Confusing Words: Bring (verb) and Take (verb)
Meaning:
Bring (take or go with (someone or something) to a place.)
Take (lay hold of (something) with one’s hands; reach for and hold.)
Bring vs Take Clarification: They have slightly different contexts to be used in.
Bring vs Take – What is the Difference, Definition & Meaning?
Unlike homophones, there are many other words that are causing confusion among writers and speakers. Bring vs. take is the case for today’s discussion. Let me try to bring a clear explanation to solve this confusion.
Bring and take have no similarities in terms of spellings, meanings and functions. Though, both of these words are used as a verb and are related to the movement of something but they cannot be interchangeable. You have to be careful about the situation, as, these words have different situations to be used in.
Let me define these terms separately. In this way, it will be easy for you to get the differences between them.
Bring
Bring is used as a verb within sentences. It means to carry or to move someone or something toward the speaker.
1. Kindly, bring a glass of water for me!
2. If you bring your siblings with you then, we can’t enjoy the party.
3. Now the General Assembly has a chance to bring forfeiture activity and spending into the light of day. (The Denver Post)
Take
Like bring, take is also used as a verb within sentences. It means to carry or to move someone or something away from the speaker or from a place.
For example,
1. Here, take your pen and go away!
2. You can take one of my dresses with you for your farewell party.
3. “The U.S. Chamber applauds the president for fulfilling the campaign’s promise to take on the regulatory juggernaut that is limiting economic growth, choking small business, and putting people out of work,” Chamber president and C.E.O. Thomas J. Donohue said in a press release. (Forbes)
Notice the last sentence, take can also be used to mean ‘hold’.
Check Out: The Difference Between Bought and Brought.
Got the Difference?
Bring and take are often get confused but it is easy to remember the difference between both of these words. For instance, if a person wants you to bring something, you bring that thing toward the speaker. However, if a person wants you take away something, you take that thing away from the speaker.
The above example is just like adding or subtracting something or someone. You can imagine bring as to add something or someone whereas, take is just like subtracting something or someone.
To bring is to add
To take is to subtract
What Did You Learn?
Bring and take both function as verbs within sentences. However, they have slightly different contexts to be used in. Bring means to carry or to move someone or something toward the speaker. Take, on the other hand, is to carry or to move someone or something away from the speaker or from a place.