English word choices
Borrow vs Lend: Examples and Practice
Your phone is nearly flat. A friend has a charger. You borrow it; your friend lends it. Practise describing the same exchange from both sides.
The short answer
You borrow something when someone lets you have it for a while, with the intention of returning it.
You lend something when you let someone else have it for a while and expect it back.
Both questions below ask your friend for the charger:
- Can I borrow your charger? I receive it.
- Can you lend me your charger? You give it to me temporarily.
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Six examples with answers
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Prompt
Your friend has a charger. You want to use it and give it back. Can I ___ your charger? Choose borrow, lend, borrowed or lent.
Answer and explanation
Can I borrow your charger? You receive the charger temporarily.
Prompt
Your friend needs a charger. You offer yours until their phone is charged. I can ___ you mine. Choose borrow, lend, borrowed or lent.
Answer and explanation
I can lend you mine. You give your charger temporarily.
Prompt
Last weekend, your sister let you use her suitcase. I ___ a suitcase from my sister. Choose borrow, lend, borrowed or lent.
Answer and explanation
I borrowed a suitcase from my sister. You received it. The past form is borrowed.
Prompt
Last weekend, your sister let you use her suitcase. Describe what she did. My sister ___ me a suitcase. Choose borrow, lend, borrowed or lent.
Answer and explanation
My sister lent me a suitcase. She gave it temporarily. The past form is lent.
Prompt
You need a ladder for an hour. Your neighbour has one. Could you ___ your ladder to me? Choose borrow, lend, borrowed or lent.
Answer and explanation
Could you lend your ladder to me? Your neighbour gives it to you temporarily.
Prompt
You want to know whether your friend gave Sam their bike for the afternoon. Did you ___ Sam your bike? Choose borrow, lend, borrowed or lent.
Answer and explanation
Did you lend Sam your bike? After did, use lend, not lent.
From, to, and the past tense
Name the person you receive it from with borrow from: I borrowed a suitcase from my sister.
With lend, both patterns work: My sister lent me a suitcase. / My sister lent a suitcase to me.
The past forms are borrowed and lent. After did, use the base form: Did you lend him the suitcase?
When you mean someone gave you something to use, write She lent me a suitcase, not She borrowed me a suitcase.
References: Cambridge: lend or borrow and BBC Learning English: lend vs borrow.