Lend vs. Borrow: What's the Difference?
Understanding the distinction between the terms lend and borrow is crucial as they relate to the exchange of items or money between parties. Lend refers to the act of giving something to someone else temporarily with the expectation of its return, while borrow means to take something from another person temporarily, often with the obligation to return it later or pay it back. Each term implies a different perspective in the transaction—the giver versus the receiver.
How do you use the word lend in a sentence?
The term lend is best used when you are offering something of yours for someone else's temporary use. It implies a generosity or helpfulness on part of the lender, as well as an expectation to recover the lent item.
Examples of lend in a sentence
- Could you lend me a hand with these boxes?
- The bank agreed to lend the company $1 million.
- I will lend you my car for the weekend.
How do you use the word borrow in a sentence?
Use borrow when you want to express the act of receiving something from someone else with the promise to return it later. It highlights the temporary nature of the transaction and the responsibility of the borrower to give back what was taken.
Examples of borrow in a sentence
- Can I borrow your pen for a moment?
- She needs to borrow a dress for the wedding.
- They borrowed a sum of money to renovate their home.
Lend and borrow definition, parts of speech, and pronunciation
Lend definition:
Lend (verb): To grant the use of something that will be returned; to give for temporary use on the condition that the same or its equivalent will be returned.
Lend parts of speech:
Lend pronunciation:
Phonetic spelling: /lɛnd/, as in 'send' with an 'l' at the beginning.
Borrow definition:
Borrow (verb): To take and use something belonging to someone else with the intention of returning it after a period of time.
Borrow parts of speech:
Borrow pronunciation:
Phonetic spelling: /ˈbɒr.əʊ/ in UK English and /ˈbɑː.roʊ/ in US English.
Lend (verb): To grant the use of something that will be returned; to give for temporary use on the condition that the same or its equivalent will be returned.
Lend parts of speech:
- As a verb: He decided to lend his car to his brother for the day.
Lend pronunciation:
Phonetic spelling: /lɛnd/, as in 'send' with an 'l' at the beginning.
Borrow definition:
Borrow (verb): To take and use something belonging to someone else with the intention of returning it after a period of time.
Borrow parts of speech:
- As a verb: Whenever I run out of milk, I always borrow some from my neighbor.
Borrow pronunciation:
Phonetic spelling: /ˈbɒr.əʊ/ in UK English and /ˈbɑː.roʊ/ in US English.
Lend vs. Borrow in a nutshell
In essence, lend and borrow are two sides of the same coin, each representing a different party's perspective in the act of temporarily transferring possessions or money. Lend signifies the provider's action, someone giving to another, whereas borrow denotes the receiver's perspective, someone taking from another. Both terms are verbs with distinct but complementary functions, ensuring clarity in transactions that involve temporary ownership.
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