Grammar · Commonly Confused Words
Lend vs Rent
Lend is free. Rent costs money. Learn the two words with the film Hotel Transylvania.
Grammar › Commonly Confused Words › Lend vs Rent
The rule in one sentenceYou lend a thing to a friend for free, for a short time. You rent a room or a car when you pay money to use it.
About the film
Hotel Transylvania is a film from 2012. Dracula runs a big hotel for monsters. The monsters rent rooms there. Johnny is a human with red hair and a backpack. He arrives at the hotel by accident. Mavis is Dracula’s daughter. Can Johnny lend her his backpack for one day?
What is the difference?
Lend means you give a thing to a friend. It is for a short time. It is free. You want it back later.
Rent means you pay money to use a thing. A room, a car, a flat. The owner can also rent it out to you.
One word is a favour. One word is money. Look at the two sides:
Lend has a partner word: borrow. I borrow your pen. You lend me your pen. Same pen, two sides.
Johnny lends Mavis his hat. (free) Wayne rents a big room for his children. (money)
The idea is the same: a thing goes to someone for a time. Free → lend. Money → rent.
Money is the big clue. No money? Lend. You pay? Rent.
Visual guide
Teacher Teddy’s illustrated guide to this rule is being drawn — the full swipe-through infographic will appear here soon.
How to make it
Lend lend / lent / lending
Johnny lends Mavis his phone.
or: Johnny lends his phone to Mavis.Dracula doesn’t lend his car to humans.
don’t / doesn’t lend · didn’t lend · now: is lendingCan you lend me a pen?
Can you lend me + a thing? · Did Frank lend Murray a book?Rent rent / rented / renting
The monsters rent rooms from Dracula.
the owner: Dracula rents out rooms to the monsters.Johnny didn’t rent a room. He came by accident.
don’t / doesn’t rent · didn’t rent · now: is rentingDid Wayne rent a big room?
Do / Does / Did + person + rent …When to use each one
Lend — free, for a short time
Rent — you pay money
Words that help: lend or rent?
Some words go with one side. Learn them together.
Lend → free
Rent → money
Common mistakes
❌ Can you rent me your pen, Johnny?
✅ Can you lend me your pen, Johnny?
A pen from a friend, for a minute. No money → lend.
❌ The monsters lend rooms at the hotel.
✅ The monsters rent rooms at the hotel.
They pay money for a room → rent.
❌ Frank lended Murray a book.
✅ Frank lent Murray a book.
The past form of lend is lent. Not “lended”.
❌ Dracula lends out rooms to monsters.
✅ Dracula rents out rooms to monsters.
The monsters pay. The owner “rents out” the rooms. No money → lend. Money → rent.
One more thing
This part is a little harder. You can come back to it later.
“Rent” is also a thing. The rent is the money you pay for a room or a flat. The monsters pay the rent for their rooms. You also see a sign: Room for rent. There is no word like this for lend.
Practice: choose the right word
Eight questions. Choose one word. You get the answer, and why.
1. Johnny, can you ___ me your map?
A map from a friend, free → lend.
2. The monsters ___ rooms at Dracula’s hotel.
They pay money for a room → rent.
3. Yesterday Frank ___ Murray a book.
A book, free, and yesterday → lent.
4. Wayne ___ a big room for his children last night.
A room, money, and last night → rented.
5. Can I ___ your pen, Johnny?
I get the pen → borrow. Johnny gives the pen → lend.
6. Dracula ___ out rooms to monsters.
The owner and money → rents out.
7. Griffin ___ a hand at Mavis’s party.
“Lend a hand” = help. It is free → lends.
8. Johnny travels a lot. He ___ a bike in every new town.
He pays to use a bike → rents.
Your turn
Choose one word. Then listen to your sentence.
Every word here is correct. Pick one you like. Say it out loud too!
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