Lended vs Lent

"Lent" is the correct past tense and past participle form of the verb "lend." "Lended" is incorrect and should not be used in standard English.

What Does "Lent" Mean?

"Lent" is the past tense and past participle of the verb "lend," which means to give something to someone temporarily, with the expectation that it will be returned.

Examples of "Lent"

Past Tense:

➡️ She lent me her book yesterday.

➡️ I lent him some money until payday.

Past Participle:

➡️ I have lent my car to my friend for the weekend.

➡️ He had lent his umbrella to a colleague.

Why "Lended" Is Incorrect

"Lend" is an irregular verb, which means its past tense and past participle forms do not follow the regular "-ed" ending pattern that many English verbs do. Instead of adding "-ed" to form the past tense, "lend" changes to "lent."

Incorrect Example:

❌ He lended me his laptop. (Incorrect)

Correct Example:

✔️ He lent me his laptop. (Correct)

Common Errors

Using "lended" instead of "lent":

❌ Incorrect: She lended her bike to her brother.

✔️ Correct: She lent her bike to her brother.

Confusion with regular verbs:

Some learners mistakenly apply the regular verb rule, adding "-ed" to "lend" to form "lended," but "lend" is irregular, so this is incorrect.

Everyday Use of "Lent"

"Lent" is commonly used in both spoken and written English when talking about giving something temporarily to someone. It's important to use the correct form, "lent," to ensure your communication is clear and grammatically accurate.

Examples:

➡️ My neighbor lent me a ladder to fix the roof.

➡️ I’ve lent my pen to someone, but I can’t remember who.

FAQ

Is "lended" ever correct?

No, "lended" is not a correct form in English. The correct past tense and past participle of "lend" is "lent."

Can I use "lended" in informal speech?

Even in informal speech, "lended" is incorrect. It’s always best to use "lent" to be grammatically correct.

Why isn’t "lend" a regular verb?

"Lend" is one of many irregular verbs in English, which do not follow the standard "-ed" ending for past tense forms.

Are there other verbs like "lend" with irregular past tense forms?

Yes, other irregular verbs include "send" (sent), "build" (built), and "spend" (spent).

How can I remember to use "lent" instead of "lended"?

It might help to memorize common irregular verbs and their past forms, or think of similar verbs like "send" (which becomes "sent," not "sended").