French Phrase
Tu peux me prêter un crayon, s'il te plaît ?
Meaning
Literally, ‘Can you lend me a pencil, please?’ It is a courteous way to ask someone you know well for a writing instrument. The request is softened by the polite expression *s'il te plaît*.
When to use
Use this sentence in informal settings such as a classroom, a shared office, or at a friend's house when you need a pencil temporarily. It’s appropriate when you’re speaking to someone you address with *tu*.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Tupeuxmeprêteruncrayons'ilteplaît?
Tu
Informal second‑person singular subject pronoun. Use with friends, family, or peers.
peux
Present tense of pouvoir. Conveys ability or permission: ‘can’ or ‘may’.
me
Indirect object pronoun meaning ‘to me’. It replaces ‘à moi’ before the verb.
prêter
Infinitive verb ‘to lend’. With an indirect object pronoun it means ‘to lend (something) to someone’.
un crayon
Indefinite article + noun. ‘a pencil’; the article stays singular because you’re asking for one item.
s'il te plaît
Polite formula meaning ‘please’. It is a contraction of *si* + *il* + *te* + *plaît* and is used in informal contexts.
🗨In Conversation
Tu peux me prêter un crayon, s'il te plaît ?
Can you lend me a pencil, please?
Bien sûr, le voici.
Sure, here it is.
✕Common Mistakes
Tu peux me prêter à moi un crayon, s'il te plaît ?
The indirect object pronoun *me* replaces *à moi*; saying *prêter à moi* is ungrammatical.
Vous peux me prêter un crayon, s'il te plaît ?
Mixing *tu* with the formal *vous* creates a register clash. Use either *tu… s'il te plaît* or *vous… s'il vous plaît*.
Tu peux prêter moi un crayon, s'il te plaît ?
When the indirect object follows the verb, it must be a pronoun (*me*), not the noun *moi*.
↔Alternatives
Est‑ce que tu peux me prêter un crayon, s'il te plaît ?
Could you lend me a pencil, please?
Tu aurais un crayon à me prêter, s'il te plaît ?
Do you have a pencil to lend me, please?
Je peux emprunter ton crayon, s'il te plaît ?
May I borrow your pencil, please?
Cultural Tip
In French, *s'il te plaît* is used with people you address informally (*tu*). If you need to be more formal or are speaking to a stranger, switch to *s'il vous plaît*. Also, French speakers often prefer the construction *Est‑ce que…* for polite questions, especially in written or semi‑formal contexts.