Similar Verbs, Different Directions
Learners at A1/A2 level already know the basic meanings of the verbs bring and take. However, even some more advanced learners often mix them up, especially when speaking quickly or spontaneously. This confusion is common among Italian speakers because the distinction in English relates to direction and perspective, concepts that might differ from your first language.
Bring vs Take
Before we start, it’s important to remember that the verb “take” has many meanings in English, such as take a bus, take a shower, or take a pill. However, on this page, we’re focusing only on the meaning that’s directly related to bring, which involves carrying or moving something (or someone) from one place to another.
This meaning of bring/take is often confusing because it depends on the speaker’s perspective and direction of movement.
Let’s clarify exactly how to use bring and take correctly in different situations.
Bring: Movement Toward the Speaker or Speaker’s Location
The verb bring describes movement towards the speaker or the speaker’s current or future location.
- Basic idea:
Use bring when something or someone moves from another place towards you.
Simple examples (with prepositions):
Can you bring me that book? (Movement towards me)
Could you bring your laptop to my office?
(towards my location)Please bring some coffee to the meeting.
(The speaker will be at the meeting, so coffee moves toward them.)Did you remember to bring your passport?
(The passport moves toward wherever the speaker currently is or will soon be.)
More nuanced uses:
When talking about future or planned events (where the speaker will be):
- I’ll bring dessert to your party tomorrow.
(The speaker will be at the party later, so movement is towards their future location.)
- I’ll bring dessert to your party tomorrow.
Bring can also involve abstract ideas or non-physical things:
- This decision will bring us great success.
(Success is metaphorically moving toward us.)
- This decision will bring us great success.
Use “bring” for inviting or instructing someone to move something to your current place or intended destination:
- Can you bring your friend to my party tonight?
Take: Movement Away from the Speaker or the Speaker’s Location
The verb take describes movement away from the speaker or the speaker’s current location.
Basic idea: Something (or someone) moves from away from here (speaker’s position) to another place.
Simple examples (with prepositions):
Please take these books to the library.
(Books move away from speaker’s current location.)She took the dog to the vet.
(The dog moved away from the speaker’s location.)Could you take this document to the office?
(Away from the speaker toward another place.)
More nuanced uses:
Take can refer to future locations as well:
- Tomorrow, I’ll take some cake to Sarah’s house.
(The speaker moves something away from their current location toward another location.)
- Tomorrow, I’ll take some cake to Sarah’s house.
Take also works with abstract meanings (ideas, emotions, and non-physical concepts):
- The decision will take us in a new direction.
(Movement away, abstract meaning.)
- The decision will take us in a new direction.
Bring vs. Take: A Short Anecdote
Last weekend, my colleague invited me to a party at her house. She said, “Please bring some wine, and feel free to bring a friend!”
Later that day, I went shopping and chose some nice wine to take to the party. I also thought about who I could take with me, and decided to ask my friend Joe me. Joe was happy to join, so I took him along.
When we arrived, we noticed that almost everyone else had brought exactly the same wine!
Did you notice?
- When the party host spoke, she used bring (movement towards her location).
- When the speaker described their own action (from their perspective, moving away), they used take.
Fetch Boy! Fetch Girl!
If you have a dog, you might know the popular command “Fetch!” that owners use when playing with their pets. But what’s the difference between bring and fetch?
Similarities:
- Both bring and fetch involve moving something towards the speaker.
- Example: Could you bring/fetch me my keys? (both are possible)
Differences:
- Fetch usually means go and get something and then return with it. It implies going away from the speaker first, then returning.
- Example: I threw the stick and my dog fetched it. (The dog goes, gets it, then returns.)
Important Nuance:
-
“Fetch” can sound informal, or even a bit condescending when used with people. It’s often best reserved for playful contexts or pets:
- Good (friendly context): Can you fetch me a glass of water? (very informal or joking)
- Potentially condescending: Fetch me that report! (This might sound rude.)
-
“Bring” is always neutral and safe in all social contexts:
- Polite: Could you bring me the documents, please?
So remember:
✅ Bring → Neutral, polite, safe for most situations
🐶 Fetch → Playful with pets, informal, potentially impolite or patronizing with people
Let's see what you remember! Do the quiz (select the answer you think is correct)
Press Submit to check your answers—correct ones turn green, incorrect ones pink. Fix mistakes and submit again until all are green! ✅
Bring vs. Take: Choose the correct verb.
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