5 useful phrasal verbs with "give" #EnglishHelp

Whether you're new to them or have been studying them for a while, English phrasal verbs can be difficult to learn. Each one can have many different meanings, and there are thousands of phrasal verbs. While you can't avoid them, you can learn them in context!

Phrasal verbs are phrases combining two or more words together. They act as a new verb with a completely different meaning, separate from the meanings of the original words.

These 5 phrasal verbs with "give" can all have different meanings. By learning them, you'll be able to understand and communicate with other English speakers with ease and take your communication to a new level!

To collapse

Example:

My knee gave out yesterday after exercising at the gym. (My knee collapsed after exercising at the gym.)

To distribute something — like prizes, money, food, etc.

Example:

They gave out food to the homeless at the church. (They distributed/gave food to the homeless at the church.)

To stop working

Example:

My car gave out yesterday. (My car stopped working yesterday).

Give an item to someone else/donate

Example:

I am giving away my old books to a charity shop. (I am giving/donating my old books to a charity shop).

Hand over something or someone to someone else

Example:

At some weddings, a woman's father gives her away at the wedding to her husband. (In some weddings, a woman's father hands her over at the wedding to her husband.)

Say something you aren't supposed to/tell or reveal a secret

Example:

Mary is mad because Jenna gave away her secret about winning the lottery to all their friends. (Mary is mad because Jenna told everyone about her secret lottery win.)

Return something to someone

Example:

Allie lent me a pen for the exam, so I gave it back to her after. (Allie lent me a pen for the exam, so I returned it to her after.)

Do something nice for someone because they helped you in the past

Example:

After our house fire, all of our neighbors brought us food, clothes, and money. When everything was fixed we wanted to give back to them, so we organized a thank you party. (We wanted to do something nice for them, so we organized a thank you party.)

"Give in to someone" — agree to do something for them after saying no earlier

My children were asking for candy, and they were annoying me, so I gave in to them and bought chocolates. (I agreed to buy them chocolates).

"Give in to something" — accept you were defeated and/or stop arguing

We tried to avoid selling our business but eventually, we gave in and took the offer of $1,000,000 ( Eventually, we accepted the offer of $1,000,000).

To stop trying

Example:

I studied algebra for five hours and didn't understand it, so I gave up.

Stop doing something (usually something negative)

Example:

I want to give up smoking. (I want to stop smoking).

Sacrifice something (usually to benefit another person)

Example:

She gave up university to take care of her sick mother. (She stopped going to university to take care of her sick mother.)

"Give someone up" — hand someone over to the police

Example:

We gave up the thief to the authorities. (We handed over the thief to the authorities.)

"Give it up for" — to clap and applaud for someone, usually a presenter on a stage

Example:

"Please give it up for our TEDTalk host!" (Please clap for the TEDTalk host.)

Here are some practical steps to take your communication to the next level:

• Review with this simple quiz

• Challenge yourself with this baamboozle that reviews the phrasal verbs with give we reviewed plus more

• Practice talking with or reviewing phrasal verbs with ChatGPT

Answer these questions to see if you remember the context:

1. What is one bad habit you want to give up?

2. Has your computer ever given out?

3. Have you ever done anything to give back to your community?

4. Have you ever given away a secret?

5. What is something/someone you have had to give in to?

6. What is the last thing you gave back to someone?

Don't give up!

Follow these steps to keep practicing: