Bring vs Take
Bring = movement toward the speaker (bring it here). Take = movement away from the speaker (take it there).
The one-line answer
Bring = movement toward the speaker (bring it here). Take = movement away from the speaker (take it there).
bring
verbto carry something toward the speaker or to where the speaker will be (bring – brought – brought)
- Can you bring me a glass of water?
- Bring your laptop to the meeting tomorrow.
- She brought a friend to the party.
take
verbto carry something away from the speaker (take – took – taken)
- Take an umbrella — it's raining.
- Don't forget to take your keys.
- He took the letter to the post office.
Memory trick
Imagine a phone call: 'Should I bring it?' means 'Should I carry it TO you?' (toward). 'I'll take it' means 'I'll carry it AWAY' (from me, to there).
Bring vs Take: Test yourself
Question 1 of 2Please ___ me the salt — I can't reach it.
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Put the difference into practice
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take
nine useful uses, patterns and practice
9 selected uses · 11 questions