Give back means to return something that you borrowed or received. In a second meaning, give back to the community means to help people in return for what you once received yourself: volunteering, teaching for free, donating money.
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give + something + back (to + person); give + person + back + something; give back to + community
- Please give Anna her notes back after the seminar; she needs them for the exam.
- I need to give these books back to the library by Friday.
- After his business took off, he wanted to give back to the town where he grew up.
What changed
First versionCould you give back me my charger when you've finished?
RevisionCould you give me back my charger when you've finished?
When you name both the person and the thing, the person comes straight after give: give me back my charger or give me my charger back. Back can't go between give and me. The word order here is strict, even if the words seem easy to move around.
Borrowed money is usually not given back but paid back: I'll pay you back on Friday. Give back is for an object that has to return to its owner: give back the keys, give back the book.
Your turn
You can borrow my umbrella, but please ___ tomorrow because I need it for work.
Show the answer
give it back — The umbrella has to go back to its owner, the speaker, so give it back. Take it back means to take something back to where it came from, for example a shop, or to withdraw something you said.
Think of something you lent to someone or borrowed yourself. Write what it was and when it was returned.
My sister borrowed my hairdryer for her trip and gave it back two weeks later.
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