もらう

もらう means "to get", "to receive". The one who receives is the subject, the one who gives takes に or から, and the thing takes を. The polite form is もらいます.

When the receiver is you, わたくし私は is usually left out.

に or から

Either marks a person who gives. A company, a school or any organisation takes から.

もらう or くれる

When someone gives something to you, you can tell it from either side. With もらう you are the subject; with くれる the giver is the subject and takes が.

The giver of もらう is never you. When you give something to someone, the verb is あげる.

• × 田中さんは私に本をもらった → 私は田中さんに本をあげた

Usage notes

These go beyond receiving a thing from an equal.

いただく

From a teacher, a boss or a customer, polite speech uses the humble いただく in place of もらう.

After a て-form

After a て-form, もらう means having something done for you. That is its own grammar point, てもらう.