Giving & Receiving
Giving and receiving verbs (주다/받다) and the benefactive -아/어 주다
I can express giving, receiving, and doing favors using 주다/받다 and -아/어 주다
Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?
친구에게 생일 선물을 줬어요.
I gave a birthday present to my friend.
부모님에게서 편지를 받았어요.
I received a letter from my parents.
사진 찍어 주세요.
Please take a photo (for me).
엄마가 케이크를 만들어 줬어요.
Mom made a cake for me.
Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?
주다/받다 (Giving & Receiving)
Two essential verbs for exchanging things and favors in Korean.
| Verb | Meaning | Polite form | Pattern |
|---|---|---|---|
| 주다 | to give | 줘요 | A가 B에게 C를 줘요 |
| 받다 | to receive | 받아요 | A가 B에게서 C를 받아요 |
Particles: 에게 = to (person), 에게서 = from (person). Casual: 한테/한테서.
| Example | Translation |
|---|---|
| 친구에게 선물을 줬어요. | I gave a gift to my friend. |
| 친구에게서 선물을 받았어요. | I received a gift from my friend. |
Benefactive -아/어 주다: Add 주다 after another verb to mean "do [something] FOR someone":
| Base verb | + 주다 | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 사다 (buy) | 사 줘요 | buy for someone |
| 만들다 (make) | 만들어 줘요 | make for someone |
| 가르치다 (teach) | 가르쳐 줘요 | teach for someone |
Common request: verb + -아/어 주세요 (please do ... for me): 사진 찍어 주세요 (Please take a photo for me).
Confuse 에게 (to) with 에게서 (from). Forget 주다 in benefactive constructions.
Common Error Patterns
Confused 에게 (to) with 에게서 (from)
에게 = to a person (giving direction). 에게서 = from a person (receiving source)
Omitted 주다 in benefactive construction
Add 주다 after -아/어 to express 'do for someone': 사 주다 (buy for), 만들어 주다 (make for)
친구에게 생일 선물을 줬어요.
I gave a birthday present to my friend.
에게 = to (person). 줬어요 = gave (past of 주다). Pattern: [person]에게 [thing]을/를 주다.
부모님에게서 편지를 받았어요.
I received a letter from my parents.
에게서 = from (person). 받았어요 = received (past of 받다).
사진 찍어 주세요.
Please take a photo (for me).
찍다 (take/snap) + -어 주세요 (please do for me). Benefactive -아/어 주다 in polite request form.
엄마가 케이크를 만들어 줬어요.
Mom made a cake for me.
만들다 (make) + -어 줬어요 (did for someone, past). The benefactive implies doing a favor.
이 책을 빌려 줄 수 있어요?
Can you lend me this book?
빌리다 (borrow/lend) + -어 줄 수 있어요 (can you do for me?). Combines benefactive with -(으)ㄹ 수 있다.
Practice in course
Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises