ChineseGrammarWiki/Programmes/B1.old/Grammar-wiki-B1-67.txt

{{Grammar Box}} 

The word 给 (gěi) literally means "to give," but is frequently used in Chinese to indicate the ''target'' of a verb. The target is who or what the verb is aimed or directed at. 

== Structure ==

<div class="jiegou">

Subj. + 给 + Target + Verb + Obj.

</div>



== Examples ==

<div class="liju">
* 我 <em>给</em> 他 打 电话 了。<span class="expl">Literally, "I give him hit phone."</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>gěi</em> tā dǎ diànhuà le.</span><span class="trans">I gave him a phone call.</span>
* 请 <em>给</em> 我 回 电话。<span class="pinyin">Qǐng <em>gěi</em> wǒ huí diànhuà.</span><span class="trans">Please return my phone call.</span>
* 我 <em>给</em> 你 发 了 一 封 邮件。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>gěi</em> nǐ fā le yī fēng yóujiàn.</span><span class="trans">I sent you a letter.</span>
*我 要 <em>给</em> 你 看 我们 的 新 产品。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ yào <em>gěi</em> nǐ kàn wǒmen de xīn chǎnpǐn.</span><span class="trans">I want you to take a look at our new product.</span>
* <em>给</em> 女朋友 买 什么 礼物 呢？<span class="pinyin"><em>Gěi</em> nǚpéngyou mǎi shénme lǐwù ne?</span><span class="trans">What gift should I buy for my girlfriend?</span>
*  <em>给</em> 我 说 说 这 件 事情。<span class="pinyin"><em>Gěi</em> wǒ shuō shuō zhè jiàn shìqing.</span><span class="trans">Talk about this matter with me.</span>
* 小 时候，妈妈 每天 都 <em>给</em> 我 讲 故事。<span class="pinyin">Xiǎo shíhou, māma měitiān dōu <em>gěi</em> wǒ jiǎng gùshi.</span><span class="trans">When I was young, every day my mother would tell me stories.</span>
* 你 应该 <em>给</em> 他 道歉。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ yīnggāi <em>gěi</em> tā dàoqiàn.</span><span class="trans">You should apologize to him.</span>
</div>

Chinese speakers use 给 (gěi) in some interesting ways, similar to how English speakers use "to give," as in "to give someone a phone call" or "to give someone a reply."

==Alternative Structure==

Although the structure above is the best one to learn first, some verbs frequently use 给, but have the 给 coming after the verb, rather than before. It's best to think of these as exceptions to the rule above, and you can learn more about these exceptions by reading about [["Gei" following verbs|"gei" following verbs]].

==See also==

*[["Gei" following verbs]]
*[[Expressing "with" with "gen"]]
*[[Using "dui"]]
*[[Complements with "dao," "gei" and "zai"]]

== Sources and  Further Reading ==

=== Books ===

* [[Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition]] (pp. 170) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415372615/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0415372615 →buy]
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)]] (pp. 154) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276385/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276385 →buy]
* [[New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1)]] (pp. 143) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561910401/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=7561910401 →buy]
* [[New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1)(2nd ed)]] (pp. 165) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561926235/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=7561926235 →buy]

=== Websites ===
* Chinesegrammar.info: [http://chinesegrammar.info/structure/gei3-directly-after-verb/ When 给 (gěi) comes directly after verbs in Mandarin Chinese (verb-给 compounds)]

[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
{{Basic Grammar|给|B1|Subj. + 给 + Target + Verb + Obj.|我 <em>给</em> <strong>他</strong> 打 电话 了。|grammar point|ASG3ORNN}}
{{Similar|"Gei" following verbs}}  
{{Similar|Expressing "with" with "gen"}}  
{{Similar|Using "dui"}} 
{{Similar|Complements with "dao," "gei" and "zai"}}
{{Similar|Verbs that take double objects}}
{{POS|Prepositions}}
{{Translation|give}}
{{Translation|to}}
{{Translation|for}}