letting me borrow

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "letting me borrow" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when asking for permission to use something temporarily, typically in informal contexts. Example: "Thank you for letting me borrow your book; I promise to return it next week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

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

If someone recognizes you and starts yelling "SHE'S A GIRL!" then lie and make up an excuse like "I Share With My Sister" or "This Is My Friends Penguin, She's Letting Me Have A Go" or "My Penguin Got banned!" "So My Cousins Letting Me Borrow Hers".

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Borrower: "Hey let me borrow your phone".

WikiHow

Yeah, let me borrow it again, sorry.

Yale University

She lets me borrow a striped sweater.

The New York Times

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

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When expressing gratitude, follow "letting me borrow" with a specific mention of the item borrowed. For example, "Thank you for letting me borrow your car; it was a lifesaver."

Common error

Avoid using incorrect prepositions after "borrow". It's correct to say "letting me borrow your book", not "letting me borrow of your book" or "letting me borrow from your book".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "letting me borrow" functions as a verbal phrase expressing permission or allowance for someone to use something temporarily. This is confirmed by Ludwig examples, which showcase its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Wiki

7%

Science

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "letting me borrow" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression for conveying permission to use something temporarily. While Ludwig examples confirm its correctness, it is generally considered informal and suitable for casual conversations. In more formal contexts, alternatives like "allowing me to borrow" or "permitting me to borrow" are preferable. Be mindful of using the correct prepositions and specific wording after "borrow" to maintain grammatical accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

allowing me to borrow

This alternative is a more formal way of saying "letting me borrow", using "allowing" instead of "letting".

permitting me to borrow

This is a more formal and polite way to express the same idea, replacing "letting" with "permitting".

lending me

Focuses on the act of lending rather than the permission aspect, simplifying the phrase.

loaning me

Similar to 'lending me', this emphasizes the act of loaning, often used interchangeably with lending.

giving me the use of

This is a more roundabout way of saying "letting me borrow", emphasizing the granting of usage rights.

entrusting me with

This phrase emphasizes the trust involved in letting someone borrow something, adding a layer of responsibility.

agreeing to lend me

This highlights the agreement or consent given to allow the borrowing, focusing on the decision.

consenting to me borrowing

Similar to "agreeing to lend me", but emphasizes the consent aspect and uses a gerund.

authorizing me to borrow

This implies a formal or official permission, suitable for situations where authorization is required.

enabling me to borrow

This focuses on providing the means or opportunity to borrow, suggesting that something was previously preventing the borrowing.

FAQs

What's the difference between "letting me borrow" and "allowing me to borrow"?

Both phrases convey permission to use something temporarily, but "allowing me to borrow" is generally considered more formal than "letting me borrow".

Can I use "letting me borrow" in a formal context?

While grammatically correct, "letting me borrow" is generally better suited for informal contexts. In formal settings, consider using phrases like "permitting me to borrow" or "authorizing me to borrow".

What can I say instead of "letting me borrow" to sound more grateful?

To express greater gratitude, you can use phrases like "thank you for lending me" or "I appreciate you letting me borrow".

Is it correct to say "letting me to borrow" instead of "letting me borrow"?

No, the correct phrasing is "letting me borrow". The infinitive "to borrow" is not needed after "letting" in this construction.