Becky is chatting with her classmate Lily in the common room of their dorm.

    Becky: Hi, Lily. Are you coming to my party tomorrow night?

    Lily: Umm... yeah...

    Becky: What's wrong? Don't you want to come?

    Lily: Oh, Becky, of course I want to come! But I'm having a little grammar problem.

    Becky: What's that?

    Lily: Well, you said, "Are you coming to my party?" But don't you mean, "Are you going to my party?"

    Becky: Oh, I see. Because the party is at my mom's house, and not here, you feel "going" might be more appropriate.

    Lily: Uh-huh.

    Becky: You're probably right, Lily. But sometimes we aren't so careful. The rule--a kind of weak rule--is that if it's toward the speaker, he or she says "come," but for away from the speaker, it's "go."

    Lily: Yes. And your party is away from here, so I think you should say go.

    Becky: Again, you're probably right. But remember, I'm having the party, so I think of you as "coming to me."

    Lily: I see! Sometimes it isn't exactly the place, but the point of view of the speaker.

    Becky: That's right. As I said, it's a rather weak rule, meaning it can't be applied 100 percent of the time.

    Lily: I guess it's one of the things we just learn by listening, reading, and making mistakes.

    Becky: Sadly, yes.

    Lily: Is it the same with "bring" and "take?"

    Becky: Pretty much: "Bring to me" and "Take from me." But again, it might be weak.

    Lily: Can you give me an example?

    Becky: Sure! Let's say I'm at the party, and I call you on the phone. I want you to bring some food for the guests.

    Lily: Okay.

    Becky: Now I might be thinking, "Bring it to me." But I might also think, "Take it with you."

    Lily: Oh, tricky!

    Becky: Yes, I'm afraid it is. So again, in this case, I might say either one: "Hey, Lily, could you bring some treats?" Or, "Could you take some treats with you?"

    Lily: Sometimes English is so frustrating! Here's one more: "borrow" and "lend."

    Becky: This one is more solid. You know the difference between "give" and "take," right?

    Lily: Sure. If I give you five dollars, you're richer than you were. If I take the same money from you, you're poorer.

    Becky: Good. Let's say someone borrows a book. The person who takes the book is borrowing it. The one who gives it is lending it.

    Lily: That's pretty clear. What about "loan?"

    Becky: "Loan" is just like "lend," except it can also be used as a noun.

    Lily: Like, "He got a loan from the bank?"

    Becky: Yes. That's the same as, "The bank is loaning (or lending) him some money."

    Lily: Okay, thanks, Becky.

    Becky: I'm glad I could be of help.