Confusing words: Bring vs. Take

BRING vs. TAKE 

In this lesson, we are going to look at the difference between 'bring' and 'take'. 

When you use these two verbs, you need to think where the speaker is. 

BRING 

Bring is an irregular verb. 
bring - brought - brought 

Bring means to take or carry someone or something to a place or a person, or in the direction of the person speaking. 

Examples: 

• The teacher (at school) says: Don't forget to bring your book to class tomorrow. 
• bring somebody / something (with you) - Don't forget to bring your books with you. 
• When they visit us, they always bring their dog with them. 
• I brought a couple of things from home. 
• I've brought something to show you. 
• Can you bring me my jacket? It's in the living room. 
• bring somebody / something to something - She brought her boyfriend to the party. 
• Can I bring a friend to the party? 
• 'Did she bring you anything for your birthday?' 'Yes. She brought me some flowers and a present.' 
• I brought you some sandwiches because I thought you might be hungry. 
• Individuals may bring medicine into Dubai for their personal use. 
• Narcotic items can only be brought into the UAE in exceptional cases with prior permission from the director of medicine and pharmacy control. 
• ​Before you travel you need to check what amount of tobacco products you can bring into the foreign country. 

TAKE 

Take is an irregular verb. 
take - took - taken 

Take means to move something or someone from one place to another. 

Examples: 

• take something (with you) - I forgot to take my bag with me when I got off the bus. 
• The weather forecast said it's going to rain, so take your umbrella (with you) when you go out. 
• Our suitcases were taken to another city by mistake. 
• take something to somebody - Can you take this to the manager for me, please? 
• Could you take this document to Jane, please? (= It means that you will take it with you and give it to her.) 
• I took some food from the table. 
• I took several books with me for the journey. 

​
Take means to go with somebody from one place to another, especially to guide or lead them. 

Example: 

• Let me take you to your room. 

Take is used when you go somewhere with someone, often paying for that person or being responsible for them. 

Examples: 

• We're taking the kids to the zoo on Saturday. 
• take somebody - It's too far to walk - I'll take you (there) by car. 
• take somebody to something - My mother always takes me to school before she goes to work. 
• take somebody to do something - We take the kids to see their grandparents every weekend. 
• My cousin wants to rent a car, so I'll take him to look at some tomorrow. 
• take somebody doing something - Will you take me swimming tomorrow? 

​Exercise 

1. What are the things you always ................ with you when you go on holiday? 
2. Miss Universe contestants told us about their journey to the Philippines and all the special things they ................ from home. 
3. I'll ................ you to the airport if you ................ me back a souvenir. 
4. I watched the weather forecast this morning. It will rain in the afternoon so don't forget to ................ an umbrella with you. 
5. Never ................ prohibited goods into the UK. If in doubt, ask at the Customs enquiry point. 
6. These guidelines relate to medicines ................ in by an individual through an airport or border crossing and medicines arriving by post. 
​7. Before you travel abroad, you need to check what amount of tobacco products you can ................ into the foreign country. 
8. There are no restrictions on the amount of money that you can ................ into or ................ out of Canada. You must, however, report amounts of currency equal to or greater than CAN$10,000 or its equivalent in a foreign currency. 
​9. When you come to Seoul, I'll ................ you to my favourite places. 
10. I got up really early this morning and I ................ my relatives to the airport. 


Answers: 
1. take; 2. brought; 3. take, bring; 4. take; 5. bring; 6. brought; 7. bring; 8. bring, take; 9. take; 10. took;