to give along / to pass on
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to give along
To give something to someone who is leaving so they can take it with them, often as provisions or a gift.
Meine Mutter hat mir noch ein belegtes Brot für die Zugfahrt mitgegeben.
My mother gave me a sandwich to take along for the train journey.
'Mitgeben' (to give along / to pass on) is a separable verb. In a main clause, the prefix 'mit' goes at the end. In subordinate clauses and in the infinitive with 'zu', the verb stays together.
Ich gebe dir für die Reise ein gutes Buch mit.
I'll give you a good book to take along for the trip.
The verb often follows the pattern: 'jemandem (Dativ) etwas (Akkusativ) mitgeben' (to give someone something to take along). The person receiving something is in the dative.
Er hat seiner Tochter einen Regenschirm mitgegeben.
He gave his daughter an umbrella to take along.
The object reveals the meaning. A concrete object (e.g., 'ein Sandwich' (a sandwich)) points to the literal meaning. An abstract noun (e.g., 'ein Rat' (a piece of advice)) points to the figurative meaning.
Sie gab mir noch etwas Geld für das Taxi mit.
She gave me some money to take along for the taxi.
In the figurative meaning, 'mitgeben' (to pass on) is often combined with abstract things that one learns for life. Typical phrases are: 'einen Rat mitgeben' (to pass on a piece of advice), 'Werte mitgeben' (to pass on values), or 'eine Lektion mitgeben' (to teach/pass on a lesson).
Diese Erfahrung hat mir eine wichtige Lektion für die Zukunft mitgegeben.
This experience taught me an important lesson for the future.
to give
'geben' and 'mitgeben' both describe someone receiving something from another person. 'geben' is neutral and general: you can give someone a form, money, advice, or information. 'mitgeben' is used when the person is supposed to take something with them because they are leaving or on their way somewhere. It can also fit with advice or important thoughts for later. Learners can easily confuse the words because in both cases something is being passed on. The important point is: 'mitgeben' always contains the idea of 'for the road', 'to take along', or 'for a later situation'.
Für die Klassenfahrt gab die Mutter ihrem Sohn noch ein paar Brote mit.
For the class trip, the mother gave her son a few sandwiches to take with him.
Frau Neumann gibt dem Kunden im Büro die nötigen Unterlagen.
Ms. Neumann gives the customer the necessary documents in the office.