesture;
Throw a glance
She gave me a dirty look
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Oct 19, 2023
Give
Give as a present; make a gift of;
What will you give her for her birthday?
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Oct 19, 2023
Give
Give or supply;
The cow brings in 5 liters of milk
This year's crop yielded 1,000 bushels of corn
The estate renders some revenue for the family
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Oct 19, 2023
Give
Tell or deposit (information) knowledge;
Give a secret to the Russians
Leave your name and address here
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Oct 19, 2023
Give
Leave with; give temporarily;
Can I give you my keys while I go in the pool?
Can I give you the children for the weekend?
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Oct 19, 2023
Give
Endure the loss of;
He gave his life for his children
I gave two sons to the war
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Oct 19, 2023
Give
Place into the hands or custody of;
Hand me the spoon, please
Turn the files over to me, please
He turned over the prisoner to his lawyers
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Oct 19, 2023
Give
Give entirely to a specific person, activity, or cause;
She committed herself to the work of God
Give one's talents to a good cause
Consecrate your life to the church
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Give
Give or convey physically;
She gave him First Aid
I gave him a punch in the nose
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Oct 19, 2023
Give
Bestow, especially officially;
Grant a degree
Give a divorce
This bill grants us new rights
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Oct 19, 2023
Give
Move in order to make room for someone for something;
The park gave way to a supermarket
`Move over,' he told the crowd
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Oct 19, 2023
Give
Give food to;
Feed the starving children in India
Don't give the child this tough meat
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Oct 19, 2023
Give
Break down, literally or metaphorically;
The wall collapsed
The business collapsed
The dam broke
The roof collapsed
The wall gave in
The roof finally gave under the weight of the ice
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Oct 19, 2023
Give
Estimate the duration or outcome of something;
He gave the patient three months to live
I gave him a very good chance at success
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Oct 19, 2023
Give
Deliver in exchange or recompense;
I'll give you three books for four CDs
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Oct 19, 2023
Give
Afford access to;
The door opens to the patio
The French doors give onto a terrace
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Oct 19, 2023
Give
Manifest or show;
This student gives promise of real creativity
The office gave evidence of tampering
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Oct 19, 2023
Give
Submit for consideration, judgment, or use;
Give one's opinion
Give an excuse
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Oct 19, 2023
Give
Guide or direct, as by behavior of persuasion;
You gave me to think that you agreed with me
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Oct 19, 2023
Give
Inflict as a punishment;
She gave the boy a good spanking
The judge gave me 10 years
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Oct 19, 2023
Give
Consent to engage in sexual intercourse with a man;
She gave herself to many men
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Oct 19, 2023
Give
To present something voluntarily without expecting compensation.
I give to charity every month.
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Nov 14, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
Can 'give' be used for future actions?
Yes, with auxiliary verbs like "will" (e.g., "I will give").
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 14, 2023
Is 'gave' ever used in the present tense?
No, 'gave' is exclusively past tense.
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Nov 14, 2023
How is 'give' used in imperative sentences?
As a command or request, like "Give me the pen."
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Nov 14, 2023
Can 'gave' be used in passive voice?
Yes, e.g., "The trophy was given annually."
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Nov 14, 2023
Is 'give' used in passive voice?
Yes, e.g., "The trophy is given annually."
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Nov 14, 2023
Can 'gave' be used in future tense?
No, 'gave' is only used in the past tense.
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Nov 14, 2023
What is a synonym for 'gave'?
Presented, bestowed, or provided (in the past tense).
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Nov 14, 2023
Is there a phrasal verb form for 'gave'?
Yes, in the past tense, like 'gave up' or 'gave in'.
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Nov 14, 2023
Is 'gave' used in continuous tenses?
No, 'gave' is not used in continuous tenses.
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Nov 14, 2023
How is 'give' used in continuous tenses?
With an -ing form, e.g., "I am giving a speech."
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Nov 14, 2023
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