The difference between bring and take, English Vocabulary

The difference between bring and take

"Bring" and "take" are two verbs that are often confused with each other, but they have distinct meanings and usage. Understanding the difference between these two words can help improve your writing and speaking skills.

The word "bring" is used when referring to an action that moves something towards the speaker. 

For example, "Can you bring me a glass of water?" In this case, the speaker is asking someone to move the glass of water towards them, to the current location of the speaker.

On the other hand, the word "take" is used when referring to an action that moves something away from the speaker. 

For example, "I will take the book to the library." In this case, the speaker is indicating that they will move the book away from their current location, to the library.

Another way to think about it is that "bring" is used when something is being moved towards the speaker's location, while "take" is used when something is being moved away from the speaker's location.

It is also important to consider the perspective of the speaker and the listener when using these verbs. 

For example, if the speaker says, "I will bring the cake to the party," it means that the speaker will move the cake towards the location of the party, which may be the same as the listener's location. However, if the listener says, "Please bring the cake to the party," it means that the listener is asking the speaker to move the cake towards the listener's location, which is not the same as the party location.

In summary, "bring" is used when referring to an action that moves something towards the speaker's location, while "take" is used when referring to an action that moves something away from the speaker's location. By using "bring" and "take" correctly, you can avoid confusing the listener or reader and communicate more effectively in English.

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Complete the sentences by choosing the correct word: bring or take.

1. Can you _________ this book to my house when you come over tomorrow?
2. Please _________ your laptop to the meeting so we can review the files.
3. When you leave, don’t forget to _________ the trash out.
4. I’ll _________ some snacks when I come to the party.
5. He asked me to _________ the report to his office.
6. Can you _________ the kids to school tomorrow?
7. Don’t forget to _________ your umbrella when you leave.
8. I’ll _________ the groceries from the store to your house.
9. She will _________ the car to the mechanic later today.
10. If you come to visit, please _________ me some flowers from your garden.

Answer Key:

1. bring
2. bring
3. take
4. bring
5. take
6. take
7. take
8. bring
9. take
10. bring