Lesson 7: はしで食べます — tools, giving and receiving — Japanese Grammar N5

N で Vで — tool, means, language

で particle

で marks the tool or method used: はしで食べます = “eat with chopsticks”.

日本語で　レポートを　書きます。

にほんごで　レポートを　かきます。

I write the report in Japanese.

This で marks the instrument or means — a tool (はしで), a language (日本語で), or a method. Same particle as transport で in lesson 5.

N に N をあげますあげます — give (to someone)

Giving / receiving

に marks the receiver, を the gift: 友達に花をあげます.

わたしは　友達に　花を　あげます。

わたしは　ともだちに　はなを　あげます。

I give flowers to a friend.

あげます = “give”. The receiver is marked with に, the thing given with を. あげます is used when the giver is the speaker or someone close to them.

N に N をもらいますもらいます — receive (from someone)

Giving / receiving

に marks the source you receive from: 友達に本をもらいました.

友達に　本を　もらいました。

ともだちに　ほんを　もらいました。

I received a book from a friend.

もらいます = “receive”. The person you got it from is marked with に (から is also possible). Contrast with あげます, where に is the receiver.