What Does “Give up on sb” Mean?
“Give up on sb” means to stop hoping that someone will improve or change. It is often used when someone loses faith or trust in another person.
Introduction
The phrase “give up on sb” is a common English phrasal verb used to express losing hope or confidence in someone. When you give up on a person, it means you no longer believe they will succeed, change, or meet your expectations. This phrase is often used in personal relationships, friendships, or even professional settings. Understanding the “give up on sb” meaning helps learners use it correctly and recognize it in conversations or writing. It’s important to know how to use this phrase naturally to express disappointment, frustration, or acceptance when someone doesn’t meet your hopes.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: give up on sb (give up on somebody)
- Type: transitive
- Level: B1 (Intermediate)
- Short meaning: stop hoping someone will improve
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Give up on sb” is inseparable, meaning you cannot separate “give up” from “on sb”. The object (sb) always comes after “on”.
Pattern: give up on + somebody
Example: I will never give up on you.
How to Use “Give up on sb”?
Use “give up on sb” when talking about losing hope or confidence in a person’s ability to change or succeed. It often expresses emotional feelings like disappointment or frustration. You can use it in both formal and informal contexts, but it is more common in everyday spoken English.
Examples
When someone keeps making mistakes, it’s natural to feel like giving up on them. Here are some examples of “give up on sb in a sentence”:
- After many failed attempts, she finally gave up on her friend who never kept promises.
- Don’t give up on your brother; he’s trying to improve.
- Teachers sometimes give up on students who don’t put effort into their work.
- It’s hard not to give up on someone you care about, even when they make mistakes.
- He gave up on his teammate after repeated failures in the project.
Common Mistakes
Many learners confuse “give up on sb” with “give sb up,” which has a different meaning. Also, the preposition “on” is essential and cannot be omitted.
- Incorrect: I give up my friend.
- Correct: I give up on my friend.
- Incorrect: She gave on him.
- Correct: She gave up on him.
Differences / Synonyms
“Give up on sb” is similar to “lose faith in sb” or “stop believing in sb,” but it is more informal and emotional. Unlike “give up,” which can mean stopping an activity, “give up on sb” specifically refers to losing hope in a person.
- Give up: stop trying something (e.g., “I gave up smoking.”)
- Give up on sb: stop hoping someone will improve (e.g., “I gave up on him.”)
- Lose faith in sb: similar meaning but more formal (e.g., “She lost faith in her colleague.”)
Common Collocations
Here are common words often used with “give up on”:
- Friend: stop hoping a friend will change
- Family member: lose hope in a relative
- Partner: give up on a romantic partner
- Student: stop believing a student will improve
- Teammate: lose confidence in a team member
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of give up on sb:
Real-life Dialogue
Here is a short conversation using “give up on sb”:
Anna: I don’t think John will ever change his bad habits.
Mike: Don’t give up on him yet. People can surprise you.
Anna: I hope you’re right, but it’s hard to keep believing.
Practice
Complete the sentences with “give up on”:
- I will never ________ my best friend, no matter what happens.
- She decided to ________ her teammate after several mistakes.
- It’s important not to ________ people too quickly.
- He felt like ________ his dreams, but then he tried again.
FAQs
- Q: Can I use “give up on sb” in formal writing?
A: It is more common in informal speech, but it can be used in formal writing when appropriate.
- Q: What is the difference between “give up on sb” and “give sb up”?
A: “Give up on sb” means to lose hope in someone, while “give sb up” means to surrender or stop protecting someone.
- Q: Is “give up on” separable?
A: No, “give up on” is inseparable; the object must come after “on.”
- Q: Can “sb” be replaced with “someone”?
A: Yes, “sb” is an abbreviation for “somebody” or “someone.”
- Q: Can “give up on sb” refer to animals or objects?
A: It is mainly used for people, but sometimes it can be used figuratively for animals.
