Confusion with the verb "prestar" and "pedir"
I am confused when they are used together as in these example sentences;
"Le pedí prestado este libro de mi amigo" "Yo nunco compro libros. Siempre los pido prestados en la biblioteca"
I'm thinking that if I borrow something from someone, I would use sentences similar to the above, like "I borrowed this book from my friend". My confusion lies in the word "prestado", which is either an article or participle according to information on this site. So, in the above context, used with the verb "pedir", is "prestado" actually the past participle or is it an article?
From this site: pedir/tomar prestado, -a algo -> to borrow something
The rest of my mind is blown because I don't "get" the usage of "to ask" or "to take" combined with "prestado". Conversely, when the verb "prestar" is used like this, "Mi amigo José me prestó su carro" makes sense to me because I know that José loaned me his car. However, if I borrowed the car from José, would I have to say something like "pedí prestado un carro de mi amigo"? Why couldn't I say something like "me presté un carro de mi amigo José"?
Sorry if this is confusing, but I'm confused 
9 Answers
In English we have a simple set of words for these concepts: we have "to loan/to lend" and "to borrow". In Spanish, the verb "prestar" is more fluid. It merely means an item was passed from Person A to Person B; the rest of the sentence tells you if the item was borrowed or loaned. Examples: "Le pedí prestado el libro a mi amigo". Literally - "I asked for the book passed borrowed] from my friend. Contrast with: "Le dejé prestado el libro a mi amigos." Literally - I left the book passed [loaned] to my friend. By the way. sometimes in English the usage of "loan" is equally fluid and can be confusing to non-native speakers: "I loaned him the book" vs. "He loaned me the book." I know that we could get into a huge philosophical/grammatical discussion here, but the point is that this can also be confusing in English. Regarding "Me presté el libro" - this structure would never be used except to indicate something like "Me presté a su servicio" (I lent myself to his service) in the sense of "to offer oneself".
It's probably best/simplest to think of "prestar" as meaning "to loan/lend" and to think that there is no direct way to say borrow in Spanish. Thus, one says "pedir prestado", "to ask for the loan of ..." (which, of course, means to ask to borrow something).
Hi Jack.
I think in these cases "prestado" is used as a noun, i.e., a loan.
"Le pedí prestado este libro de mi amigo" .....Siempre los pido prestados en la biblioteca"
(I asked for a loan of this book from my friend. ...I always ask for loans in the library)
Let's see what others have to say about this.
It's probably best/simplest to think of "prestar" as meaning "to loan/lend" and to think that there is no direct way to say borrow in Spanish. Thus, one says "pedir prestado", "to ask for the loan of ..." (which, of course, means to ask to borrow something).
So, if John loaned me the car, ¿Yo podría decir que Juan me prestó su carro?
and if I borrowed the car, ¿Yo podría decir que yo pedí prestado un carro a mi amigo?
Why couldn't I say something like "me presté un carro de mi amigo José"?
Sounds like a polite way of saying you stole his car.
Very interesting topic. Thanks for bringing it up.
In English we have a simple set of words for these concepts: we have "to loan/to lend" and "to borrow". In Spanish, the verb "prestar" is more fluid. It merely means an item was passed from Person A to Person B; the rest of the sentence tells you if the item was borrowed or loaned. Examples: "Le pedí prestado el libro a mi amigo". Literally - "I asked for the book passed borrowed] from my friend. Contrast with: "Le dejé prestado el libro a mi amigos." Literally - I left the book passed [loaned] to my friend. By the way. sometimes in English the usage of "loan" is equally fluid and can be confusing to non-native speakers: "I loaned him the book" vs. "He loaned me the book." I know that we could get into a huge philosophical/grammatical discussion here, but the point is that this can also be confusing in English. Regarding "Me presté el libro" - this structure would never be used except to indicate something like "Me presté a su servicio" (I lent myself to his service) in the sense of "to offer oneself".
That makes sense to me, thanks so much for the clear explanation!
Mountaingirl said:
"Me presté el libro" - this structure would never be used except to indicate something like "Me presté a su servicio"
Interesting! Thank you 
Here's my guess:
me presta = you loan me
I asked him to loan me the book = Pedí prestarmelo el libro a él.
