borrow a book

Meaning

This phrase means to temporarily take a book from a person or a library with the intention of returning it after reading. It focuses on the action of receiving the item.

Examples

• Can I borrow a book from your personal library this weekend?

  Can I borrow a book from your personal library this weekend?

• You need a library card if you want to borrow a book from here.

  You need a library card if you want to borrow a book from here.

• She forgot to return the book she borrowed from her English teacher.

  She forgot to return the book she borrowed from her English teacher.

• I always borrow a book to read during long flights.

  I always borrow a book to read during long flights.

• My friend let me borrow a book about cooking Italian food.

  My friend let me borrow a book about cooking Italian food.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ Can you borrow me a book?

  ✓ Can you lend me a book?

  'Borrow' means to take something temporarily, while 'lend' means to give something temporarily. Do not use 'borrow' to mean 'give'.

• ✗ I borrowed a book to my sister.

  ✓ I lent a book to my sister.

  You borrow 'from' someone, and you lend 'to' someone.

Related Expressions

Practice

• I went to the library to ___ for my history research paper.

  💡 Take a book temporarily to read.

  Show answer

  borrow a book

• Could I ___ from your shelf? I promise to return it next week.

  💡 Ask to take a book temporarily.

  Show answer

  borrow a book