we could borrow that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "we could borrow that" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when suggesting the possibility of taking something temporarily from someone else. Example: "If we need extra chairs for the meeting, we could borrow that from the conference room."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

I don't suppose we could borrow that picture?

The Guardian - Music

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

"The deal was that we could borrow anything from the archive, but that he would have nothing to do with the exhibition; that all the text must be checked for factual accuracy by the archivist, but the interpretation is ours," Mr. Marsh said.

The New York Times - Arts

That way, we could borrow based on a percentage at any time.

Huffington Post

They passed a stimulus, the idea that we could borrow $831 billion, spend it on all these special interest groups and that it would work out just fine, that unemployment would never get to 8 percent.

The New York Times

The idea that we could borrow $831 billion, spend it on all of these special interest groups, and that it would work out just fine, that unemployment would never get to 8percentt".

Huffington Post

Similarly, our home offered us the ability to buy things we wanted — vacations, for instance, or second homes — because we learned that we could borrow against the equity.

The New York Times

But I think you're better off using an existing foundation that that we could borrow or leverage".

The New Yorker

I was going to ask if I could borrow that jacket of yours, in case I go.

The New Yorker

Few indeed are the companies that could borrow that cheaply and not make some kind of return on essentially free money.

The New York Times

Since we've now 'loaned' them our TV debate formula, wouldn't it be fun if America could find a way to borrow that tradition from the UK?

Huffington Post

This threshold was calculated using an estimate of the average earnings of families in the area and the amount they could borrow based on that income, according to data released by the Council of Mortgage Lenders.

The Guardian - Money

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "we could borrow that" when suggesting a possibility or seeking agreement on temporarily using something belonging to someone else. Be mindful of the context and relationship with the owner to ensure politeness.

Common error

Avoid using "we could borrow that" without first confirming whether the item is available and if the owner is willing to lend it. Always seek explicit permission to prevent misunderstandings or offense.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we could borrow that" functions as a suggestion or proposal to temporarily use something. It expresses a possibility, indicating that borrowing the item is a viable option. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Wiki

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Academia

10%

Reference

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "we could borrow that" is a grammatically sound and understandable phrase used to propose borrowing something as a potential solution. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in English. While not overly common, it appears in various contexts, particularly in news and media. When using this phrase, be mindful of politeness and the relationship with the item's owner, as explicitly mentioned in the guidelines.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we might borrow that

Changes the modality from 'could' (possibility) to 'might' (a slightly lower probability).

can we borrow that

Turns the statement into a direct question, seeking permission.

could we take that

Replaces 'borrow' with 'take', implying a temporary acquisition.

should we borrow that

Suggests considering whether borrowing is the right course of action.

we are able to borrow that

States the ability to borrow, rather than suggesting it.

we have the option to borrow that

Highlights the availability of borrowing as a choice.

is it possible to borrow that

Asks about the possibility of borrowing.

we are permitted to borrow that

Indicates explicit permission to borrow.

we can get that on loan

Uses a different phrase 'on loan' with same meaning.

we could use that temporarily

Shifts the focus to temporary use rather than the act of borrowing.

FAQs

How to use "we could borrow that" in a sentence?

You can use "we could borrow that" to suggest a possibility or seek agreement on temporarily using something. For example, "If we need extra chairs, "we could borrow that" from the conference room."

What can I say instead of "we could borrow that"?

Alternatives include "we might borrow that", "can we borrow that", or "could we take that" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "we could borrow that"?

It's appropriate to use "we could borrow that" in informal or semi-formal settings when discussing possibilities or making suggestions within a group. Avoid using it when needing authorization from higher rank authority.

What's the difference between "we could borrow that" and "can we borrow that"?

"We could borrow that" suggests a possibility or idea, while "Can we borrow that" is a direct question asking for permission.