Confusable words

bring vs take: what's the difference?

bring
verb
vs
take
verb
? ?

Bring and take both mean moving something from one place to another, but the direction depends on where the speaker is standing, literally or in their mind.

Bring

verb

Bring means moving something toward the speaker's location, here.

  • Please bring your laptop to the meeting.
  • Can you bring me a glass of water?

Take

verb

Take means moving something away from the speaker's location, there.

  • Don't forget to take your umbrella when you leave.
  • She took the documents to the other office.

Side by side

bring take
Direction Toward the speaker, here Away from the speaker, there
Think of it as Coming with you, to me Going with you, away from me
Simple test "Bring it to me" means come here with it "Take it there" means go there with it

Quick rule

Bring comes toward here. Take goes toward there. Picture where the speaker is standing, and the right word follows.

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