How to Tell the Differences Between Bring and Brought

Last Updated: December 27, 2022

In English, bring and brought are used almost every day. But are you confused about their meaning and the difference between them? This article will help.

Steps

1
Take a look at the meanings and tense differences between these two words.^{[1]
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- Bring is a verb that means to come to a place or convey a meaning and is a present-tense verb. Example: 'I will bring you some chocolates.'
- Brought means exactly the same as above, but that it has already happened (past tense of bring. Brought means to bring about cause to happen.
  - Example- 'I brought you some chocolates.'
2
Recognize when you should use the word bring. Bring is the word you should use when you want something and that item isn't with you.^{[2]
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3
Recognize what word you should use when you don't have the necessary ability to bring an item to you. The word you should use, when you don't have this ability, is to use brought. When you have already walked an item over to the person, use brought in place of bring.^{[3]
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4
Recognize the future tense verb of the word "bring" is "will bring". It can never be "will brought". When you listen to native English speakers, you'll never hear them say "will brought".^{[4]
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Community Q&A

Question

"She told me I didn't brought/bring the documents." Which one is correct?

Community Answer

Bring is correct.
Question

"Please give me paper" or "Can you give me paper?" Which one is correct?

Community Answer

They are both correct. "Can you please give me paper?" would be the most polite version.
Question

"Hope you have bring" or "...have brought"?

Tom De Backer

Top Answerer

Correct is "...have brought. After 'you have', you need a past participle. Other examples are: you have done, you have said, you have seen.

Warnings

It's easy to think of bring as being present tense, because the future of these actions are often very near. Though the future may only be an instant later, it is still in the future.

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