Bring / Take
Sometimes I get confused on when to use one or the other.
For example: are these two sentences the same?
Bring this to the kitchen.
Take this to the kitchen.
When are the two words interchangeable and when not?
4 Answers
It communicates perspective of the speaker.
If you are in the kitchen, you tell someone to bring something to the kitchen. (something comes closer to you)
If you are somewhere else, you tell someone to take something to the kitchen. (something does not come closer to you)
The best, shortest, examples you can learn for remembering this are:
Take it away!
Bring it here!
I think pesta's answer pretty much sums it all up.
Bring = From there to here.
E.g. Please bring your homework (from home to school) to school tomorrow.
Take = From here to there.
E.g. I will take the dog for a walk (from home to outside).
Fetch = Go there without the item, pick the item up there, come here with the item.
E.g. Please fetch the washing in from the line. (Go out empty handed, get the washing off the line, come in with the washing.)
"Bring this to the kitchen" would be used when you are tellling someone to bring something with them when they come in the future, especiallly when the speaker will be there.Example:" When you get back with the groceries, bring this to the kitchen" while the speaker was saying this he would be holding an object or referring to the object you are to bring.
"Take this to the kitchen" would be used like a comand when the speaker will not be there, at least for a time.
And if I am the one doing it, what should I use? Is it the same?
Are these two correct?
I'll bring the food (here) tomorrow.
I'll take him to the doctor tomorrow.
Is it incorrect to say I'll bring him to the doctor tomorrow?
