“Bring” vs. “Take”: What’s the Difference?

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The difference between “bring” and “take”

  • The main difference between "bring" and "take" is the direction of the movement. "Bring" indicates movement toward the speaker or toward a place the speaker is associated with, while "take" indicates movement away from the speaker or from a place the speaker is associated with.
  • Another difference is in the perspective of the speaker. "Bring" is used from the perspective of the person inviting or requesting the action, while "take" is used from the perspective of the person being invited or requested to do the action.
  • "Bring" can imply adding something to the presence of the speaker, while "take" can imply removing something out of the presence of the speaker as in "Can you bring me some tape?" and "Can you take out the trash?"
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What is the definition of “bring” and “take”?

Bring
  • To carry something from a place to the speaker or to a place associated with the speaker.
  • Used when inviting someone to come to a place with you.
  • Can also mean to cause something to happen or to make someone feel a particular way.
Take
  • To carry something from the speaker or from a place associated with the speaker to some other place.
  • Used when indicating where someone is going or traveling to.
  • Can also mean removing something or accepting something that is offered.

Which is the more popular variant on the Internet?

“Take” is the more popular variant on the web.
Bring
2,700,000,000 results on the web
Examples
  1. Please bring the cake to the party tonight.
  2. She always brings her dog to the park.
  3. The new policy will bring rapid changes to the working environment.
More popular
Take
9,340,000,000 results on the web
Examples
  1. They took their children to the amusement park for a fun day.
  2. Don't forget to take your coat; it's cold outside.
  3. Can you take the trash out to the dumpster?
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