A more detailed lesson

[Précis. Knowing how to use the verbs borrow and lend is sometimes difficult. Here are some reasons and examples for advanced students to consider and practice.]

"Ah," you say. "I understand. But I still can't use these words correctly when I want to say something."

"What seems to be the problem?"

What seems to be the problem? The second speaker must mean what are some of the problems. So your difficulty is not your fault. The explanation in the image above is good as far as it goes; however, it does not go far enough.

First things first, here are the principal parts of the verbs most often used plus a few other key words that may confuse you when you are speaking with a more proficient user of the language of requests-to-have and promises-to-return.

Verbs (infinitive, past, past participle, 3rd person singular present, present participle/gerund)

to lend, lent, lent, lends, lending

to loan, loaned, loaned, loans, loaning

to borrow, borrowed, borrowed, borrows, borrowing

Nouns (a partial list)

loan, noun, what is given to be returned

loaner, noun, informal, same as the noun loan, the thing loaned

borrower, noun, recipient of loan

lender, noun, giver of loan

Now do two things. First compare the verbs with the image above. Yes, loan is also a word used in the borrow-lend situation. Two, memorize the above nouns and verb forms.

Here is your short study guide.

borrow = take

lend or loan = give

These verbs can be used in the active and passive voices as well as in their participial forms.

The car was borrowed by his daughter.
The money, loaned by my father, he gave reluctantly.

Don't let word order confuse you, or a change in verbs, or the use of words meaning the same thing.

You might have done your own web search and found the standard definitions, explanations and examples given for the uses of these important words. They go something like this.

We use borrow to say that we take something temporarily with the intention of returning it.
Can I borrow your car? She borrowed $100 from her father.
We use lend to say that we give something temporarily with the intention of having it returned.
Can you lend me your car? Her father lent her $100. Her father lent $100 to his daughter.

Or

borrow: to take and use sth. that belongs to sb. else I'd like to borrow your umbrella.
lend: to give sth. to sb. that belongs to you I can lend you my umbrella.

Now here is where using these words correctly gets confusing. Imagine I am the one you are talking with, and I am asking if I understand you correctly by asking a question or by re-stating what you have said.

YOU: Can I borrow your car?
ME: You're asking me if I will lend you my car? 

YOU: She borrowed 100 euros from her father.
ME: Her father gave his daughter a 100 euro loan.

YOU: Can you loan me your car?
ME: Could you borrow my car?

YOU: Her father lent her 100 euros.
ME: Her father let her borrow 100 euros.

Sometimes the listener will avoid the anticipated verbs of lend or loan and borrow.

YOU: Her father lent 100 euros to his daughter.
ME: Her father gave his daughter 100 euros as a loan.

Sometimes the listener will change verbs.

YOU: He lent her the car.
ME: He loaned her his car?

Sometimes the listener will use a common expression to convey the idea.

YOU: Can I have your umbrella.
ME: Here you go. Don't get wet.

Or

Here take my umbrella. It's a loaner.

And don't forget the imperative.

YOU: Borrow my umbrella.
ME: Great. That's nice of you. I'll return it tomorrow.

These do not exhaust the possibilities, but the above is a larger sample of language than the usual textbook or dictionary discussions.

 It is no wonder people get twiddled up with borrow and lend and loan. Any variations from what is expected in a speaking situation is a challenge for the second language speaker to manage. Why is all this not simpler? Easy answer. The language and users and words are flexible and varied.

Here is a short video which can get you started if all this reading isn't your style. You can start with this and then come back here to review and expand your knowledge of

http://youtu.be/uTSmX6YI1FU

Once you have all the above in your head and you have practiced the variations, test yourself by decoding this and giving me your answer.

ME: Can you spot me a fiver? 

Will you spot me? I warn you. I'm a notorious deadbeat.