The choice between bring and take depends on the direction of movement relative to the speaker or listener.
- Bring: movement toward the speaker or listener
- Take: movement away from the speaker or listener
Bring: toward
Bring is used when something or someone is moving toward the speaker or toward the place where the speaker is (or toward the listener).
| Usage | Example | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Bring something to the speaker’s location | Please bring the book to me. | The book moves toward the speaker. |
| Bring someone to a place where the speaker is | Can you bring your friend to the party? | The friend moves toward the party (where the speaker will be). |
| Bring something for the speaker or listener | Bring me some water. | The water moves to the speaker. |
Key idea: The focus is on movement toward the current location (or future location) of the speaker or listener.
Take: away
Take is used when something or someone is moving away from the speaker’s location or going to a place different from where the speaker currently is.
| Usage | Example | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Take something from the speaker’s location to another place | Take the book to the library. | The book moves away from the speaker’s place. |
| Take someone from one place to another (away from the speaker) | I’ll take my sister to school. | The sister moves away from the speaker’s location. |
| Take something somewhere that is not the speaker’s location | Take these papers to the office. | The papers move away from the speaker. |
Key idea: The focus is on movement away from the speaker’s current location.
Translate into English: "Lleva el paquete a la oficina de correos."
Take the package to the post office.
'Take' is used because the package moves away from where the speaker is.
Summary
| Direction | Verb | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Toward speaker/listener | Bring | Please bring me the menu. |
| Away from speaker | Take | Take the menu back to the kitchen. |
- “Bring” = to carry something toward the speaker or listener
- “Take” = to carry something away from the speaker or listener
Tips for speakers
- Imagine the speaker’s current (or future) location. If the object/person moves toward that location, use bring.
- If the object/person moves away from the speaker’s location, use take.
- When in doubt, think about where the speaker is and the direction of movement.
Bottom line: Use bring to come “here” (toward the speaker), and take to go “there” (away from the speaker).
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
