Is the Right Word Lent or Lended (Irregular Verbs)

What's the past tense of "lend"?

The past tense of lend is lent. The past participle is also lent. Lend is an irregular verb, meaning it doesn't follow the regular -ed pattern for past forms. The form "lended" is incorrect and nonstandard.

Definition of lend

To lend means to give something to someone for a temporary period, expecting it to be returned, or to provide money with the expectation that it will be repaid.

• The past tense of lend is lent.
• The past participle of lend is lent.

Verb forms of 'lend'

Is "lend" a regular or irregular verb?

Lend is an irregular verb. Instead of forming the past tense by adding -ed (as regular verbs do), lend changes to lent for both the simple past tense and the present or past perfect. This is characteristic of irregular verb patterns in English.

When to use lent vs lended

I lent my brother my bicycle for the afternoon.

She has lent me her notes from the lecture.

The verb lend uses the same form lent for both simple past tense and past participle forms. This is characteristic of many irregular verbs where the past tense and past participle are identical.

When used as a past participle (shown in the second sentence), it requires an auxiliary verb like have, has, or had. The simple past doesn't use a helper verb since it's a complete tense, so lent can stand alone in sentences.

Remember, a participle always uses a helper verb, while the simple past tense stands alone as a complete verb form.

Sentence examples: lend, lent, lent

Synonyms & nearby words

FAQs

Sources

1. Harper, Douglas. "Etymology of lend." Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/word/lend. Accessed 7 January, 2023.
2. "Lend, V." Oxford English Dictionary, Oxford UP, March 2025, https://doi.org/10.1093/OED/1199038215.