Meaning & use
gives an autograph
Last updated
“gives an autograph” is a form of “give an autograph”.
Meaning
phrasefixed phrase
writes their name for a fan, usually in a book or on a photo
Grammar: The subject is a famous person: She gives an autograph. The fan asks for one.
Patterns
- give someone an autograph
- give an autograph to someone
- ask for an autograph
The singer gives an autograph to every fan who waits after the show.
He gave me an autograph on the back of my ticket.
She rarely gives autographs when she is with her family.
Word forms
| third person singular | gives an autograph |
|---|---|
| past tense | gave an autograph |
| past participle | given an autograph |
| -ing form | giving an autograph |
Common combinations
- give someone an autograph
- The actor gave the boy an autograph.
- ask for an autograph
- Fans asked for autographs after the concert.
- sign an autograph
- She signed autographs for an hour.
Synonyms and how they differ
- sign
- More general; you can sign a contract or a letter, not only for a fan.
Word family
Commonly confused: gives an autograph or signature?
gives an autograph vs signature
A signature is any person's name written by hand, often on official papers; an autograph is a famous person's signature for a fan.
Practice
Which sentence is correct?
Choose one answer.
We say give an autograph to someone or give someone an autograph. For and at are not used in this pattern.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “gives an autograph”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.