In the Japanese language, the verb “to give” is defined in two ways based on the direction of giving, with the speaker as the foundation.

あげる (a.ge.ru) is used when the giving is going outwards from the speaker

for example: the speaker/subject gives to others, “I give you”, “you give to others”, “others give to others”

くれる (ku.re.ru) is used when the giving is coming inwards to the speaker

For example: the giver/subject gives to the speaker, “you give me”, “others give you”

 The structure of the sentence goes as thus:

[giver] が [receiver] に [object] を あげる

[giver]-ga-[receiver]-ni-[object]-wo-a.ge.ru

or

[giver] が [receiver] に [object] を くれる

[giver]-ga-[receiver]-ni-[object]-wo-ku.re.ru

 *in both cases, the subject of the sentence is the giver

ex: My friend will give me a book  (wa.ta.shi no yuu.jin ga [wa.ta.shi ni] hon wo ku.re.ru)

わたしのゆうじんが  [わたしに]  ほんをくれる。

私の友人が  [私に]  本をくれる。

The verb “ku.re.ru” is mostly used when the situation has the speaker as the receiver; therefore, the “receiver-ni” is generally omitted.

“my friend” = wa.ta.shi no yuu.jin  わたしのゆうじん

“me” = wa.ta.shi  わたし

“book” = hon  ほん

 

ex: I will give my friend a book.

(wa.ta.shi ga yuu.jin ni hon wo a.ge.ru)

わたしがゆうじんにほんをあげる。

私が友人に本をあげる。