Is pedir prestado odd?

Question

I'm reading a book that says, always say "lend" (prestar) and never borrow (pedir prestado).

You want to borrow my shirt?

¿Quieres pedir prestado la camisa? Bad

¿Quieres que te preste la camisa? Good

I think personally they both seem good. My friends have taught me the second way long ago, and I only recently started using regularly the first way, until I see this book disagree with that method.

¿Qué opinan?

Answer 1

"pedir prestado" is generally used by the person asking for the loan.

"¿Quieres que te preste la camisa?" would be a good way for the owner to offer the loan.

"¿Quieres pedir prestada la camisa?" sounds really strange, unless someone is asking you if you want to ask someone else for the shirt.

'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' Heidita just reminded me of another common expression that you could use, at least in Mexico. If you want to lend the shirt, "Te doy prestada la camisa" in statement form, or "Te presto la camisa."

bueno, ya sabes, amor, yo te dejo lo que tú me pidas:) jeje - 00494d19, May 23, 2011

¿De veras? !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! - 005faa61, May 23, 2011

Ahem... steamy romances aside, I agree 100% with Julian on this one. Nothing more to add. - Gekkosan, May 23, 2011

Steamy is right! I don´t think I´ll be able to sleep tonight! - 005faa61, May 23, 2011

Answer 2

In Spain we solve this the easy way, using a different verb:

¿Quieres que te deje la camisa? You want to borrow my shirt?

¿Me dejas la camisa? Please, lend me your shirt.

Interesting, I did not know that. - jeezzle, May 23, 2011

Answer 3

¿Quieres pedir prestado la camisa? Bad

¿Quieres que te preste la camisa? Good

Translate them into English:

Do you want to ask lent my shirt? Bad

Do you want that I lend you my shirt? Good, but archaic

Archaic? Then what do you tend to say? - jeezzle, May 23, 2011

When was the last time you heard someone say "Do you want that I lend you. . ." in English? - lorenzo9, May 23, 2011

You know things don't translate like that. You can't "translate" you have to speak like a native, just because it sounds like X in English doesn't mean it sounds like that in Spanish. - jeezzle, May 23, 2011