Bring vs Take: What’s the Difference?
If you’re confused between “bring” and “take,” you’re not alone. These two verbs are often mixed up—even by native speakers! But don’t worry. This guide will help you understand the difference in a simple and easy way.
✅ Quick Answer:
-
Use bring when something is coming toward you or the speaker.
👉 “Please bring your book to class.” -
Use take when something is going away from you or the speaker.
👉 “Don’t forget to take your umbrella with you.”
📍 Meaning and Use of “Bring”
“Bring” means to carry something to the place where the speaker or listener is.
🔹 Use “bring” when:
-
The action is towards the speaker or listener.
-
Someone is coming to you or arriving with something.
✅ Examples:
-
“Can you bring me a glass of water?”
-
“Please bring your assignment to school tomorrow.”
-
“He will bring his guitar to the party.”
🔄 Bangladeshi Context Example:
-
“Amar bon Dhaka theke amader jonno mishti bring korbe.”
(My sister will bring sweets for us from Dhaka.)
📍 Meaning and Use of “Take”
“Take” means to carry something away from the speaker or listener.
🔹 Use “take” when:
-
The action is away from where you are now.
-
You are leaving or moving something elsewhere.
✅ Examples:
-
“Don’t forget to take your phone with you.”
-
“She took her laptop to the office.”
-
“I’ll take the books to the library.”
🔄 Bangladeshi Context Example:
-
“Ami chhuti te bari gele, amar shob kapor take korbo.”
(When I go home for vacation, I’ll take all my clothes with me.)
🆚 Bring vs Take – Side-by-Side Comparison
| Situation | Use Bring | Use Take |
|---|---|---|
| Talking about someone coming to you | “Please bring your ID to the exam hall.” | ❌ Not suitable |
| Talking about someone going elsewhere | ❌ “Bring your homework to school.” | ✅ “Take your homework to school.” |
| Giving instructions to go somewhere | ❌ “Bring this letter to the post office.” | ✅ “Take this letter to the post office.” |
| Travel context | “Can I bring a friend to the wedding?” | “I will take a gift for the host.” |
🎓 Grammar Tip: Bring = Come | Take = Go
Think of it like this:
-
Bring = Come with something
-
Take = Go with something
So: 👉 If you’re coming somewhere = bring
👉 If you’re going somewhere = take
❓Common Mistakes to Avoid
❌ “I will bring my books to school.” (if you are leaving your home)
✅ “I will take my books to school.”
❌ “Please take your documents to me.”
✅ “Please bring your documents to me.”
🔄 Verb Forms of Bring & Take
| Verb | Past Simple | Past Participle |
|---|---|---|
| bring | brought | brought |
| take | took | taken |
✅ Examples:
-
“He brought snacks yesterday.”
-
“She has taken the money already.”
✍️ Practice Sentences (Bangladeshi Context)
-
“Can you bring a bottle of water from the kitchen?”
-
“My mother took my little brother to the hospital.”
-
“Teachers asked us to bring our notebooks tomorrow.”
-
“You should take this file to the manager.”
-
“When you visit grandma, don’t forget to take some fruits.”
💬 Translation Example:
Bangla: তুমি কি আমার জন্য একটি কলম আনতে পারবে?
English: Can you bring me a pen?
Bangla: সে তার মা’কে হাসপাতালে নিয়ে গেল।
English: He took his mother to the hospital.
🧠 Quick Recap:
| Use | Bring | Take |
|---|---|---|
| Direction | Toward the speaker | Away from the speaker |
| Example | Bring your books here. | Take your bag with you. |
You may read: Practice vs Practise
