ENGLISH
REFERENCE

give up

phr. v..
A2 Elementary Oxford Informal

phr. v.. To stop trying to do something, often because it is too difficult. It also means to quit an activity or a habit.

phr. v.. To cease making an effort (intransitive) or to abandon an activity, habit, or possession (transitive).


SIMPLE

The game was hard, but I didn't give up.

CONTEXTUAL

He decided to give up smoking for his health and started running instead.

COMPLEX

Despite facing overwhelming odds and dwindling resources, the defenders refused to give up their position.

Particles
up
Separability
separable
Pattern
give + up + object
Usage

When quitting an activity, follow 'give up' with the -ing form, like 'give up smoking'.

Teaching tip

Contrast the intransitive use ('I give up!') with the transitive use ('He gave up his dream'), noting the verb is separable ('He gave it up').

Pitfall

She gave up to learn piano.She gave up learning piano.Use the gerund (-ing form) after 'give up' to describe quitting an activity, not the infinitive.

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