Bring means to carry something to the place where the speaker or the listener is; take means to carry something to another place, or to have it with you when you go there. The choice depends on direction: towards you or away from you.
bring or take — can you pick the right one?
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bring + something + here / to + person; take + something + to + place; bring (brought, brought); take (took, taken)
- Can you bring some snacks when you come to my place tonight?
- Don't forget to take an umbrella to the office because it's going to rain.
- Please take these letters to the post office and bring the receipt back to me.
What changed
First versionPlease take some drinks when you come to my birthday party.
RevisionPlease bring some drinks when you come to my birthday party.
The host is asking guests to carry drinks to the party, which is where the host will be, so the movement is towards the speaker. That needs bring. The idea of taking something with you when you leave home can make take seem right, but take means moving something to a place where the speaker is not.
If you are the guest, you use take for your own things: I'll take a cake to Anna's party. Anna herself will write to her guests: Please bring something sweet. When there is no direction at all, just the idea of getting hold of something, the verb is also take: Take a seat, take my hand.
Your turn
I'm at the office, and I've left my charger at home. Could you ___ it here at lunchtime?
Show the answer
bring — The speaker is at the office and wants the charger brought to them, as here shows. So the answer is bring. Take would mean the charger is carried away from the speaker to another place.
You are inviting friends to a picnic. Write what you will ask them to bring and say what you will take home yourself after the picnic.
Please bring a blanket and some fruit, and I'll take the leftovers home after the picnic.
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