Gift is a noun not a verb

[NeedMorePlasters]

I gifted

I was gifted

Nobody gives anybody anything these days. It's all about gifting.

Why is this a thing now? It's such insta-speak. I know language evolves etc but this really grated on my nerves for some reason.

IMO gifted means talented. Anyone else agree?

In this house we only give presents, anyway.

No, I'm really NOT missing the point.

The OP's specific example is irrelevant. The title of the thread is "Gift is a noun not a verb".

Both myself, and several others have explained that "gift" has been used as a verb for centuries, most commonly in the past participle "gifted", as shown in the example " gifted by god", "god-gifted talent", i.e. handed a gift by god in no different a way to someone handing you a pair of socks at christmas.

If people have been "gifted" something for hundreds of years, then it's inarguable that they would also contend they were "gifted" what ever that thing was, no different to current people saying they were "gifted" socks.

Also "gifted means talented" ? No. It means you were gifted with whatever the specific talent is. Being "gifted" is not a talent in and of itself. This is a misunderstanding.

You were "gifted" with the talent to play piano, or paint portraits, or walk on your hands, not just "gifted" because you happen to be able to do these things. It's the specific ability that was gifted to you.

"gifted with the talent/ability to do X" i.e. given that gift by nature, god, accident of birth, whatever.

It's not something that comes naturally to me in speech, but I don't expect everyone to speak like me. There is a distinction between 'to gift' and 'to give', since you can give people things that aren't presents, and having specific words can be useful.

I'm not keen on gifted either... am also having ewwwww issues with "Shop the winter edit" in emails from clothes shops (or is that clothing stores...)

I hate the expression "I gifted./ I was gifted. I don't know why. It just irritates me.

Gifted becomes especially useful when used as "regifted". You wouldn't say something had been regiven.

I’m on the fence about whether or not gifted is a verb, but I know for sure that “invite” is not a noun!

“I got an invite to Chris and Monica’s wedding, so I went along and gifted them a bottle of champagne”

vs

I got an invitation to Chris and Monica’s wedding so I went along and took a bottle of champagne as a present ”

As my grandmother used to say, don't care was made to care!

Medal is a noun too. Many members of the UK Olympic team won medals, they did not 'medal'.

@NeedMorePlasters Agree so much, hate it. Especially on sharing/free sites & even if I had the item they wanted I wouldn't be giving it to them. Hate it.

You should come over to Pedants' Corner, OP.
I also grew up in the 60s and 70s, and never heard "gift" in the sense of giving presents. It came in adverts, IMO, and TV presenters trying to sound more American, along with tissues (previously paper hankies), nail polish (varnish) and goosebumps (goosepimples). And don't get me started on "gotten"!

I need to rant about the over-use of "iconic". It's everywhere at the,omens; in print, in adverts, by people on tv. Stop calling everything iconic!

I hate it too OP. Almost as much as the use of birth as a verb 🤮

It takes a while to come to terms with changes to the English language. I used to be a pedant about things like this, too.

But if it wasn't for the natural development of language we'd all still be talking like Shakespearean characters (or much further back).

So now I just watch developments with interest, even if some of those developments initially grate.

I still struggle with wrong meanings though. Very/quite unique, for instance. And yes, literally when it isn't.

See also " really unique" slightly off topic are ppl who confuse "need" & "want"

"Hi guys! Is anyone gifting a TV? I need a 60" or over and you need to deliver it"

Hi! I have one. Needs fixed, though.

Need fixed, needs washed, needs changed, needs amended- this sentence construction is absolutely standard in Scotland. It is not incorrect it is a regional variation.

”Needs fixing” etc makes absolutely no grammatical sense, whereas “needs fixed” is just a contraction of “needs to be fixed”.

"To gift" has legal meaning in the USA; it impacts how a transfer of funds or property is taxed. I'm not saying that everyone uses it correctly in every circumstance, or that is has a relevant and distinct meaning in British English, but it is a legitimate (US) English verb

Whilst I see your point about "gotten" it really is an older English throwback, and I do understand that actually some modern American speech does still retain older usage though it has shifted a tiny bit.

I think that for me it seems a bit pretentious, also a hint of legalese which a PP suggested and trying to mimic Amercian parlance as well. I suppose I relate it to insta mainly because people use it to denote when they've been sent a freebie so I've mostly seen it written down, but heard someone saying it recently so it's now moved off the page and into speech.

Amen to "invite". Hadn't considered "medal" as a verb. Wish that hadn't been pointed out TBH.😂

I didn't know that. It's very new to me (nowhere near Scotland!). Needs mending is what I'd say.

Did no one study Shakespeare at school?

Language isn't static. It evolves.

Gift clearly is a verb as it is used as a verb all the time.

Yes. I work for a private client (wills and probate) solicitor and we use it daily.

And mine used to say

Don’t Care was made to care
Don’t Care was hung
Don't Care was put in a pot
And boiled ‘til he was done!

😁

Totally agree OP, I hate it.

Brilliant!