What’s the Past Tense of Lend? is it lent or lended?
Quick Answer
The past tense of lend is lent. The word lended is not real English — do not use it. Example: “I lent him my pen yesterday.”
Lend, Lent, Lent — See the Pattern
Look at these examples:
- I lend my books to my sister every week. (now)
- Yesterday, I lent her my favourite book. (past)
- She has lent me money many times before. (with has)
- The bank lent them $500 last month. (past)
Did you see the pattern? The verb changes from lend to lent. We drop the “d” and add a “t.” That is it.
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Now (present) | lend / lends | I lend her books. |
| Past tense | lent | I lent her a book. |
| With have / has / had | lent | I have lent her many books. |
| Happening now | lending | I am lending her a book. |
Why “Lended” Is Not a Word
Most past tense verbs in English end in “-ed”. Walk → walked. Talk → talked. Play → played. So it feels natural to say “lended.”
But lend is special. It is what we call an irregular verb. That means it does not follow the normal “-ed” rule. Instead, it changes shape.
The good news? The past form is the same in both cases:
- Past: I lent him $20.
- With “have”: I have lent him money before.
You only need to learn one new word: lent. Easy.
Easy way to remember: Lend → Lent. Just swap the “d” for a “t.”
The Rule in One Line: The past tense of “lend” is “lent” — never “lended.”
Real-Life Examples With Lent
- I lent my umbrella to a friend, and now it is raining! (a normal day, past action)
- My dad lent me his car for the weekend. (past — happened on a weekend)
- She has lent me her notes many times. (with “has” — many times in the past)
- The library lent us five books last week. (past, a clear time)
- I have never lent money to a stranger. (with “have” — at any time before now)
You are doing great. Now let us look at the mistakes many learners make.
The Most Common Mistake With Lend
Even native speakers’ children say “lended” when they are learning to talk. So if you have written “lended” before, you are not alone — your brain is just trying to follow the normal “-ed” rule. That is good thinking, but with “lend” we use a different word.
✗ She lended me her phone yesterday.
✓ She lent me her phone yesterday.
✗ I have lended him money before.
✓ I have lent him money before.
How to remember: Think of “lend” and “lent.” The “d” walks away and a “t” takes its place. Same word, different ending.
The other big mistake is mixing up lend and borrow. They are opposites:
- Lend = you give something to someone for a short time.
- Borrow = you take something from someone for a short time.
So: “I lent him my pen” means I gave it to him. “I borrowed his pen” means I took it from him.
Other verbs that follow the same “drop d, add t” pattern: bend → bent, send → sent, spend → spent, build → built.
Test Yourself: Lent or Lended?
Choose the correct answer for each sentence. Click Check to see if you are right.
1. Yesterday, I _______ my brother my new headphones.
2. My friend has _______ me her notes many times before.
3. Every Friday, my dad _______ me his car so I can visit my mum.
4. The bank _______ him $1,000 last year to start his small business.
5. I have never _______ money to a stranger.
Keep Going — You Are Building Something
You just learned that “lend” becomes “lent” — never “lended.” That is one more verb you will never get wrong again.
Here is a fun question: what about bend? It looks almost the same as “lend.” Do you think the past tense follows the same pattern? And what about “bended knee” — is that real English or a mistake?
Next lesson: Is It Bended or Bent? The Past Tense of Bend
My name is Khamis Maiouf. I am the creator of the English Teacher Site, dedicated to providing valuable resources and insights for students around the world. With a passion for education and a commitment to helping students enhance their skills, I aim to make English teaching more effective and enjoyable for both educators and students.
