I. USED WITH NOUNS DESCRIBING ACTIONS
(~s, giving, gave, ~n)
Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.
1.
You can use ~ with nouns that refer to physical actions. The whole expression refers to the performing of the action. For example, She gave a smile means almost the same as ‘She smiled’.
She stretched her arms out and gave a great yawn...
He reached for her hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze.
VERB: no cont, V n, V n n
2.
You use ~ to say that a person does something for another person. For example, if you ~ someone a lift, you take them somewhere in your car.
I gave her a lift back out to her house...
He was ~n mouth-to-mouth resuscitation...
Sophie asked her if she would like to come and ~ art lessons.
VERB: V n n, V n n, V n
3.
You use ~ with nouns that refer to information, opinions, or greetings to indicate that something is communicated. For example, if you ~ someone some news, you tell it to them.
He gave no details...
Would you like to ~ me your name?...
He asked me to ~ his regards to all of you...
He gave the cause of death as multiple injuries.
VERB: V n, V n n, V n to n, V n as n
4.
You use ~ to say how long you think something will last or how much you think something will be.
A BBC poll gave the Labour Party a 12 per cent lead...
VERB: V n n
5.
People use ~ in expressions such as I don’t ~ a damn to show that they do not care about something. (INFORMAL)
They don’t ~ a damn about the country.
VERB: no cont, no passive, with brd-neg, V n feelings
6.
If someone or something ~s you a particular idea or impression, it causes you to have that idea or impression.
They gave me the impression that they were doing exactly what they wanted in life...
The examiner’s final report does not ~ an accurate picture.
VERB: V n n, V n
7.
If someone or something ~s you a particular physical or emotional feeling, it makes you experience it.
He gave me a shock...
It will ~ great pleasure to the many thousands of children who visit the hospital each year.
VERB: V n n, V n to n, also V n
8.
If you ~ a performance or speech, you perform or speak in public.
Kotto ~s a stupendous performance...
I am sure you remember Mrs Butler who gave us such an interesting talk last year.
VERB: V n, V n n
9.
If you ~ something thought or attention, you think about it, concentrate on it, or deal with it.
I’ve been giving it some thought...
Priority will be ~n to those who apply early.
VERB: V n n, V n to n/-ing
10.
If you ~ a party or other social event, you organize it.
That evening, I gave a dinner party for a few close friends.
= have
VERB: V n
II. TRANSFERRING
(~s, giving, gave, ~n)
Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.
1.
If you ~ someone something that you own or have bought, you provide them with it, so that they have it or can use it.
They gave us T-shirts and stickers...
He gave money to the World Health Organisation to help defeat smallpox...
Americans are still giving to charity despite hard economic times.
VERB: V n n, V n to n, V to n
2.
If you ~ someone something that you are holding or that is near you, you pass it to them, so that they are then holding it.
Give me that pencil...
He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and gave it to him.
VERB: V n n, V n to n
3.
To ~ someone or something a particular power or right means to allow them to have it.
...a citizen’s charter giving rights to gays...
The draft would ~ the president the power to appoint the central bank’s chairman.
= grant
VERB: V n to n, V n n
III. OTHER USES, PHRASES, AND PHRASAL VERBS
(~s, giving, gave, ~n)
Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.
Please look at category 7 to see if the expression you are looking for is shown under another headword.
1.
If something ~s, it collapses or breaks under pressure.
My knees gave under me.
VERB: V
2.
You say that you are ~n to understand or believe that something is the case when you do not want to say how you found out about it, or who told you. (FORMAL)
We were ~n to understand that he was ill...
V-PASSIVE: be V-ed to-inf vagueness
3.
see also ~n
4.
You use ~ me to say that you would rather have one thing than another, especially when you have just mentioned the thing that you do not want.
I’ve never had anything barbecued and I don’t want it. Give me a good roast dinner any day.
PHRASE: PHR n
5.
If you say that something requires ~ and take, you mean that people must compromise or co-operate for it to be successful.
...a happy relationship where there’s a lot of ~ and take.
PHRASE
6.
Give or take is used to indicate that an amount is approximate. For example, if you say that something is fifty years old, ~ or take a few years, you mean that it is approximately fifty years old.
They grow to a height of 12 ins–~ or take a couple of inches.
PHRASE: PHR amount
7.
to ~ the game away: see game
to ~ notice: see notice
to ~ rise to: see rise
to ~ way: see way