BORROW or LEND? How can I use these verbs correctly?
Borrow and Lend can be very confusing. Let’s take a look in 3 steps:
- verb formation
- definition
- grammatical structure
#1 verb formation
Borrow is a regular verb
infinitive: borrow
past simple: borrowed
past participle: borrowed
Lend is an irregular verb
infinitive: lend
past simple: lent
past participle: lent
#2 definitions
When you borrow something:
#1
#2
#3
→You do not keep the object forever.
When you lend something:
#1
#2
#3
→You do not give it to someone forever.
To summarise:
When you borrow something, you TAKE it.
- I borrowed my friends car on Wednesday. I returned it on Friday.
(I took my friends car.) - I borrowed a pen from a classmate. I returned it at the end of the lesson.
(I took a pen.) - I borrowed four books from the library. I returned the books three weeks later.
(I took four books.)
Of course you can borrow a dress from me. You can return it after your party.
(You can take a dress from me.)
When you lend something, you GIVE it.
I lent my friend a car on Wednesday. She returned it to me on Friday.
(I gave my friend a car.)
I lent a pen to a classmate. He returned it at the end of the lesson.
(I gave a pen.)
The bank lent me £30,000 so I could buy a new house. I need to return it in five years.
(The bank gave me money.)
Libraries don’t sell books. They only lend books.
(Libraries give books.)
#3 grammatical structures
There are different grammatical structures. The meaning does not change! You can choose which structure to use!
borrow + something + (from + person)
I borrowed £10 from a friend.
My neighbour borrowed the lawnmower from me.
Did Greg borrow anything from you?
When my sister and I were children, my family would borrow videos from a video rental shop.
I always used to borrow clothes from my sister.
borrow + possessive + something
I borrowed Hanna’s car.
I borrowed the teacher’s pen for the lesson.
You can’t borrow my things without asking!
Delilah constantly borrows her colleagues’ stuff.
Does your girlfriend ever ask to borrow your clothes?
lend + someone + something
I lent Michael £50.
Did you lend Chloe the camera?
Lending friends money is not a good idea.
Rocio lent me her laptop for the day.
I’m not lending you anything ever again!
lend + something + to + someone
I lend £50 to Michael.
Did you lend the camera to Chloe?
Lending money to friends is not a good idea.
Rocio lent her laptop to me for the day.
I’m not lending anything to you ever again!
Compare these sentences. They have the same meaning, but use different verbs:
Can I borrow your phone? (May I take your phone?)
Can you lend me your phone? (Can you give me your phone?)
I borrowed Suzanne’s laptop. (I took Suzanne’s laptop.)
Suzanne lent her laptop to me. (Suzanne gave me her laptop.)
COMMON MISTAKES
Can you borrow me your pen?
☑Can you lend me your pen?
I borrowed John £20.
☑I lent John £20.
Final questions:
Does a library ‘borrow’ or ‘lend’ books?
A library lends books because it gives books for a short period.
Does a bank ‘borrow’ money or ‘lend’ money?
A bank lends money because it gives money for a short period.
OTHER or ANOTHER – How can I use them correctly?
