Verbs preceded by "gei"

Structure 1

The word 给 (gěi) literally means "to give", but is frequently used in Chinese to indicate the target of a verb. The target is who or what the verb is aimed or directed at. There are two structures for this:

Subject + 给 + Target + Verb + Object

Examples

• 我 给 他 打 电话。
• 请 给 我 回复。
• 你 妈妈 每天 都 给 你 做饭 吗？
• 我 想 给 你 一个 好 东西。

Structure 2

The meaning is the same with either structure1. 但是对使用的动词有限制，经常用的是“打电话、回邮件、发邮件、送礼物、传文件”。

Subject + Verb + Object + 给 + Target

Examples

• 你 打 电话 给 他。
• 我 会 发 邮件给 他。
• 他 昨天 送 花 给 我 了。

See also

• Expressing "with" with "gen"
• Using "dui"
• Complements with "dao", "gei" and "zai"

Sources and Further Reading

Books

• Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition (pp. 170) →buy
• Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed) (pp. 154) →buy
• New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1) (pp. 143) →buy
• New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1)(2nd ed) (pp. 165) →buy