be borrowed by a

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be borrowed by a" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the action of something being taken temporarily by someone or something else. Example: "The book can be borrowed by a student for the duration of the semester."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

The restrictions, established either in the state constitutions or by state legislation, limit the total sum to be borrowed by any particular unit to a certain percentage (from 2 percent to more than 20 percent) of the total assessed value of its property.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Then his Bartlett's Familiar Quotations was borrowed by a reporter who failed to return it so he could write no editorial that day.

The New Yorker

InStyle, realizing that some of their A-list attendees had been borrowed by a Time Warner corporate sibling – "They've stolen our heat," the thinking suggested – hunted them down and brought them to the dinner they had actually been invited to.

The New York Times

The trio's trademark triplet flow – what the kind of article that wildly compares rappers to John Dryden or TS Eliot would describe as their tendency to rap using a dactylic metre – still has a real potency, notwithstanding the fact it's been borrowed by a host of other rappers.

The Guardian - Music

In fact, this scheduled flight never gets off the ground - the airline's sole 747 having been borrowed by a government minister for private business - so Maclean has to talk his way aboard a UN flight carrying a Danish MP which is forced to land at the US air base at Bagram.

The Guardian - Books

In some cases, Amazon is purchasing a title each time it is borrowed by a reader under standard wholesale terms as a no-risk trial to demonstrate to publishers the incremental growth and revenue opportunity that this new service presents".

The New York Times

"Change" -- the now-famous buzzword of President Barack Obama -- was borrowed by a group led by Iraq's Interior Minister.

Huffington Post

The episode's title was borrowed by a song on The Fall's 1992 album Code: Selfish, and a 2004 independent film about a man who tries to escape an office building.

Wikipedia

Rising margin debt was once seen as a primary indicator of financial speculation, and the Federal Reserve controlled the amount that could be borrowed by each investor as a way to damp excess enthusiasm when markets grew frothy.

The New York Times

Although opinion differs as to the value of school loan collections, many museums do provide small exhibit cases or kits that may be borrowed by the school for a limited period for classroom teaching.

Encyclopedia Britannica

(In all cases, an e-book can be borrowed by only one patron at a time).

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "be borrowed by a", ensure the context clearly indicates the temporary nature of the borrowing and the eventual return or relinquishment of the item or concept.

Common error

Avoid using "be borrowed by a" when an active voice construction would be clearer and more direct. For example, instead of "The idea was borrowed by a competitor", consider "A competitor borrowed the idea."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be borrowed by a" functions as a passive voice construction. It indicates that an object or idea is receiving the action of being taken temporarily, with the "by a" phrase specifying the agent doing the borrowing. Ludwig states that this is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

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Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "be borrowed by a" is a grammatically correct passive voice construction used to describe the temporary taking of something by someone or something else. As Ludwig indicates, it is usable in written English. Due to a lack of examples, its frequency is currently categorized as missing. While correct, consider if an active voice construction would be more appropriate for clarity and conciseness. When using the passive, ensure the context indicates the temporary nature of the borrowing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be loaned by a

Replaces "borrowed" with "loaned", emphasizing the act of lending rather than taking.

be utilized by a

Substitutes "borrowed" with "utilized", focusing on the use of something.

be adopted by a

Replaces "borrowed" with "adopted", suggesting a more permanent or integrated use.

be appropriated by a

Substitutes "borrowed" with "appropriated", often implying a more deliberate or formal taking.

be taken by a

A more general alternative, simply indicating that something is taken by someone.

be drawn from a

Suggests that something is extracted or derived from a source.

be sourced from a

Focuses on the origin of something, indicating it comes from a specific place.

be influenced by a

Highlights the impact of one thing on another, suggesting a softer form of borrowing.

be derived by a

Similar to 'drawn from', it indicates the origin or source from which something is obtained.

be adapted by a

Suggests modification and use in a different context, not a direct borrowing.

FAQs

How can I use "be borrowed by a" in a sentence?

The phrase "be borrowed by a" indicates that something is taken temporarily by someone or something else. For example, "The book can "be borrowed by a" student for the duration of the semester."

What are some alternatives to "be borrowed by a"?

You can use alternatives like "be loaned by a", "be utilized by a", or "be adopted by a" depending on the context.

Is it always correct to use the passive voice construction "be borrowed by a"?

While grammatically correct, using the active voice is often clearer and more concise. Consider whether "someone borrowed something" is preferable to "something was "be borrowed by a" someone".

What is the difference between "be borrowed by a" and "borrow from a"?

"Be borrowed by a" is a passive construction, indicating that something is acted upon. "Borrow from a" is active, showing who is doing the borrowing. For instance, "The idea was "be borrowed by a" competitor" versus "The competitor borrowed from a source".