Cool MateDeliver vs Give this to
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Deliver
Top 1,000 (very common)B1verb
Give this to
Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Deliver
| Deliver | Give this to | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/dɪˈlɪvə(r)/","/dɪˈlɪvəz/","/dɪˈlɪvəd/","/dɪˈlɪvərɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/dɪˈlɪvər/","/dɪˈlɪvərz/","/dɪˈlɪvərd/","/dɪˈlɪvərɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ɡɪv ðɪs tuː//🇺🇸 //ɡɪv ðɪs tu// |
| Meaning | to bring something to someone | Hand this over to someone. |
| Example | The courier will deliver the package by noon. | Please give this to your brother when you see him. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B1 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | free of charge, by hand, personally, to, by, via, have something delivered, consistently, effectively, efficiently, on, safely, by Caesarean, by Caesarean section, safely, by Caesarean, by Caesarean section | give this to someone, give something to a friend, give your attention to, give a gift to, give notice to |
| Antonyms | receive, withhold, retain | - |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'devour' — both start with 'd,' but have different meanings., Using 'delivered' intransitively — 'deliver' needs an object., Saying 'delivering to' without specifying the recipient. | Incorrectly omitting 'to' after 'give'., Confusing 'give' with 'give away' when not implying donation., Using 'give' with an indirect object without 'to'. |
| Usage notes | Used when giving items, messages, or services. Appropriate in most contexts, but avoid in very casual speech. In formal writing, specify what is being delivered. | Use in casual and formal settings when asking someone to pass or hand over something. Avoid in very formal writing. |
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Frequently asked questions: Deliver vs Give this to
What's the difference between Deliver and Give this to?
Deliver: to bring something to someone Give this to: Hand this over to someone.
Which is more common: Deliver and Give this to?
Deliver is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Deliver: The courier will deliver the package by noon. Give this to: Please give this to your brother when you see him.
Can I use Deliver and Give this to interchangeably?
Not always. Deliver and Give this to are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.