Have you ever paused mid-sentence wondering whether to say “I lended him some money” or “I lent him some money”? 🤔
Both words might sound right when you’re speaking fast — but only one of them is grammatically correct in modern English.
Although “lended” occasionally pops up in casual speech or historical texts, the standard and accepted past tense of “lend” is “lent.”
In this guide, you’ll learn the correct usage, why “lended” exists, and how to remember when to use lent confidently in your writing or speech.
What Does “Lent” Mean?
✅ “Lent” is the past tense and past participle of the verb “lend.”
It means to give something to someone temporarily, expecting it to be returned.
Examples:
- “I lent her my umbrella.”
- “He lent me a book last week.”
- “The bank lent us the money for our new car.”
🎯 Key Point:
Use lent whenever you’re talking about something you gave temporarily.
Grammar Note:
- Present tense: lend
- Past tense: lent
- Past participle: lent
| Tense | Example |
|---|---|
| Present | I lend my notes to friends. |
| Past | I lent my notes yesterday. |
| Present Perfect | I have lent my notes before. |
💡 Tip: “Lent” follows the same pattern as “send → sent” and “spend → spent.”
What About “Lended”?
❌ “Lended” is not standard English today.
It appears in some old dialects or children’s speech, but professional writers and speakers avoid it.
Examples (Incorrect):
- ✖ “She lended me her pencil.”
- ✖ “The teacher lended the book.”
Instead, the correct forms are:
- ✅ “She lent me her pencil.”
- ✅ “The teacher lent the book.”
Why People Say “Lended”
- It sounds natural because most verbs add “-ed” in the past tense.
- But “lend” is an irregular verb, so it doesn’t follow that pattern.
Key Differences Between “Lended” and “Lent”
| Feature | Lended | Lent |
|---|---|---|
| Grammatical Status | Non-standard / incorrect | ✅ Standard English |
| Verb Type | Regular (incorrectly formed) | Irregular |
| Past Tense Of | — | “Lend” |
| Used In | Dialects, old texts, casual speech | Everyday modern English |
| Example | ✖ “She lended me money.” | ✅ “She lent me money.” |
🎯 Quick Rule:
Always use lent — never “lended” — in modern English writing or speech.
Real-Life Conversation Examples
Dialogue 1: Everyday Chat
Emma: “I lended you my charger yesterday!”
Noah: “You mean you lent it — and yes, I’ll return it!”
🎯 Lesson: “Lent” is the correct past tense.
Dialogue 2: Office Talk
Manager: “Who lended the projector to the team?”
Assistant: “It’s lent, sir — and I did.”
🎯 Lesson: “Lent” sounds more professional and grammatically correct.
Dialogue 3: Classroom Example
Student: “Miss, I lended my pencil to Sarah.”
Teacher: “Good deed — but remember, it’s lent, not lended!”
🎯 Lesson: Learning irregular verbs saves embarrassment later!
Fun Fact
📜 In Old English, both “lended” and “lent” existed. Over time, “lent” became the preferred form because it followed the same irregular pattern as other strong verbs like send → sent and spend → spent.
Today, “lended” survives only in rare regional dialects or as a children’s speech variation.
How to Remember the Difference
🧠 Memory Trick:
If you can say “sent,” you can say “lent.”
Both rhyme and share the same irregular pattern.
Or think of it this way:
“I lent a hand” sounds natural — “I lended a hand” just doesn’t.
When to Use “Lent” vs “Lended”
| Situation | Use “Lent” | Use “Lended” |
|---|---|---|
| Writing emails, essays, reports | ✅ | ❌ |
| Speaking formally or professionally | ✅ | ❌ |
| Creative writing (dialectal speech) | Possibly | Rarely |
| Everyday grammar | ✅ | ❌ |
🎯 Simple Rule:
Always write lent — unless you’re quoting dialect or humor.
Conclusion
The correct past tense of “lend” is “lent,” not “lended.”
Even though “lended” may sound natural, it’s considered non-standard English.
Remember: Lend → Lent → Lent.
Use it whenever you talk about something given temporarily — money, time, or objects.
So next time you’re tempted to say “lended,” switch to “lent.”
Your grammar (and your teacher or editor!) will thank you. ✍️
