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#106 The differences between Bring, Carry, Fetch, and Take – ESL

Episode 106

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Full lesson

Read the Transcript

Follow the text while you listen, then repeat useful sentences aloud.

Hi, dear listener! I'm Georgiana, founder of the Speak English Now podcast. My mission is to help you to speak English fluently. Speaking English is way easier when you use the right material and techniques.

Do you know the difference between the words "bring," "carry," "fetch," and "take?"

SpeakEnglishPodcast.com/podcast >

If the answer is no, this is going to be a very useful episode for you.

I'll start by explaining the meaning of each of these terms with some examples.

And in the second part of this lesson, you are going to practice your speech with a funny mini-story.

Ok! Let’s begin this new episode!

When do we use the word "BRING"?

1) "Bring" means to conduct something/someone to come with, to, or toward the speaker.

Examples:

"Jason, please bring me a beer."

"He brought his brother to the hospital."

When do we use the word TAKE?

2) "Take" means taking something/someone away from where you are, or when the person making the request is NOT at the intended destination."

Examples:

"Am I allowed to take library books home with me?"

"Can I take you to the movies tonight?"

"Could you take these files to Jame's office?"

The following examples will help you to remember the differences between "bring" and "take":

Examples:

"You bring something/someone here, and you take something there. "

"You bring something/someone toward a person, and you take something away from a person."

So far so good?

Ok. Let’s continue.

When do we use the word CARRY?

3) To "carry" means to move while holding something/someone, in a vehicle, in our hand or body. We use it when the person making the request is NOT at the intended destination.

Examples:

"Bill, would you please carry my suitcase?"

"Tom is carrying me in his arms."

When do we use the word "FETCH"?

4) "FETCH" means to go and bring back or to return something/someone.

Examples:

"Rex, fetch the ball!"

"Sandra, go and fetch the doctor!"

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Speaking Practice

Mini-Story: Speaking Practice

Answer each question out loud, then listen to the answer and respond quickly. Don’t worry about mistakes.

Q&A

Speaking practice

Let’s Start!

Tom had a perfect life. He spent the whole day, giving orders to his servants.

Did Tom have a terrible life?

No. No. He didn't have a terrible life. His life was perfect.

Tom spent all day receiving orders from his servants. Right?

No. No. He didn't receive any orders from his servants. He gave the orders.

To whom did he give orders?

To his children?

No. No. He didn't give orders to his children. He gave orders to his servants.

What did Tom spend?

Did he spend his money?

No. Tom didn't spend his money. He spent his time giving orders.

In the morning, he told his butler to bring him breakfast in bed.

When did he tell his butler something?

In the morning. He told his butler something in the morning.

What did Tom tell his butler?

Did he tell him to open the door?

No. No. Tom didn't tell his butler to open the door. He told him to bring his breakfast.

Where was the butler supposed to bring breakfast?

In the dining room?

No. No. The butler wasn't supposed to bring breakfast into the dining room. He had to bring it to Tom’s bed.

In the afternoon, he asked his chauffeur (car driver) to take him to the golf club.

Did he ask the chauffeur in the afternoon or in the evening?

In the afternoon. Tom asked the chauffeur in the afternoon.

Did he ask the chauffeur to take him to the supermarket?

No. No. He didn't ask the chauffeur to take him to the supermarket. He asked the chauffeur to take him to the golf club.

Did Tom ask the butler to take him to the golf club?

No. No. He didn't ask the butler. Tom asked the chauffeur to take him to the golf club.

In the evening, he ordered his dog to fetch some tennis balls.

Did Tom order anyone?

Yes, he ordered his dog to do something.

So what did Tom order his dog to do?

He ordered his dog to fetch some tennis balls.

Did the dog have to catch tennis balls or golf balls?

Not golf balls. Tom's dog had to fetch tennis balls.

At night, Tom suddenly wakes up, and he slowly realizes that it was all a dream.

Did he wake up slowly or suddenly?

Suddenly. He woke up suddenly.

Tom continued sleeping. Right?

No.No. Tom didn't continue sleeping. He woke up.

Did Tom realize it was a dream?

Yes. Tom realized it was just a dream.

Poor Tom! He woke up realizing that everything was a dream. Hopefully, his dream will come true someday. Who knows, he may receive an inheritance from a distant relative.

Thanks for listening, and I’ll see you in the next episode.

Review

Vocabulary from This Episode

Review the most useful words and expressions before listening again.

01 bring

move something toward the speaker or destination.

05 butler

a household employee who manages service in a home.

02 take

move something away from the speaker or current place.

06 chauffeur

a person employed to drive a vehicle.

03 carry

move something while holding or supporting it.

07 servant

someone employed to perform household duties.

04 fetch

go somewhere, get something, and bring it back.

08 destination

the place to which someone or something is going.

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2 Comments

  1. Mirelys

    Hello ticher love you class 😘 is very important for me thanks

    Reply
  2. Lin Huei Chung

    Hi, Georgiana, Thanks so much . It’s really effective to improve my English speaking by your “just listening” method. In the past decade, I’ve tried too many ways and used too much time in English learning but there was only limited effect I’ve gained. Sometimes, I even think: Maybe I won’t be able to do good in English speaking in my life no matter how hard I try to learn it. But now, with your method, I bring my confidence back. I believe I can also speak English fluently and confidently in the future if I continue the habit of listening step by step every day.
    Thank you again.

    Reply

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