My students tend to use the verbs lend and borrow wrongly. For example, they will say ‘Borrow me colour pencil’ or ‘Borrow me ruler’. They are more keen on using borrow rather than lend. Maybe because they are more familiar with the verb. It is undeniable that environment can really affect a person because the more I hear them say, I nearly got confused myself too!
Therefore, I’ve decided to share this with you all and hope to get some feedback or comments from you.
Alright, check this out. To ‘borrow’ or to ‘lend’?
Case 1
SiewPeng : I forgot to bring my sharpener today. May I ___________ yours?
Colin : Yes, of course.
Case 2
SiewPeng: I forgot to bring my eraser today. Could you ____________ me yours?
Colin : Sure, no problem.
Case 3
SiewPeng : Oh no! I forgot to bring my pencil today!
Colin : Don’t worry. I can ____________ you mine.
Have you got all the answers?
In Case 1, the correct answer is ‘borrow’. The verb borrow is used when you want to take something that belongs to someone and sort of promised to return it to them at a later time.
In Case 2, the correct answer is ‘lend’. The verb lend has to be used here because you are asking another person to give you something that belongs to them and will return it to them at a later time.
In Case 3, the correct answer is also ‘lend’. This is because Colin has generously agreed to give SiewPeng one of his pencils and believed that she will return it to him at a later time.
There you go.
I hope that my humble sharing will be able to clear out some doubts. I have written about ’send’ and ‘deliver’ too. Please feel free to comment. Have a good day! ![]()


















1Malaysia



