もらう — Meaning & Examples

もらう = to receive. The SUBJECT is the receiver (usually you).

Pattern: [receiver]は [giver]に/から [thing]を もらう

わたしは友達にプレゼントをもらった。(watashi wa tomodachi ni purezento o moratta.)
= I received a present from my friend.

Humble: いただく (receiving from a superior)
先生に本をいただきました。(sensei ni hon o itadakimashita.) = I received a book from the teacher.

Now the powerful part — doing FAVOURS with the て-form:
Attach these verbs to the て-form of another verb to mean "do an action for someone."

・〜てあげる = do something FOR someone (careful — can sound condescending)
　友達に日本語を教えてあげた。(tomodachi ni nihongo o oshiete ageta.) = I taught my friend Japanese (did them the favour).

・〜てくれる = someone does something for ME (gratitude)
　友達が手伝ってくれた。(tomodachi ga tetsudatte kureta.) = My friend helped me (thank you!).

・〜てもらう = I get / have someone do something for me
　友達に手伝ってもらった。(tomodachi ni tetsudatte moratta.) = I had my friend help me.

The same direction rules apply — くれる always points at you. 🎁