Lending and Borrowing

 

Everyone has family, friends, or colleagues who at one time or another will want to borrow something that you have. It may just be a pen to write a note, or money for lunch, or something more substantial like your truck for a day so they can move or the use of your lake-side cabin for a weekend getaway. Whatever it is, there are standard expressions that can be used. Look at these examples.

English Expressions- Lending and Borrowing

Expression Response

Could you lend me (…a dollar)? Of course, my pleasure.
Sorry, I’m broke.

May I borrow ( … your text book)? Sure, go ahead.
Yes, but only after I’m finished with it.

Do you mind if I use ( …your pen)? Not at all, help yourself.
I’m sorry, but this is my lucky pen and I never
let anyone use it.

Will you lend me ( … your car)? Maybe, where are you going and when
will you be returning?
No way.

Lend and borrow are frequently used incorrectly by non-native speakers. They are very similar in meaning, but can not be used interchangeably. It may help if you think of borrow to mean receive or take something. When using borrow, the subject of the sentence is receiving something. Think of lend to mean give something. When using lend, the subject of the sentence is giving something.

Can you borrow me your book?      Incorrect

Can I borrow your book?                 Correct

Can you lend me your book?           Correct

Dialogue- Lending and Borrowing

Alfred: Olive, can I borrow your new Stone’s CD?
Olive: No.
Alfred: Why not, I’ll give it back. I just want to make a copy.
Olive: I know; I trust you. It’s just that I only got it this morning and haven’t listened to that much yet. I’ll
    lend it to  you in a couple of days.
Alfred: Ok, that will work.
Olive: Will you lend me your truck on Saturday morning. I have to take a load to the dump.
Alfred: Sure, as long as you return it by noon and put a few gallons of gas in it before you return it. My sister
    wants to borrow it to help her friend move.
Olive: No problem. Do you want me to return it to your place or your sister’s?
Alfred: Better make it my place. She could change her mind, you know how she is.

Conversation Activities- Lending and Borrowing

1. Pair work- discussion
     Do you lend or borrow things often? Tell your partner about it using some of the ideas for discussion
     below. Your partner should ask questions to get more information.

what do you lend/borrow
how long are things borrowed or lent for
how often does it happen
have you every had problems getting it back or returning it

2. Pair work- discussion
     Ask your partner if you can borrow some of the items below, using the expressions above. Your partner
     should ask how long you intend to have the item and when you plan to return it. If your partner refuses to
     lend the item, find out why and try to persuade him to lend it anyway.

Cell phone                  Clock                    Dictionary
Cassette player         Bicycle                  Truck
Computer                   Lawn mower        Money