Borrow vs Lend: What's the Difference?
What's the Difference?
Borrow" means to take something temporarily, while "lend" means to give something temporarily.
Memory Tip: borrow = receive, lend = give
borrow starts with /b/, lend starts with /l/
borrow /ˈbɔːroʊ/
verbTo take something from someone with the intention of returning it later.
Example:
Can I borrow your pen for a moment, please?
Common patterns:
borrow a book
borrow money
lend /lɛnd/
verbTo give something to someone for a short period of time with the expectation that it will be returned.
Example:
Can you lend me your book for a week?
Common patterns:
lend something to someone
lend someone something
Common Mistakes
Can you borrow me your pen for a minute?
Can you lend me your pen for a minute?
The speaker is asking someone to give them the pen temporarily.
I need to lend a book from the library.
I need to borrow a book from the library.
The speaker wants to take a book temporarily from the library.
Quick Practice
0/2 correct1. Can I ____ your pen for a moment, please?
2. Can you ____ me your book for a week?
Other Confusing Words
Never confuse borrow / lend again
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