French Phrase
Tu peux me prêter ton crayon ?
Meaning
This sentence is a polite, informal request meaning ‘Can you lend me your pencil?’ It uses the familiar ‘tu’ form, making it suitable for friends, classmates, or colleagues you know well.
When to use
Use this phrase when you need a short‑term loan of a writing instrument in a casual setting – for example, during a class, at a café, or while working on a shared project. It’s best reserved for people you address with ‘tu’.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Tupeuxmeprêtertoncrayon?
Pouvoir (peux)
‘Peux’ is the 2nd‑person singular present of the modal verb pouvoir, used to ask for permission or ability.
Indirect object pronoun (me)
‘Me’ replaces ‘à moi’; with prêter the person receiving the item is expressed with an indirect object pronoun.
Infinitive after modal (prêter)
After pouvoir, the main verb stays in the infinitive (prêter = to lend).
Possessive adjective (ton)
‘Ton’ agrees with the masculine singular noun crayon and signals that the pencil belongs to the listener.
Question intonation
Raising intonation at the end of the sentence (or adding a question mark) turns a statement into a polite request.
🗨In Conversation
Tu peux me prêter ton crayon ?
Can you lend me your pencil?
Oui, bien sûr, le voici.
Yes, of course, here it is.
✕Common Mistakes
Tu peux me prêter le crayon ?
‘Prêter’ requires an indirect object for the person; you should say ‘prêter ton crayon à moi’ or use the pronoun ‘me’.
Vous pouvez me prêter ton crayon ?
When speaking informally with ‘tu’, the verb should be conjugated as ‘peux’, not ‘pouvez’.
Tu peux me prêter ton crayon ?
If you’re speaking formally, use the polite possessive ‘votre’ instead of ‘ton’.
↔Alternatives
Est‑ce que tu peux me prêter ton crayon ?
Could you lend me your pencil?
Peux‑tu me prêter ton crayon ?
Can you lend me your pencil?
Je pourrais emprunter ton crayon ?
Could I borrow your pencil?
Cultural Tip
In French, the verb prêter takes an indirect object for the person receiving the item (prêter quelque chose à quelqu’un). That’s why the pronoun ‘me’ is used, not a direct object. Mixing up prêter with emprunter is a common slip: ‘prêter’ = to lend, ‘emprunter’ = to borrow. Also, remember that using ‘tu’ signals familiarity; with strangers or in formal contexts you’d switch to ‘vous’ – “Pouvez‑vous me prêter votre crayon ?”.