Borrowing a book: I will return it tomorrow

How to use these phrases

借 (jiè) can describe borrowing or lending; the surrounding sentence tells you the direction. 我可以借这本书吗？ asks 'May I borrow this book?' A helpful reply is 我可以借给你, 'I can lend it to you.' In that reply, 给 marks the recipient. Use 本 with books: 一本书 is one book, and 这本书 is this book. The sentence cards write 一 as yì before third-tone 本 to reflect its spoken tone change. To return a borrowed object, use 还 pronounced huán. Do not confuse it with 还 pronounced hái, which often means 'still' or 'also'. 我明天还给你 means 'I will return it to you tomorrow.' 明天 comes before the action; the object can be omitted when both speakers know it is the book. Practise the dialogue with a notebook or book. Ask politely, agree on a return time, and finish with thanks. Then change 明天 to 星期五 to say Friday. You do not need an English-style future verb ending.

Example sentences