What Does “Give up on sth” Mean?
“Give up on sth” means to stop believing in or trying to achieve something. It often implies losing hope or confidence in a particular thing or goal.
Introduction
The phrase “give up on sth” is a common phrasal verb used in English to express the idea of stopping effort or hope regarding something. Whether it’s a project, a relationship, or a personal goal, when someone gives up on something, they decide it’s no longer worth their effort. Understanding the “give up on sth” meaning helps learners communicate feelings of disappointment or acceptance clearly. This phrase is widely used in everyday conversations, making it essential for English learners to grasp its usage and nuances.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: give up on sth (give up on something)
- Type: transitive
- Level: B1
- Short meaning: to stop believing in or trying to do something
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Give up on sth” is an inseparable phrasal verb, which means the object (something) always comes after the entire phrase.
Correct pattern: give up on + something
Examples:
- She gave up on her dream of becoming a singer.
- They will never give up on their team.
How to Use “Give up on sth”?
This phrase is used to express when someone stops trying to achieve or support something. It often relates to emotions or beliefs, such as hope, trust, or effort. You can use it in both formal and informal settings. It usually refers to abstract things like ideas, plans, or goals rather than physical objects.
Examples
Here are some natural sentences using “give up on sth in a sentence”:
- After months of searching for a job, he finally gave up on finding one in his hometown.
- Don’t give up on your dreams just because things are difficult.
- She gave up on the idea of moving abroad after considering all the challenges.
- We should never give up on our friends, even when they make mistakes.
- He gave up on learning the guitar after struggling with the chords.
Common Mistakes
Many learners confuse “give up on sth” with “give up sth.” Here is how to avoid mistakes:
- Incorrect: I gave up on smoking last year. (This means stop believing in smoking, which doesn’t make sense.)
- Correct: I gave up smoking last year. (Here, “give up” means to quit a habit.)
- Incorrect: She gave up on her job. (If she stopped believing in it, it’s fine; but if she quit the job, say “gave up her job.”)
- Correct: She gave up her job to travel. (Stopping the job itself, not just belief.)
Differences / Synonyms
“Give up on sth” is similar to “lose faith in” or “stop believing in.” However, it differs from “give up sth,” which means to quit or stop doing something directly.
- Give up on sth: Stop believing or hoping in something.
Example: I won’t give up on my goals. - Give up sth: Quit an activity or habit.
Example: She gave up smoking. - Lose faith in sth: Similar to give up on sth but more emotional and related to trust.
Common Collocations
“Give up on” is often used with:
- Dreams – stop hoping that dreams will come true
- Plans – stop trying to follow a plan
- People – stop trusting or supporting someone
- Goals – stop working toward an objective
- Ideas – stop believing in a concept or suggestion
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of give up on sth:
Real-life Dialogue
Here is a short conversation using “give up on sth”:
Anna: I feel like giving up on my studies. It’s too hard.
Ben: Don’t give up on your dreams. You’re almost there.
Anna: Thanks, I’ll try to keep going.
Practice
Choose the correct sentence:
- A) I gave up on smoking last year.
- B) I gave up smoking last year.
- C) I gave up on my smoking last year.
Answer: B) I gave up smoking last year.
Fill in the blank:
She never _______ on her goals, no matter how hard it gets.
- a) gave up
- b) gave up on
- c) gave
Answer: b) gave up on
FAQs
- Q1: Can I use “give up on” with people?
Yes, it means to stop trusting or supporting someone.
- Q2: Is “give up on sth” the same as “give up sth”?
No, “give up on sth” means stop believing, while “give up sth” means quit an activity or habit.
- Q3: Can “give up on sth” be used in formal writing?
Yes, it is acceptable in both formal and informal contexts.
- Q4: What is the opposite of “give up on sth”?
The opposite is to “keep faith in” or “continue believing in” something.
- Q5: Is “give up on sth” separable?
No, the phrase is inseparable. The object always follows “give up on.”
