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bring and take

Speaker’s/hearer’s position​

We mostly use bring for movements to the place where the speaker or hearer is, and take for movements to other places. Compare:

  • This is a nice restaurant. Thanks for bringing me here. (not … thanks for taking me here.)
    Let’s have another drink, and then I’ll take you home. (not … and then I’ll bring you home.)
  • (on the phone) Can we come over on Sunday? We’ll bring a picnic.
    Let’s go and see Aunt May on Sunday. We can take a picnic.

Speaker’s/hearer’s past or future position​

We can also use bring for a movement to a place where the speaker or hearer already was or will be. Compare:

  • ‘Where’s that report?’ ‘I brought it to you when you were in Mr Allen’s office. Don’t you remember?’
    I took the papers to Jack’s office.
  • I’ll arrive at the hotel at six o’clock. Can you bring the car at six-thirty?
    Can you take the car to the garage tomorrow? I won’t have time. (not Can you bring the car to the garage tomorrow? …)

Joining a movement​

Bring (with) can be used to talk about joining a movement of the speaker’s/hearer’s, even if take is used for the movement itself.

  • I’m taking the kids to the circus tonight. Would you like to come with us and bring Susie?

Somebody else’s position​

Sometimes when we are talking about somebody else (not the speaker or hearer), that person can become the centre of our attention. In that case, we use bring for movements to the place where he/she is (or was or will be). This often happens in stories.

  • He heard nothing for months. Then one day his brother brought him a letter.

American English​

Americans often use bring where British English has take.

  • Let’s go and see Aunt May on Sunday. We can bring a picnic.
note

The difference between come and go is similar. (see here)

For other uses of take, (see here).