Lend vs Borrow — Advanced Practice
B1-B2 Level
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At advanced level, you also encounter passive and complex tense forms: "The money was lent at a high interest rate" (passive), "She had borrowed the dress from her colleague for the event" (past perfect). In financial English, "lend" and "borrow" are essential: banks lend money to customers (the bank is the giver), and customers borrow money from banks (the customer is the receiver). Understanding these financial contexts and figurative expressions is important for B2 level reading comprehension and for understanding formal business correspondence. These patterns appear regularly in Cambridge B2 First reading and listening examinations.
Quick Rule
lend + figurative noun (give support/quality) | borrow + figurative noun (take an idea/concept) | lend itself to + noun/gerund (be suitable for)
- 1.Could you lend me a hand with these heavy boxes? (figurative — help)
- 2.The novel borrows heavily from Greek mythology. (taking ideas from a source)
- 3.The government didn't lend any support to the proposal. (negative — refusing backing)
- 4.She was living on borrowed time after the diagnosis. (figurative — time running out)
- 5.This quiet room lends itself perfectly to studying. (being suitable for something)
All 20 questions
Complete each sentence with the correct form of 'lend' or 'borrow'. Complete with the correct form of 'lend' or 'borrow'.
Could you _____ (lend / borrow) me a hand with these heavy bags?
The architect admitted he had _____ (borrow / lend) the idea from a Japanese design.
The evidence _____ (lend / borrow) support to the theory that exercise improves mental health.
We're living on _____ (borrow / lend) time — the deadline is tomorrow.
The celebrity _____ (lend / borrow) her name to the charity campaign last year.
English has _____ (lend / borrow) many words from French, Latin, and Greek.
His calm voice _____ (borrow / lend) authority to his presentation.
By the time the project was finished, they had _____ (lend / borrow) over two million pounds from investors.
The painting had been _____ (lend / borrow) to the museum for a special exhibition.
She has been _____ (borrow / lend) money from payday lenders and is now in serious debt.
The scenery _____ (lend / borrow) itself beautifully to landscape photography.
He had _____ (lend / borrow) his car to a friend, so he had to walk to work.
The company has _____ (lend / borrow) heavily to fund its expansion into Asia.
Would you mind _____ (borrow / lend) me your umbrella? It's pouring outside.
The museum's collection includes several masterpieces _____ (borrow / lend) from private collectors.
I wish I hadn't _____ (lend / borrow) him my favourite book — he never returned it.
The new findings _____ (borrow / lend) credibility to claims that the drug is effective.
The designer _____ (lend / borrow) elements from Art Deco and combined them with modern styles.
Money that has been _____ (borrow / lend) must be repaid with interest.
Please _____ (borrow / lend) me your ear for a moment — I have something important to tell you.
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