I wonder how an American pronounces…
borrow … lend
/ˈba-ɚ-row/ … /lɛnd/
In this video, we learn the meaning
of borrow and lend.
Now, we have to decide when to use each verb.
The real secret is … the
borrower and the lender
can each use both verbs.
So…
Step 1: Who is speaking?
Step 2: What is the verb?
Let me show you how this pattern works.
speaker = verb => I
(If the speaker is the same
as the verb, the pronoun is I.)
Borrower: Can I borrow your book?
speaker = borrower
verb = borrow
pronoun = I
Lender: No, I can’t lend you my book.
speaker = lender
verb = lend
pronoun = I
speaker ≠ verb => you
(However, if the speaker is not the same
as the verb, the pronoun is you, or another person.)
Borrower: Will you lend me your book?
speaker = borrower
verb = lend
pronoun = you
Lender: No, you can’t borrow my book.
I need it for the test.
speaker = lender
verb = borrow
pronoun = you
The little boy has a wagon.
His friend wants to borrow it.
Friend:
Can I borrow your wagon?
Will you lend me your wagon?
Little boy:
No, you can’t borrow my wagon.
No, I won’t lend you my wagon.
My dog likes going for a ride in it.
borrower:
Could I borrow your pencil for a minute?
Could you lend me your pencil for a minute?
lender:
Sure, you can borrow my pencil.
Sure, I’ll lend it to you,…after
I finish filling out this form.
Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” (1602)
“Neither a borrower nor a lender be…”.
Do you agree with Shakespeare’s
advice not to borrow or lend things?
And let’s finish with an idiom
that uses only the verb ‘lend‘.
Can you lend me a hand?
Boy, did it snow last night.
I could really use some help.
And now it’s your turn.
Which is the pronoun in each sentence: I (or) you?
Dear Eva,
I want to thank you for the imaginative, interesting, and substantial lessons you have created for students on vocabulary and pronunciation. I’m an ELL instructor at a technical college in Wisconsin, and I really appreciate what you do. I have especially enjoyed using your videos to help students with final-s, final-ed, and can/can’t.
Teaching pronunciation has always been an interst of mine, and I really admire all of the thought and planning that goes into your lessons.
Thank you!
Laura Knudson
Thank you Laura,
I’ve been an ESL teacher at a community college in New Jersey for over 20 years. I stopped using textbooks years ago.
Lots of years of…trying this and trying that…and seeing what works with the students. That’s the process.
Thank you. I’m glad my work is useful to you and to your students.
Eva
thank you for your time this is helping me a lot. I really enjoy doing the test and, is too easy to learn new words. Greetings from a venezuelan living in NC
Thank you, Ed,
Do you have any specific words that cause you problems.
Eva