they gave him a house

[sunnyweather]

Hello,

I've come across a sentence in which a student described a gift they got from their grandparents. It's an imaginary situation, but I wonder how it should be described in English.

What do you say if you want to say that e.g. your grandparents gave you a property, e.g. a house. I mean, as they are still alive, you can't say he inherited the house.

His grandparents gave him a house near a lake.

Does it sound correct and natural to you?

I'd appreciate your feedback.

 

[Uncle Jack]

It sounds fine. If you aren't happy with "gave", which does have a faint suggestion of physically handing something over, then you could say "His grandparents bought a house for him near a lake" or "His grandparents bought him a house near a lake".

 

[sunnyweather]

Thank you very much, Uncle Jack. I suppose it was about a house that they hadn't bought for the man, but just was theirs.

 

[Uncle Jack]

Oh, they already owned the property. Use "gave", then.

 

[sunnyweather]

Thank you.