LEND vs. BORROW

Good morning,

On January 13th, 2004 we did a Daily Vitamin about the differences between the verbs lend and borrow. (Ziggurat students and Daily Vitamin Plus! subscribers can look it up in the Archive section in the Daily Vitamin Plus! section on our website.)

Yesterday we looked at the words library and bookshop. Do you remember the verbs needed to talk about a transaction at the library?

Example 1:
Curtiss: Please may I borrow these books?
Librarian: Certainly!
Curtiss: How long may I keep them for?
Librarian: The initial loan period is three weeks, and you can renew them for a further three weeks after that.

Example 2:
Graham: Please, could I borrow last Friday's New York Times?
Librarian: No, I'm sorry. This library doesn't lend newspapers, but you can look at them in the reading room.

Example 3:
Philip: I need to borrow some books from the library but I haven't got my membership card on me…!
Jimmy: Don’t worry – you can take them out on my card.
Philip: Are you sure you don't mind lending me your card?
Jimmy: I don't, but just don't return the books late!

Please post any questions about today's Daily Vitamin in the Daily Vitamin Plus! forum section on our website.

Have a good day and an excellent weekend!