Bring vs Take at a glance
- bring
/brɪŋ/ · verb
To carry something or come with someone to the place where the speaker or listener is.
- Can you bring some snacks to my place tonight?
- Don't forget to bring your passport tomorrow.
- take
/teɪk/ · verb
To carry something or go with someone away from where the speaker is, to another place.
- Remember to take an umbrella when you go out.
- I'll take the kids to school this morning.
How to remember it
Bring is like come, take is like go. Come here and bring it; go there and take it.
Good to know
Past forms: bring, brought, brought; take, took, taken. The point of view matters: if you're going to a friend's party, you can say "I'll bring a cake" to the host because the cake is coming to them.
Common mistakes
Wrong: Can you take your laptop when you come to my office?
Right: Can you bring your laptop when you come to my office?
Wrong: I'll bring these letters to the post office later.
Right: I'll take these letters to the post office later.
Quick quiz
1.Please your own drinks to the party at my house.
2.Could you the rubbish out when you leave?
Pick the right word for each gap.