あげる、くれる、もらう

Giving and Receiving in Japanese (notes from A dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar and other sources that I don't remember)

あげる くれる もらう

To Give

あげる to give seen from speakers point of view

Use あげるwhen you are giving something, or when someone is giving something to someone (but not to you.)

(A)は(B)に(something)をあげます

examples:

私は母に本をあげました

父が山田さんに本をあげました

くれる to give from receivers point of view

Use くれるwhen you are being given something

(A)は(私)に(something)をくれます

examples:

母が私に本をくれました

To receive

Use もらう

(B) は(A) に(or　から)をもらいます

examples:

母に本をもらいました