Vietnamese Verb "cho" — to give

cho

to give

Type

Action verb

Patterns

6 tense/aspect forms

Simple / Bare Verb

The bare verb with no marker. Context determines whether it refers to present, past, or habitual action.

Simple statement

Structure: Subject + cho

Tôi cho.

I give / I gave.

Past / Completed (đã)

The marker "đã" before the verb explicitly marks a completed action or past event.

Completed marker: đã

Structure: Subject + đã + cho

Tôi đã cho.

I gave / I have given.

Progressive (đang)

The marker "đang" expresses an action currently in progress.

Progressive marker: đang

Structure: Subject + đang + cho

Tôi đang cho.

I am giving.

Future (sẽ)

The marker "sẽ" expresses a future action or intention.

Future marker: sẽ

Structure: Subject + sẽ + cho

Tôi sẽ cho.

I will give.

Negative (không / chưa)

"Không" negates the verb generally. "Chưa" means "not yet" — implying the action may happen later.

Negative marker: không

Structure: Subject + không + cho

Tôi không cho.

I don't give / I won't give.

Not yet marker: chưa

Structure: Subject + chưa + cho

Tôi chưa cho ai.

I haven't given (it) to anyone yet.

Experience / Other (đã từng / vẫn)

"Đã từng" marks past experience ("have ever done"). "Vẫn" means "still" for ongoing states.

Experience marker: đã từng

Structure: Subject + đã từng + cho

Tôi đã từng cho tiền.

I have given money before.

Example Sentences

Cho tôi xem!

Let me see! / Show me!

Anh ấy đã cho tôi một quyển sách.

He gave me a book.

Cho tôi hỏi.

Let me ask.