to rent vs. to rent out
– B2-C1 (intermediate to advanced) –
Practice Your Listening Comprehension
Practice Your Reading Comprehension
It is a common mistake among English learners to confuse the verb, “to rent,” with the phrasal verb, “to rent out.”
In Canadian English, the verb, “to rent,” typically means:
to pay money in order to temporarily use a particular product
EXAMPLES
"Unfortunately, we don’t have the money to buy a house yet, so we are renting an apartment right now.”
“My family and I love going to Banff in the winter to ski. Since we don’t have our own skis, we always rent some.”
“To rent out,” however, is a phrasal verb, which in Canadian English typically means:
to receive money from someone who temporarily uses your product
EXAMPLES
“My aunt used to own several houses, which she rented out to young families for a reduced price.”
“There are many businesses that rent out snowboards, skis and skates in the Alps, so you don’t have to worry if you don’t have your own.”
SUMMARY
“To rent” and “to rent out” are opposites. Someone who rents something pays money, while someone who rents out something receives money.
Have you ever rented something? What do people commonly rent out where you live? Practice using these verbs by letting me know in the comments below.
