let me borrow

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "let me borrow" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when requesting permission to temporarily take something from someone. Example: "Could you let me borrow your book for a week? I promise to return it in good condition."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

52 human-written examples

Borrower: "Hey let me borrow your phone".

WikiHow

Yeah, let me borrow it again, sorry.

Yale University

My professor let me borrow his suit".

The New Yorker

"Casey never let me borrow her clothes," Jaime said.

The New York Times

They had an old kokle they let me borrow.

The New Yorker

Luckily, a worker at the hostel let me borrow an adapter another guest had left behind.

The New York Times - Travel

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

8 human-written examples

She lets me borrow a striped sweater.

The New York Times

Thanks for letting me borrow your Barack!

HuffPost

Thank you for letting me borrow your Steven Alan sweatshirt.

Huffington Post

And before I go, big thanks to my friend Claudia for letting me borrow her adorable puppy for this shoot.

HuffPost

Our town librarian let me cruise the grown-up shelves, "overserved" me by letting me borrow more than the usual weekly allotment, and always had suggestions ready when I came back for more.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "let me borrow", be clear about what you intend to borrow and for how long. This sets clear expectations and avoids misunderstandings.

Common error

Avoid assuming that you have permission to borrow something. Always ask first, even if you have borrowed the item before.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "let me borrow" functions as a request or an inquiry for permission to temporarily use something belonging to someone else. As Ludwig AI states, it is considered grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Wiki

7%

Academia

1%

Less common in

Science

30%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "let me borrow" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression for requesting temporary access to an item. As noted by Ludwig AI, its usability is widespread across different types of English. While it's generally neutral in tone, it's always best to use it politely and specify the item and duration. The phrase sees predominant usage in "News & Media", as shown by example sentences. For more formal situations, alternatives like "may I borrow" might be more appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

may I borrow

More formal and polite alternative.

can I borrow

A more direct and informal alternative.

could I use

Focuses on the action of using, rather than borrowing.

would you lend me

Shifts the focus to the lender and their willingness to lend.

is it okay if I take

Indirect way of asking, seeking permission.

can I have a loan of

Formal and less common way to ask to borrow something.

could you spare

Emphasizes the sacrifice from the lender.

might I make use of

A very formal and somewhat archaic alternative.

allow me to utilize

Highly formal and emphasizes the act of using.

grant me temporary access to

A very formal and specific request.

FAQs

What's a more formal way to say "let me borrow"?

For a more formal request, you can use phrases like "may I borrow" or "could I borrow".

Is it always necessary to use "let me borrow" when asking to use something temporarily?

No, depending on the context, you could also use "can I use", "could I use", or simply ask "may I use".

What's the difference between "let me borrow" and "lend me"?

"Let me borrow" is asking for permission to take something temporarily, while "lend me" is directly asking someone to give you something temporarily. The perspective changes from the borrower to the lender.

How do I politely refuse someone who asks "let me borrow" something?

A polite refusal could be "I'm sorry, but I need it right now", or "I'm not comfortable lending that out at the moment". Being direct and honest is usually the best approach.