"Borrow" and "Lend": What's the Difference?
It can be tricky for English learners to understand the difference between "borrow" and "lend." The meanings are very similar, but there are important rules you need to remember to use them correctly.
This article will explain how each is used and provide useful examples so you can see them in action. Let's begin!
Borrow
Meaning: to take something for a short time
When you "borrow" something, you're taking it, but you'll return it in the future.
My brother let me borrow his car this weekend.
I used to borrow my friend's CDs in high school.
You can borrow my jacket as long as you return it by Friday.
I borrowed some great books from the library this week.
"Borrow" is often used in questions.
Can I borrow this book if you're done with it?
I heard this video game is fun. Can I borrow it from you?
Lend
Meaning: to give something to someone for a short time
When you "lend" something, you're giving it to someone else temporarily — they should return it to you later.
If you didn't bring a jacket, I'll lend you mine; it gets cold here at night.
Cole never lends anything to anyone. He's so selfish!
Can you lend me this tie? It would go nicely with a suit I'm wearing to an event this weekend.
Note that the past tense is "lent" not "lended."
My sister lent me this book. It's really good.
The art collector lent some of his paintings to the local museum.
"Lend" is often used when talking about money.
The bank lent him money to start his small business.
Remember: You can say "lend me," but "borrow me" is incorrect grammar.
Can you lend me a few bucks until I get paid on Friday?
Related article: Greenbacks and Cheddar Cheese: English Slang for Money
Another Important Point
Remember that "lend" refers to the person who gives, as in the examples below.
- Can you lend me your pen?
- Casey lent me his hockey equipment.
Meanwhile, "borrow" refers to the person who receives the item.
- Can I borrow your pen?
- You can borrow this if you need it.
Rent
The verb "rent" is similar to "borrow," but there's one major difference.
Friends and colleagues will lend things to each other, usually for free. You can also borrow books from a library without paying.
However, businesses that need to make money will charge a fee for people to use things. So if money is required, we don't use "borrow" — instead we use "rent."
I rented a car to use during my vacation.
Before streaming services, I used to rent movies from my local video store.
If you don't have a bike, you can rent one for a small fee.
Wrap-up
The difference between "borrow" and "lend" isn't hard to remember if you keep a few important rules in mind. Remember that borrowing is receiving and lending is giving.
Why not practice using these words in a real English conversation? Book a lesson with an Engoo tutor — they're available to help you any time it's convenient for your schedule. Try it out!
