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If I ask, "Can I borrow a pencil?" I might say: エンピツを借りてもいいですか？

Why do we use the も particle here, since we're not saying **also** this or
that? To express **also** is the main usage of mo I'm familiar with.
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2013-07-07T17:23:56.570
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2013-07-07T18:11:51.547
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question
grammar particle-も
Why is the も particle used when asking to borrow something?
Okay, so looked this up, and it looks like this is an idiomatic expression of
sorts as it doesn't seem to strictly follow the typical usage of the も
particle. Typically も does indicate "also" something.

Yet, something + もいいですか? seems to be the idiomatic way to say, "Can I do
something"

Likewise, something + もいいです。 would be the way to say, "You can do something."

Correct me if I'm wrong to consider this somewhat of an idiomatic structure,
and if there actually is a grammar rule that is being used here.

Reference: <http://nihongo.anthonet.com/mo-ii-desu-wa-ikemasen/>
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2013-07-07T17:32:15.830
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Of course, 〜てもいい is not limited to borrowing, but rather any form of
permission.

Being very literal...

> エンピツを借りる "to borrow a pencil"  
>  エンピツを借りていい？ "Is it okay if I borrow a pencil?"  
>  エンピツを借りて **も** いい？ "Is it okay **even** if I borrow a pencil?"

It is certainly not ungrammatical to have a も there (syntactically, you can
insert any 係助詞{かかりじょし} between the て and the following verb/adjective), and
semantically it makes sense as well.

The fact that the form with the も is more _popular_ , however, is just
idiomatic.
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