Lend vs Borrow
Lend = give temporarily (I lend you my book). Borrow = take temporarily (I borrow your book). Same action — opposite directions.
The one-line answer
Lend = give temporarily (I lend you my book). Borrow = take temporarily (I borrow your book). Same action — opposite directions.
lend
verbto give something to someone who will return it (lend – lent – lent)
- Can you lend me 20 dollars?
- She lent her notes to a classmate.
- Banks lend money at interest.
borrow
verbto take something temporarily, planning to return it
- Can I borrow your charger?
- He borrowed a ladder from his neighbor.
- I borrowed three books from the library.
Memory trick
Ask: does the thing leave me or come to me? It leaves me → I lend. It comes to me → I borrow. Never 'borrow me a pen' — that's 'lend me a pen'.
Lend vs Borrow: Test yourself
Question 1 of 2Could you ___ me your notes until Friday?