let you borrow

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "let you borrow" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when offering someone the opportunity to take something temporarily with the intention of returning it later. Example: "I can let you borrow my book if you promise to return it next week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I let you borrow it.

The New Yorker

"I could let — " "The thing is, though, this place is condemned — " "I could let you borrow".

The New Yorker

Typically, banks let you borrow only up to 80percentt of the value of your home.

The New York Times

But the museum will let you borrow a baby carrier at the downstairs coat check area.

The New York Times - Arts

"I can let you borrow this one, but maybe you don't need it, since you got this woman here".

The New Yorker

Twelve years ago a friend said, "Katharine, no offense, but I would never let you borrow anything white".

The New York Times

Nor is it likely to let you borrow it through a home equity loan if you have no income with which to repay it.

The New York Times

The owner, Zaretta, lives next door and is happy to share tips, let you borrow children's books, DVDs, and a bucket and spade for beach days.

The Guardian - Travel

Varies by credit union; for example, London Mutual Credit Union's payday loans arm, CUOK, will let you borrow between £100 and £400 if you're a new customer, or up to £1,000 if you are an existing customer.

The Guardian - Money

"This will also reduce your loan-to-value (LTV), making it easier to remortgage, as some lenders won't let you borrow more than 50%to70%0% of the value of your home on an interest-only basis," says Harris.

The Guardian - Money

The Coen brothers declined to participate, but the book includes their response to an interview request, in which they reminded the infatuated authors of past enabling: "We let you borrow the marmot.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When offering something using "let you borrow", clearly state the conditions for its return to avoid misunderstandings. For instance, specify the return date or any special care instructions.

Common error

Avoid using "let you borrow" when you actually intend to give something permanently. "Borrow" implies an expectation of return, so ensure your language aligns with your intention.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "let you borrow" functions as a verb phrase indicating permission or willingness to allow someone to temporarily use something. This combines the auxiliary verb 'let' (indicating permission) with the action of 'borrowing'. Ludwig AI examples confirm its use in offering or granting temporary access.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Wiki

32%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

5%

Social Media

5%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "let you borrow" is a commonly used phrase that indicates granting temporary use of an item with the expectation of its return. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. While generally neutral in register, it can be adapted to various contexts, and more formal alternatives like "allow you to borrow" are available for professional settings. It's important to use this phrase when the intention is truly temporary and to clearly communicate any conditions associated with the borrowing. With its widespread usage and clear meaning, "let you borrow" remains a practical and effective way to offer temporary access to possessions or resources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

allow you to borrow

More formal synonym; replaces "let" with "allow", increasing the level of formality.

permit you to borrow

A more formal alternative, using "permit" instead of "let", suggesting official or explicit permission.

lend you

A shorter, more direct way of saying "let you borrow", focusing on the action of lending.

loan you

Similar to "lend you", but often implies a more formal or documented agreement, especially for money.

give you temporary use of

More verbose, emphasizing the temporary nature of the arrangement.

allow you temporary access to

Focuses on granting access rather than direct borrowing, suitable for items like accounts or spaces.

make available to you for temporary use

Very formal and emphasizes making something accessible but only for a limited time.

grant you the use of

Formal and legalistic, suggesting an official or documented granting of permission to use something.

entrust you with

Highlights the aspect of trust involved in allowing someone to borrow something.

put at your disposal

Emphasizes the act of making something readily available for someone's use, often implying generosity.

FAQs

What is a more formal way to say "let you borrow"?

More formal alternatives include "allow you to borrow" or "permit you to borrow". These options increase the formality by replacing "let" with more official-sounding verbs.

When is it appropriate to use "lend" instead of "let you borrow"?

The term "lend you" is suitable when focusing on the action of providing something temporarily. It's a more direct and concise way to express the same idea as "let you borrow".

What does "let you borrow" imply about the item being transferred?

"Let you borrow" implies that the item is expected to be returned to the original owner after a period of temporary use. This is different from giving something away permanently.

How does "let you borrow" differ from "give you"?

"Let you borrow" indicates a temporary transfer with the expectation of return, while "give you" implies a permanent transfer of ownership. The context determines which phrase is more appropriate.