“Don't forget to bring your umbrella when you leave.”
Grammar Entry 81 / 1011 60-second read
Bring vs. Take
Bring means movement toward you. Take means movement away from you.
The comparisoni
“Don't forget to take your umbrella when you leave.”
More examplesii
01
Bring your coat — it's cold outside.
Take your coat — it's cold outside. (You're moving away from here.)
02
Take a bottle of wine when you come.
Bring a bottle of wine when you come. (Coming toward the speaker.)
03
Can you take that document to me?
Can you bring that document to me? (Toward the speaker.)
04
Can I bring my dog to the park?
Can I take my dog to the park? (Moving away from current location.)
05
Could you take us the menu?
Could you bring us the menu? (Toward the customer.)
06
Bring him to the hospital immediately.
Take him to the hospital immediately. (Moving him away from here.)
The ruleiii
¶
BRING = movement toward the speaker or point of reference.
In many languages, one word covers both directions. English splits them by direction from the speaker's perspective, which requires a moment of spatial thinking.
Memory aidiv
Remember it like this
BRing = come towaRd me (BR = bring round to me). TAKE = move away. 'Bring it here' / 'Take it there'.