ICAO Level 4 Vocabulary and Structure: Lend or borrow?
Two words that in some languages are combined into one in English are separated into two. What is the difference? It depends on whose perspective you take. If you want to take something, you express it differently rather than when you are the one who offers something. Check the following guide on the definitions of these words supported by the examples which help the effective learning process.
First of all, let’s focus on “lend”:
According to Cambridge Dictionary Online “lend” means to: ‘give something to someone for a short time, expecting that you will get it back’. The past simple and the -ed form are lent:
I never lend my books to anyone.
I lent Mary $100. (“lent” suggests Mary should it return to me)
Now, let’s take a look on “borrow from”:
“Borrow (from)” is a regular verb meaning ‘get something from someone, intending to give it back after a short time’:
Julie, can I borrow your rucksack for the next weekend, please?
Rachel used to borrow money from Jack.
Typical error
When you give something, you lend it;
when you get or receive something, you borrow it:
Can I borrow your pencil for a minute?
Not: Can I lend your pencil?
Summary
The best way to remember the difference to combine borrow + from. From suggests somebody gives, sends or provides.
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*) The sources of the above definitions are Cambridge Online Dictionary and Macmillan Online Dictionary.
