IELTS Speaking Part 1 – Borrowing and Lending

IELTS Speaking Part 1 – Borrowing and Lending

IELTS Speaking Part 1 – Borrowing and Lending

How do you feel when people don’t return things they borrowed from you?

Look, I think I speak for most people when I say this—it’s frustrating, right? You feel disappointed and maybe even upset because, at the end of the day, it’s about respect. Whether it’s something important or not, returning what you borrowed shows consideration. Now, if the item is something valuable or something I need regularly, it gets tricky. It’s awkward to even remind someone to return it.

I’ve been through this a lot—friends or even neighbors borrowing things. The unspoken rule is simple: if you borrow something, you return it the same day. And if you need it longer, you ask! But sadly, not everyone follows this. I’ve had cases where people borrowed something, forgot about it for weeks, or worse, lent it to someone else without telling me. Can you imagine? In the end, no one knows where the item is.

After dealing with situations like this over and over, I decided to stop lending things altogether, especially money. I’d rather avoid the hassle and potential conflict.

Do you like to lend things to others?

Honestly, I try to avoid it as much as possible. But, sometimes, I’ll lend things like gardening tools or basic hardware—things I don’t use every day. Here’s the problem, though: if I end up needing it and the person hasn’t returned it, it’s a major inconvenience.

For example, I once lent my wheelbarrow to someone, knowing I’d need it in a couple of weeks for gardening. I even told them that upfront. When I finally got it back, the wheel was misaligned, and the whole thing was making this horrible grinding noise. They must’ve overloaded it or mishandled it. Long story short, I had to buy a new one. After that experience, I decided it’s better to say no and risk being called selfish than to deal with the frustration of lending things.

Have you ever borrowed money from others?

Yes, there were times when I had to borrow money due to financial problems—especially when my mom was hospitalized and, later, during the time leading up to her passing. I was completely broke. Although I had a job at the time, the company laid me off, and it couldn’t have happened at a worse moment. It was a really tough time for me. My sister recommended that I contact this guy who offered to help. He didn’t charge me any interest or demand any collateral, and I was so grateful to him. Honestly, I’m still thankful to this day.

Other than that, I might borrow money occasionally, like asking for a small amount of change if, for example, my card wasn’t working or the nearest ATM was too far. In those cases, I’d usually return the money as soon as I got back home. I’ve also borrowed small amounts from family members before, but as much as possible, I try to avoid it.

I really don’t want to revisit those difficult times when I had to borrow large sums—like a grand or two—for something as serious as hospital bills. That’s why I’m doing my best now to stay on top of my finances and avoid those kinds of situations.

Wrong Version

A few times, yeah. But let me tell you, it’s not always smooth. Recently, I reconnected with an old friend—someone I worked with for eight years. We were catching up, and then he asked to borrow some money. It wasn’t a huge amount, and since he’d done me favors in the past, I said yes. He promised to pay it back by the end of the month, but knowing his financial situation, I gave him extra time—till the end of the next month.

Well, it ended up taking six months, and even then, he paid me back in small installments. It wasn’t about the money, really. It was about trust. Unfortunately, that whole experience soured our relationship. After that, I unfriended him and haven’t reached out since. It’s disappointing to lose an eight-year friendship over something like this.

Have you borrowed books from others?

Yes, especially when I was younger and in school. Back then, I’d borrow books because I didn’t have my own copy—not due to money issues, but availability. If I needed it for the weekend, I’d read it, take care of it, and return it by Monday.

Sometimes, I’d photocopy the books, and I’d make it a point to be extra careful. You know how photocopying staff can be—they’re often careless with the books, bending or crumpling pages. I’d always remind them to handle the books gently. Respecting someone else’s property is important, and I made sure to return everything in the same condition I got it.

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Please visit the website Educatorian to find suggested answers for IELTS speaking questions. Additionally, I recommend checking out Ian’s personal website for further information.
请访问Educatorian网站，找到雅思口语问题的建议答案。此外，我建议查看伊恩的个人网站以了解更多信息。