くれます
The “give” English doesn't have
When the thing comes TO you (or your family), the verb is くれる — never あげる.
ともだちが くれました
The giver usually takes が — they're the news of the sentence.
だれが くれましたか
あげる points away, くれる points at you, もらう is your own camera.
あげる ↔ くれる
ゆきさんが チョコレートを くれました！
That's くれる — it moved TOWARD you.
くれます
Here it is — the verb English is missing. When someone gives something to you, あげます is wrong (it points away!). Japanese switches to くれます, and the sentence carries a little gratitude with it. 🔊 Tap to hear.
Here's the verb English doesn't have. When someone gives something TO YOU (or your family), the verb is くれます — never あげます, because あげる points away from you. The giver usually takes が, and 「わたしに」 is so obvious it's often dropped.
さんかくかんけい
Put all three side by side and the system snaps into place: the verb alone tells you who gave, who got, and whose camera you're looking through. 🔊 Tap to hear.
One gift, three sentences — the verb tells you the direction and the camera: ・あげる = A gives to B (away from me) ・くれる = someone gives TO ME ・もらう = the receiver's own camera (“I got …”) The last two describe the SAME event from my side:
クイズ
Six questions. Read the English, feel the direction, pick the verb — あげました, くれました or もらいました.
Question 1 / 6 · 0 correct