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Lesson 210 of 240

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Borrow and return in English

Ana needs a shovel for the walk outside the three-flat. Mr. Kowalski lives on the first floor and keeps one by the door.

She asks if she could borrow it, and she says when she will bring it back.

You will learn how to borrow something, promise a return time, and thank the person.

Could I is the polite way to ask. I'll is how you promise the day.

By the end of this lesson

Borrow something from a neighbor and say when you will return it.

  • Could I borrow your ___?May I use this thing of yours for a short time?
  • I'll bring it back tomorrow.You'll have it again the next day.
  • I'll return it as soon as I'm done.I'll give it back the moment I finish using it.
  • Sorry, I forgot to return it.I am sorry I did not bring it back on time.
  • Is it okay if I keep it overnight?May I give it back the next morning instead?
  • Thanks for letting me borrow it.Thank you for letting me use this.

Scene — the shovel on the porch

The three-flat porch on Larch Street is cold. A snow shovel stands by the door next to Mr. Kowalski's keys.

Ana comes down from the second floor. Mr. Kowalski is already on the porch in his brown cardigan.

He still calls her Miss. He waits for a short, clear ask.

Ana joins Mr. Kowalski on the cold porch beside the snow shovel and keys.

Learn — borrow and bring it back

Six lines help you ask to borrow something and say when you will return it.

You'll also thank the person who lets you use it.

  1. Ana asks Mr. Kowalski if she may borrow the snow shovel for a short time.

    Could I borrow your ___?

    May I use this thing of yours for a short time?

    When to use it: Ask this when you want to use a thing that belongs to someone else.

    Could I is a polite way to start the ask.

    Say it: Could I can sound short, with stress on borrow.

  2. Ana asks whether she may return the shovel the next morning instead.

    I'll bring it back tomorrow.

    You'll have it again the next day.

    When to use it: Say this when you will give the thing back the next day.

    I'll is I will said as one piece.

  3. Ana promises that Mr. Kowalski will have the shovel back the next day.

    I'll return it as soon as I'm done.

    I'll give it back the moment I finish using it.

    When to use it: Say this when you will give it back the moment you finish.

    As soon as means right when that thing happens.

    Say it: As soon as links together.

  4. Ana apologizes for not returning Mr. Kowalski's broom on time.

    Sorry, I forgot to return it.

    I am sorry I did not bring it back on time.

    When to use it: Say this when you did not bring the thing back on time.

    Forgot is the past tense of forget.

    Say it: The stress is on forgot.

  5. Ana promises to return the broom as soon as she finishes using it.

    Is it okay if I keep it overnight?

    May I give it back the next morning instead?

    When to use it: Ask this when you want to give it back the next morning.

    Overnight means through the night until morning.

    Say it: The stress in overnight is on night.

  6. Ana accepts the snow shovel from Mr. Kowalski and thanks him.

    Thanks for letting me borrow it.

    Thank you for letting me use this.

    When to use it: Say this after someone lets you use their thing.

    Letting is the -ing form of let.

Story — he still calls her miss

Watch Ana ask Mr. Kowalski for the snow shovel on the porch. She tells him when she will bring it back.

The highlighted words are the lines you just learned.

  1. The three-flat porch is cold. A snow shovel stands by the door.
  2. Mr. KowalskiMiss. What do you need?He asks what Ana wants.
  3. AnaCould I borrow your shovel?May I use this thing of yours for a short time?
  4. Mr. KowalskiGo on, Miss.He wants her to say the rest.
  5. AnaIs it okay if I keep it overnight?May I give it back the next morning instead?
  6. Mr. KowalskiWhen do I get it back?He asks the return time.
  7. AnaI'll bring it back tomorrow.You'll have it again the next day.
  8. He looks at the empty hook where the broom usually hangs.
  9. Mr. KowalskiYou still have my broom.He says the broom is still with Ana.
  10. AnaSorry, I forgot to return it.I am sorry I did not bring it back on time.
  11. Mr. KowalskiBring that back too.He wants the broom back as well.
  12. AnaI'll return it as soon as I'm done.I'll give it back the moment I finish using it.
  13. Mr. KowalskiAll right. Here, Miss.He agrees and hands her the shovel.
  14. AnaThanks for letting me borrow it.Thank you for letting me use this.
  15. Mr. KowalskiSee you tomorrow, Miss.you will see them the next day

Practice — overnight or tomorrow

Ten short exercises wait here. You'll listen, pick, fill a gap, and build a line.

They stay quick, so you can check the borrow lines.

0 of 10 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. What do you say?

    You are on the porch. You need Mr. Kowalski's shovel for the walk.

  3. What does it mean?

    Is it okay if I keep it overnight?

  4. Fill the gap

    You'll have it again the next day.

    I'll bring it back ____.

  5. Build the line

    I'll give it back the moment I finish using it.

    .

    Tap the words in order.

  6. Pick the reply

    Mr. Kowalski says:

    You still have my broom.

    He says the broom is still with you.

    And you reply with:

  7. Swap the word

    You already have the shovel. You want to give it back in the morning.

    Is it okay if I keep it ____?

  8. True or false?

    You say this when you will not see the person again.

  9. What do you say?

    You need to make a call. You do not have your phone with you.

  10. Pick the reply

    Mr. Kowalski says:

    Here. Don't lose it, Miss.

    He is handing you the shovel now.

    And you reply with:

Say it — ask on the porch

Now you're Ana on the three-flat porch. When it is your turn, tap the microphone and speak the line.

Tap play first if you want to hear the line. Your recording stays on your device.

  1. Mr. KowalskiMiss. What do you need?He asks what she wants.
  2. Ana (you)Ask if you may use his shovel for a short time.

    Could I borrow your ___?

    May I use this thing of yours for a short time?

0 of 6 said

Recap — what you can say now

EnglishSimple English
Could I borrow your ___?May I use this thing of yours for a short time?
I'll bring it back tomorrow.You'll have it again the next day.
I'll return it as soon as I'm done.I'll give it back the moment I finish using it.
Sorry, I forgot to return it.I am sorry I did not bring it back on time.
Is it okay if I keep it overnight?May I give it back the next morning instead?
Thanks for letting me borrow it.Thank you for letting me use this.
Next: lesson 211Run the meeting

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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

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A quick round with the Yak Cards each day keeps your borrow lines ready for the porch.

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