How to Use Bring, Take, Fetch, and Get

Male owner holding takeaway packaged food for customers at concession stand
Maskot / Getty Images

The four verbs bring, take, fetch and get are all used in a similar manner to mean moving an object from one place to another. However, there are key differences to the use of each verb that depend on where the speaker stands in relation to the objects.

How to Use Bring and Take

The use of bring and take is confusing for many students. The choice between bring or take depends on the location of the speaker. If the speaker refers to something that is at her current location, she uses bring. Generally, use bring when something moves from there to here.

  • I'm glad you brought me to this shop. It's great!
  • I'll bring the map with me on the trip.

If the speaker refers to something that has been moved to a different location, she uses take. Generally, use take when something moves from here to there.

  • The children took their books with them to class.
  • Jack took his laptop with him on his trip.

Bring and take have a similar meaning when used with with or along (with). In this case, the expression used refers to including someone or something with you when you travel somewhere.

  • She took her brother along with them on the trip.
  • I brought my book with me so I can read while I wait for you to finish.
  • I took along a copy of the homework assignment just in case I had time to study.

Finally, the verb bring is often used with other prepositions to make phrasal verbs with the same meaning of bringing someone from one place to the place where the speaker is located. These include: bring over and bring by.

  • Could you bring over the game when you come?
  • I'll bring the chairs by when I come on Saturday.

How to Use Fetch and Get

When speaking about going somewhere and getting something and then bringing it back, use get (American English) or fetch (British English).

  • Could you get the newspaper?
  • She fetched her diary and showed him the entry.

Important Phrasal Verbs

Bring, take and get can differ greatly from each other when used as phrasal verbs. Phrasal verbs are verbs that are made up of a main verb followed by one or more prepositions known as particles. The particles of phrasal verbs can change the meaning of the original verb. Here are some of the most common phrasal verbs with bring, take, and get.

Phrasal Verbs With Bring

Here are a number of phrasal verbs with bring with example sentences for context:

  • bring up = raise a child / She brought her child up on her own.
  • bring about = make happen / The change in our strategy brought about immediate success.
  • bring through = keep safe / She brought her parents' treasures through the fire.
  • bring off = succeed in doing / My sister brought off an incredible victory last weekend.
  • bring someone to = make someone to do something / I think she brought him to tears when she told him she wanted to break up.
  • bring back = to restart an older tradition / The fashion industry often brings back certain styles after a few decades.

Phrasal Verbs With Get

Here are a few of the most common phrasal verbs with get:

  • get across = make understood / I hope I got my point across to the students.
  • get around = become well known / She gets around and almost everybody knows her.
  • get by = make just enough money to pay the expenses / Many people are finding it harder and harder to get by these days.
  • get down = be depressed / Sometimes I find this job really gets me down.
  • get down to = start doing something / Let's get down to business and finish the report.
  • get through = finish doing something / We got through the tests with four As and two Bs.

Phrasal Verbs With Take

Finally, here are a number of phrasal verbs with take:

  • take someone around = show someone something / Let me take you around the house.
  • take apart = to deconstruct something / I need to take apart the cupboards and make some repairs.
  • take down = remove something / Could you take down that ugly painting?
  • take in = provide room for / We could take you in for the weekend.
  • take on = begin a new responsibility / She took on a new job.
  • take up = begin learning something new / I'd like to take up a new hobby soon.

Bring, Take, Get Quiz

Choose the best option to complete each gap in the sentences. Pay close attention to time expressions to help you choose the correct tense. Also, look closely to see if the gap is followed by a preposition for phrasal verbs.

1. Did you __________ your homework to class today?
2. How much money did you ______ with you when you went to Hawaii?
3. Please ______ home some food for dinner tonight.
4. I _____ my point across to him last night, so he decided to come with us.
5. We don't need to _____ apart the computer. Let's just _____ it to the store.
6. Did you _____ off the performance at the concert last night?
7. Have you ever _____ up a new hobby that changed your life?
8. Please go to the next room and _____ the newspaper. Thank you.
9. I'll _____ the children by before I leave on the trip next week.
10. Peter _____ me around the town last week and showed me all the sights.
11. Alice has _____ around and made a number of friends over the past few months.
12. Let's begin the meeting. I'd like to _____ down to business and discuss the past quarter's sales.
13. Could you please _____ down that ugly picture?
14. Have you _____ through the book yet?
15. Have you ever ______ up a child?
How to Use Bring, Take, Fetch, and Get
You got: % Correct.

How to Use Bring, Take, Fetch, and Get
You got: % Correct.

How to Use Bring, Take, Fetch, and Get
You got: % Correct.