Carry vs Bring
When deciding between carry and bring, think about direction relative to the speaker and whether the focus is on transporting an object or delivering it to a location.
Carry
Use carry when emphasizing the physical transporting of something, often over a distance, and when the direction relative to the speaker is not the main point.
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Bring
Use bring when focusing on moving something toward the speaker or toward a location associated with the speaker, especially when delivery or arrival is important.
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Usage
In asking someone to move an object to the speaker's location, use bring. Use carry when highlighting the act of transporting the object, regardless of destination.
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Examples
| English Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| 👜 Can you carry my bag while I buy the tickets? | Can you hold my bag for me temporarily? |
| 🧳 She’s carrying a heavy suitcase up the stairs. | She is supporting the weight of her suitcase as she goes up. |
| 🏃♂️ He carried the boxes to the car. | He moved the boxes by holding them as he went to the car. |
| 🧴 I’m carrying some snacks in my backpack. | I have snacks with me in my backpack. |
| 🏠 They carried the furniture into the house. | They moved the furniture by holding it into the house. |
| 👜 Please carry my purse while I try on these shoes. | Hold my purse for me temporarily, please. |
| 🚶♀️ She’s carrying her coat and a shopping bag. | She has her coat and a bag with her as she walks. |
| 🧺 He carried the basket of laundry upstairs. | He transported the laundry basket by holding it upstairs. |
| 🏞️ We carried water bottles for the hike. | We brought water bottles with us on the hike. |
| 🛫 She carried her carry-on onto the plane. | She took her carry-on luggage onto the plane with her. |
Summary
Carry highlights transporting an object, often without reference to the speaker's location, while bring emphasizes moving an object toward the speaker or a related place.
Last updated: Tue Sep 16, 2025