The verbs give, gave, and given are essential components of English grammar, particularly in expressing the action of transferring something from one person to another. This guide will explain their forms, meanings, and usage in different contexts.
READ ALSO: Aide Vs. Aid: The Key Differences
Contents
Forms Of The Verb
What Is The Base Form Of The Verb “Give”?
The base form is the simplest form of a verb. It’s the building block of all other verb forms, the original, unconjugated version of the verb.
However, the base form of “give” is simply “give”. When you use “give” in its base form, you’re talking about the action of handing something over to someone or something. Here are some examples of the verb “give” used in its base form:
- I give you my word.
- They give blood donations regularly.
- Please give me a chance.
- She gives excellent advice.
- We give thanks for our blessings.
- You give me hope.
- Let’s give it a try.
In these sentences, “give” is the base form. It’s not changed to show past tense or any other tense.
READ ALSO: What Is The Plural Form Of “Zero”?
What Is The Past Tense Of “Give”?
The past tense of “give” is “gave”. It’s used to talk about actions that happened in the past. “Give” is an irregular verb, which means it doesn’t follow the usual pattern of adding “-ed” to form the past tense.
That’s why the past tense of “give” is “gave” and not “gived”. So, whenever you want to express that something was given at a specific time in the past, you use “gave”.
Here are some examples:
- I gave her a gift for her birthday.
- They gave a lot of money to charity.
- She gave a great presentation yesterday.
- We gave it our best shot.
- You gave me a good idea.
- He gave up smoking last year.
- They gave a warm welcome to the new students.
READ ALSO: What Is The Plural Form Of Witness
What Is The Past Participle Of “Give”?
The past participle of “give” is “given”. “Given” is a past participle that is often used with the auxiliary verbs “have” and “had” to form perfect tenses.
It’s a versatile form that can be used in different ways. As an Adjective, you can use “given” to describe something that has been given.
For Example:
- A given gift
- A given name
- A given fact
In Verb Phrases: You can use “given” with auxiliary verbs like “have” and “had” to form perfect tenses.
Here are some Examples:
- I have given you a chance.
- They had given up hope.
- It is given that…
Also, you can use “given” to form the passive voice.
For Instance:
- The book was given to me.
- The prize is given annually.
READ ALSO: What Is The Past Tense Of Spread?
When Do I Use “Gave” And When Do I Use “Given”?
“Gave“ is used to talk about a specific action in the past, while “given“ is used in perfect tenses and passive voice.
When To Use “Gave”
You use “gave” to talk about something that happened in the past. It’s the past tense of the verb “give.”
Here are some Examples:
- Yesterday, I gave my friend a ride.
- Last week, they gave a surprise party.
- She gave a heartfelt speech at the wedding.
- We gave the dog a bone.
- He gave up smoking years ago.
When To Use “Given”
“Given” is a bit more flexible, you can use it in a few different ways:
1. With “Have” Or “Had”:
- I have given you my best advice.
- They had given up hope before the miracle.
- She has given many inspiring speeches.
- We have given our all to this project.
- He had given her a promise.
2. As An Adjective:
- A given fact
- A given name
- A given outcome
3. In Passive Voice:
- The best student was given the award.
- Charity was given the money.
- A renowned speaker was given the speech.