Follow the direction of a gift and the speaker’s viewpoint. These beginner scenes make the relationship explicit instead of treating the three verbs as interchangeable translations.
Draw an arrow before choosing a verb
私が友達に本をあげました describes a gift going from me to a friend. 友達が私に本をくれました describes a gift coming to me. 私が友達に本をもらいました describes the same incoming gift from the receiver’s side.
In the もらう sentence, 私 is the receiver and 友達 is the source. In the くれる sentence, 友達 is the giver. Look at the subject as well as に; the same particle can connect different roles in the two patterns.
くれる can also describe a gift to someone in the speaker’s group. Social relationships may call for other verbs such as くださる or 差し上げる. The exercise uses ordinary exchanges among friends and asks for the standard beginner pattern, not a formal gift-giving formula.
Examples to read before you practise
Japanese | Reading / English |
|---|---|
私は友達に本をあげました。 | I gave a friend a book. |
友達は私に本をくれました。 | A friend gave me a book. |
私は友達に本をもらいました。 | I received a book from a friend. |
Try six questions
Use the interactive practice below. Type only the requested expression. Kanji and kana alternatives are accepted where listed in the answer key. Completing a question records a result; opening the answer key does not.
I gave a friend a book: 私は友達に本を（ ）。 Use polite past of あげる.
A friend gave me a book: 友達は私に本を（ ）。 Use polite past of くれる.
I received a book: 私は友達に本を（ ）。 Use polite past of もらう.
In 私は友達に本をもらいました, who receives? Copy the Japanese word.
In 友達は私に本をくれました, who gives? Copy the Japanese word.
I gave my younger brother a pen: 私は弟にペンを（ ）。 Use polite past of あげる.
Answer key and explanations
あげました — The gift goes away from the speaker.
くれました — The gift comes toward the speaker.
もらいました — The speaker is the receiver.
私 / わたし — 私は is the receiver in this もらう sentence.
友達 / ともだち — 友達 is the giver.
あげました — The speaker gives to someone else.
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