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Angliholic Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

Gives up/away his bus seat

The kind boy gives up his bus seat to an old lady.

Hi,

Is "gives up his bus seat" in the above equal to "gives away his bus seat?" Is "up" optional? Thanks.
  

Top answer

"Give away" usually means to make a gift to, a gift that the person can keep. You can't give a bus seat away as a gift to someone because it doesn't belong to you in the first place. To "give up your seat" is a gesture of courtesy.

— Markroe

  • "Give away" usually means to make a gift to, a gift that the person can keep.
  • You can't give a bus seat away as a gift to someone because it doesn't belong to you in the first place.
  • To "give up your seat" is a gesture of courtesy.
  • A young person will often (or at least should) "give up his/her seat" on a crowded bus for an older person or for a person with a small child.
  • "Up" is not optional in the sentence.
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2 Answers
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"Give away" usually means to make a gift to, a gift that the person can keep.

You can't give a bus seat away as a gift to someone because it doesn't belong to you in the first place. To "give up your seat" is a gesture of courtesy. A young person will often (or at least should) "give up his/her seat" on a crowded bus for an older person or for a person with a small child.

"Up" is
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Thanks, Markroe.

But can you explain why "up" is optional in the following sentence: "The boy gave the woman his bus seat." But not in "The boy gave up his bus seat to the woman?"
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