もらう
receive, get
Receiver は/が + giver に/から + thing を + もらう
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もらう is the same event as くれる, told from the receiver's side: 友達に本をもらいました, "I got a book from a friend". Now the receiver is the subject, and the giver takes に or から.
から is the safer choice when the giver is an organisation or something far away: 会社からボーナスをもらった, 母から手紙をもらった.
So these two say the same thing:
- 友達が本をくれた (the friend is the subject)
- 友達に本をもらった (you are the subject)
Pick by who you want the sentence to be about. The humble version, for receiving from a superior, is いただく.
Examples
友達に本をもらいました。
I got a book from a friend.
誕生日に何をもらいましたか。
What did you get for your birthday?
会社からボーナスをもらった。
I got a bonus from the company.
母から手紙をもらいました。
I got a letter from my mother.
このシャツは兄にもらったんです。
My older brother gave me this shirt.