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Lesson 24N5Minna no Nihongo I

手伝って くれます — giving & receiving actions

Doing things for others with てあげます/てくれます/てもらいます, and くれます (give to me).

77
V-て あげますてあげます — do (for someone)
Giving / receiving

て-form + あげます = do a favour for someone else.

わたしは 友達に 本を 貸して あげました

わたしは ともだちに ほんを かして あげました。

I lent a book to my friend (as a favour).

て + あげます shows the action benefits someone else, done by the speaker or their side. Be careful: said directly to a superior it can sound condescending.

78
V-て くれますてくれます — do (for me)
Giving / receiving

て-form + くれます = someone does a favour for me/my side.

友達が 手伝って くれました

ともだちが てつだって くれました。

My friend helped me (for my benefit).

て + くれます is used when someone does something for the speaker (or their in-group). The doer is marked with が; the speaker as beneficiary is usually unstated.

79
V-て もらいますてもらいます — have someone do
Giving / receiving

て-form + もらいます = receive the favour of someone doing something.

わたしは 友達に 道を 教えて もらいました

わたしは ともだちに みちを おしえて もらいました。

I had my friend tell me the way.

て + もらいます is from the receiver's viewpoint: I get someone (marked に) to do something for me. くれます marks the doer with が; もらいます marks them with に.

  • N が くれます = someone gives a thing to me: 父が 時計を くれました.