About "bring" and "take"

Question

I am new to this forum..
Is it correct to say:
Jenny says that she is planning to bring her camera when she goes to her class reunion next week.
or
Jenny says that she is planning to take her camera when she goes to her class reunion next week.

thank you very much
sylvia

MountainHiker · Accepted Answer

Hi Sylvia,

Welcome to the forum.

"Jenny says that she is planning to bring her camera when she goes to her class reunion next week." preferred.

Both are probably acceptable, but I prefer bring.

You bring something TO somewhere or some event. I will bring you a gift.

You take something FROM somewhere or some event. I will take some cookies from the jar.

Also, you TAKE photographs with the camera.

Hope that helps.

MountainHiker

Guest · Answer

I disagree. Since Jenny is not there yet, she will take her camera with her when she goes. When she is there, she will have brought it.

MountainHiker · Answer

Guest,

Welcome. I encourage you to register.

GuruNet.com

USAGE NOTE In most dialects of American English bring is used to denote motion toward the place of speaking or the place from which the action is regarded: Bring it over here. The prime minister brought a large retinue to Washington with her. Take is used to denote motion away from such a place: Take it over there. The President will take several advisers with him when he goes to Moscow. When the relevant point of focus is not the place of speaking itself, the difference obviously depends on the context. We can say either The labor leaders brought or took their requests to the mayor's office, depending on whether we want to describe things from the point of view of the labor leaders or the mayor. Perhaps for this reason, the distinction between bring and take has been blurred in some areas; a parent may say of a child, for example, She always takes a pile of books home with her from school. This usage may sound curious to those who are accustomed to observe the distinction more strictly, but it bears no particular stigma of incorrectness or illiteracy.•The form brung is common in colloquial use in many areas, even among educated speakers, but it is not standard in formal writing.

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2003 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

I think you might be correct. The President example is very similar.

The President will take several advisers with him when he goes to Moscow.

Hope that helps.

MountainHiker

Asdf11391 · Answer

I learned a rule which is mostly true (isn't English fun) - you bring here and take there.  That does cover most cases, but there are always those darned exceptions...

CalifJim · Answer

Hi, Sylvia,

This is a confusing one, isn't it?

Bring when you come; take when you go.

The speaker is thinking of the reunion as near him and Jenny, away from him:
Jenny says that she is planning to bring her camera when she comes to her class reunion next week.

The speaker is thinking of the reunion as away from him and Jenny, near him:
Jenny says that she is planning to take her camera when she goes to her class reunion next week.

Hope that helped.
Jim

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