Bring vs take
Use bring when something moves toward the speaker or the listener. Use take when something moves away, to another place.
Bring it here. Take it there.
bring verb
To carry or lead something or someone toward the speaker or the listener, or to the place where they are or will be.
- Can you bring me a glass of water?
- When you visit us, bring your photos from the trip.
take verb
To carry someone or something away to another place.
- Don't forget to take an umbrella when you go out.
- I will take the kids to school on my way to work.
Watch out
- Bring also works for movement toward the person you are talking to, even when you are not there yet.I'll bring the book when I come to see you.
- Both have irregular past forms. Bring becomes brought (I brought it, I have brought it). Take becomes took, and taken after have (I took it, I have taken it).She brought a cake to the party, and I took the leftovers home.
Test yourself
Could you blank me the salt, please?
Show answer
bring. The salt moves toward the speaker, so use bring.
Please blank these letters to the post office on your way out.
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take. The letters move away from here to another place, so use take.
When you come to my party, blank your guitar.
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bring. The guitar comes to the speaker's party, so use bring.
From here, the bus will blank you to the city center.
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take. The bus carries you away from here to another place, so use take.