Borrow vs. Lend

Hey friend. Let’s explore why saying, “Borrow me your pen” is incorrect.

If a word is in the subject, we say it is in the Nominative Case. Similarly, if the word is in the object, we say it is in the Objective Case.

So this follows:

Nouns keep their form regardless of case: subject or object.

Pronouns are different. Most pronouns have one form for the subject (the Nominative Case) and another form when used as an object (i.e. the Objective Case). I in the subject becomes me when it goes in the object — we’ll see more shortly.

Likewise, “he” becomes “him”, “she” becomes “her”, etc.

Interestingly, “you” remains the same regardless of case or tense.

Of Giving and Receiving

In the example below, “I” is the recipient of the pen.

Note that “I” is the subject for an implied “your”, which is the indirect object of the sentences.

For instance, the first sentence could be rewritten as:

Direct vs indirect objects

More fun

In the case above, “me” is now the object (ie. “I” being used in the objective case). “Me” is referring to the person that wants the pen, and as such, they are the receiver of the pen.

Once again there is an implied party that has the pen: Can you give…Please give me your…

Based on above, we can finally look at the correct use of “me” and “I” with Lend or Borrow.

Lending — I as the giver

Lending — I as the receiver

Borrow — I as the receiver

Borrow — I as the giver, which becomes “me”

Hopefully this makes distinguishing between lend and borrow a bit easier, and also shows why saying, “Borrow me your pen” is incorrect.

References: Brighter Grammar (Book 1), P. A. Ogundipe et. al.; English Grammar, Rose and Purkis

Walk good.

-h