give up

Preview（腕試し）

Keiko: Are you still trying to master Spanish?

Sachiko: It was too difficult, so I have given up.

Please guess the best answer.

A. Sachiko is still studying Spanish very hard.

B. Sachiko will start studying Spanish soon.

C. Sachiko has stopped studying Spanish.

D. Sachiko is still studying Spanish, but not hard.

　

Examples（例文）

This idiom has many meanings, but the most common one is that you have decided to stop trying to do something (example #1).

It is also used when we don't know the answer to something (example #2).

　

Example 1:

I tried five time to fix my friend's computer, but I couldn't. I finally gave up and took it to a repair shop.

　

Example 2:

Teacher: Atsushi, what is the capital of Paraguay?

Atsushi: Is it Quito?

Teacher: No, that's the capital of Ecuador.

Atsushi: Is it Lima?

Teacher: No, that's the capital of Peru.

Atsushi: I give up. What is it?

Teacher: I don't know--that's why I asked you.

　

Exercises （練習）

1.

Junko: I brought a snack for the class today. Can you guess what I brought?

Kaori: Did you bring cookies?

Junko: No, that's not it.

Kaori: I ___________. What did you bring?

Junko: I brought animal crackers!

A. gave up

B. give up

C. given up

---

2.

Tom: Are you still studying calligraphy?*

Ken: No, I have __________--it's just too difficult. Now I'm studying haiku!

A. give up

B. gave up

C. given up

* 書道