给 as a preposition and as a result complement
Except with the meaning “to give”, we can use 给 as the preposition “for” and as the complement of the result.
The preposition 给
The preposition indicates for whom the action is performed. It is often not translated into English. Note that it can be followed either by animate or inanimate objects.
Scheme
subject
object 1
for whom?
predicate
object 2
Pay attention
The object can be anything: a person, an animal, a company, etc.
Examples
你买了一本书
I bought you one book
wǒ gěi nǐ mǎi le yì běn shū
新经理公司带来了朝气
The new manager brings vitality to the company
xīn jīnglĭ gĕi gōngsī dàilái le zhāoqì
他们贫穷的孩子们交了学费
They pay the school fees for poor children
tāmen gěi pínqióng de háizimen jiāo le xuéfèi
The result complement with 给
Pay attention
The result complement (结果补语) is a verb or an adjective that placed after a predicate and expresses result of an action.
When we use 给 as the result complement we should state it after a verb. This verb becomes a compound verb and indicates the target of the verb. The target is who or what the verb is aimed or directed at.
Scheme
subject
predicate
complement 1
for whom?
complement 2
what?
The result complement 给 can be placed after these verbs:
Examples
昨天有人我一束花
Yesterday someone gave me a bouquet of flowers
zuótiān yǒu rén sòng gěi wǒ yí shù huā
我盐
Please pass me the salt
qĭng dì gĕi wŏ yán
We also can add into this structure. This does not change the meaning of the sentence and when used in context can even add emphasis to what's being done or given.
Examples
包裹
She sent me a package
tā bă bāoguŏ jìgĕi wŏ
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