Have you ever wondered whether you should say bring, take, or fetch? These three common English verbs seem simple, but they cause confusion for many English learners.
In today’s podcast, we’ll explain the differences between them, explore common collocations and expressions, look at useful phrasal verbs and idioms, and help you sound more natural and confident in everyday English.
Voice message from Carla from Argentina
BRING vs TAKE (closely connected to come and go https://inglespodcast.com/626 )
BRING: Carry something toward a person/place. The object moves toward the speaker or destination.
Bring some beer when you come over.
Can you bring me some water?
Irregular verb: bring – brought – brought
Reza brought some biscuits for our coffee break.
Have you brought your laptop?
Common collocations with bring
Bring attention to (to make people notice something)
Bring tears to someone’s eyes (to make someone cry out of sadness or happiness)
Bring something to the table (to offer something in a negotiation)
Bring to justice (to catch a criminal and try them in a court of law)
Bring up the rear (to be the last in a line of people)
Bring the house down (to receive enthusiastic applause)
Phrasal verbs with bring
Bring up (a topic – Let’s not bring up her brother’s death. She still gets very upset)
Bring about (cause something to happen – The new policy brought about significant changes)
Bring out (to reveal a hidden/suppressed characteristic in someone – This music really brings out the dancer in me. I can’t stop moving my body to the rhythm)
Bring back (return something or remind someone of the past – This song brings back memories)
Bring forward (move to an earlier date – The meeting has been brought forward to tomorrow)
Bring off (accomplish something difficult – Despite the overwhelming odds against them, the small group of rebels managed to bring off the revolution)
TAKE: Carry something away from a person/place. The object moves away from the current location.
Take an umbrella.
I’ll take the documents to the office (go there with them).
He took his children to school.
Common collocations with take
take notes – Write down important information so you can remember it.
take responsibility – Accept that something is your duty or that you are accountable for it.
take a break – Stop what you’re doing for a short time to rest.
Let’s take a break after this podcast!
take a photo
take a seat – Sit down.
take a chance – Do something despite the risk because you hope for a good result.
He took a chance and applied for the job.
take medicine – Swallow or use medication to treat an illness or condition.
take someone/something for granted – Fail to appreciate someone or something because you assume they will always be there.
take it easy – Relax, don’t worry, or avoid working too hard.
Take a leaf out of someone’s book (to copy someone’s good example)
Take your time (not to hurry)
Take someone for a fool (to consider someone easy to deceive)
Take the mickey/*piss (to make fun of or mock someone) *slightly rude
Phrasal Verbs with take
Take off (plane, business, clothes)
Take to (to start liking something/someone – Pat took to boxing as soon as he put the gloves on for the first time)
Take on (staff, employees, cheat someone)
Take up (to start a new hobby – I’ve taken up running to lose some weight)
Take over (a company)
Take back (return to a shop)
Take after (to resemble a family member – Steve takes after his dad. They’re both tall)
FETCH: Go somewhere, get something, and return with it.
Can you fetch my glasses from the kitchen?
Fetch is slightly more common in British English. American English often prefers “go get”
“I’ll go get/fetch my jacket from the other room.”
How is fetch different from bring?
“Craig, can you bring me some water?” Craig is in the kitchen and the focus is on arriving with the water.
“Craig, can you fetch me some water?” Craig goes to the kitchen, gets some water and then arrives with it.
Historically, fetch was much more common than it is today. In modern everyday English, native speakers often prefer get, pick up or collect.
For example:
I’ll fetch the kids from school.
but many speakers would naturally say:
I’ll pick up the kids from school.
I’ll collect the kids from school.
“Coco! Fetch the ball – good doggie!” (Fetch is still very popular when addressing dogs, as they respond better to monosyllabic words.)
…and now it’s your turn to practise your English. Can you think of two or three English words that you find confusing. Tell us about them and we’ll create a podcast for you.
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In next week’s episode: Movement Vocabulary in English | Walk, Stroll, Wander, Leap & More
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The music in this podcast is by Pitx. The track is called ‘See You Later’