The balloon seller was giving the girl a balloon vs The balloon seller was selling the balloon to a girl

Both phrases are correct, but they convey slightly different meanings. The first phrase 'the balloon seller was giving the girl a balloon' implies that the balloon was being given for free, while the second phrase 'the balloon seller was selling the balloon to a girl' indicates a transaction where the girl is buying the balloon.

Last updated: March 23, 2024 • 1303 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to indicate that the balloon was being given to the girl.

"The balloon seller was giving the girl a balloon"

This phrase is used to describe a situation where the balloon seller is providing a balloon to the girl without any payment involved.

Examples:

The kind balloon seller was giving the little girl a balloon for her birthday.
The generous man was giving away balloons to children at the park.
She smiled as the balloon seller was giving her a colorful balloon.
The clown was giving out balloons to the excited children at the party.
The balloon seller was giving a balloon to each child at the event.

Show examples from the web [+]

I was giving the gross receipts on membership dues.
Stanley threw the girls a Botox party.
Then I realized it was giving the kids too much unrealistic hope.
The sisters walked up the aisle together, as though each was giving the other sister away.
Donna figured out the sales manager was giving the best trade-ins to the wholesaler for peanuts.
See, I told Varys that I was giving the Princess to the Greyjoys.
I didn't say I was giving the money back.
All day yesterday, I was giving the new number to our people.
Well, I was giving the MiniRAE a shot first.
She was giving the kid a bath and accidentally hit the shower thing.
I agree, and this is why I was giving the floor to the Commission.
He told the girls, he was giving them kettles.
The mayor was giving the key to the city to the governor of Tokyo.
It turns out he was giving the royal treatment to his own queen mother,
Mr. Irwin was giving the parrot a shower when the cat attacked.
I was giving the pigs their breakfast, and I turn around, and there's Dr. Hunt, offering me my job back.
If I had said I was giving the jewel to Yanar,
I even thought of giving the girl my sister's name.
It will take the girls a few minutes to wrap it up.
Give the girls a kiss for me.

Alternatives:

the balloon seller was handing the girl a balloon
the balloon seller was presenting the girl with a balloon
the balloon seller was offering the girl a balloon
the balloon seller was providing the girl with a balloon
the balloon seller was donating a balloon to the girl

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to indicate that the balloon was being sold to the girl.

"The balloon seller was selling the balloon to a girl"

This phrase is used to describe a situation where the balloon seller is engaging in a transaction to exchange the balloon for payment from the girl.

Examples:

The balloon seller was selling the balloon to a girl at the fair.
He was negotiating the price while selling the balloon to the little girl.
The balloon seller was happily selling balloons to the children at the event.
She was excitedly choosing a balloon while the seller was selling them.
The balloon seller was selling a special balloon to a customer.

Show examples from the web [+]

Go to a hotel, then they take me here, and wait for the balloon to pass through me.
"There's nothing worse than a gift gotten too soon,"Johnnie thought, as he carefully tied the balloons to his bike.
I didn't buy the balloons to have you guys...
There might be enough gas in the balloon to keep us afloat on the water.
Who'd you sell the balloons to?
Freddy, that bloke that did the charity thing where he tied the balloons to the chair.
Perp forced the lock on her window around 9:30 last night, took her, tied the balloons to her bed.
Manning met by Lamar Woodley- he's giving the balloon to Woodley!
So there's a new block that says how much video motion there is, and then, if there's so much video motion, it will then tell the balloon to pop.
Imagine your anxieties filling the balloon.
While how fast the balloon grows depends on the rate of air going into the balloon versus the strength of the balloon's surface.
Radio: Okay, release the balloon, release the balloon, release the balloon.
Just read the letters, track the balloons.
He was an employee at the factory where the balloons were stolen.
We had a drop-off point to exchange the balloons and money.
Caterers, Santa's Helpers, guy blowing up the balloons.
I wanted him to blow up the balloon.
Look who I found moseying around the balloon corral.
You might feel some discomfort as the balloon passes through the meatus.
Hand me a syringe to inflate the balloon.

Alternatives:

the balloon seller was offering the balloon for sale to a girl
the balloon seller was vending the balloon to a girl
the balloon seller was retailing the balloon to a girl
the balloon seller was peddling the balloon to a girl
the balloon seller was marketing the balloon to a girl

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The balloon seller was giving the girl a balloon vs The balloon seller was selling the balloon to a girl