Newsgroup: it.cultura.linguistica.inglese
Titolo: bring/take

Hi everybody!
 
in the following sentence
 
       It's your Mum's birthday. Why don't you bring / take her some 
flowers?
 
 
 
"take" is the right verb to use. Could "bring" also be used or is it really 
totally wrong? I do see it as a possibility, but I'm afraid it's just German 
influence!
 
Many thanks!
 
Anna
 
 
 
 


If the person who is speaking lives with your mum, he or she may say
   Why don't you bring her some flowers?
The simple (but not infallible) rule is "Bring HERE, take THERE". One 
exception is "Bring it with you", but "Take it with you" is acceptable 
as well.
 
But wait for a more authoritative (aka native speaker's) answer!
 
Kiuhnm

):

IME in the US there's little distinction made any more.
 
Using 'take,' the nuance is "you're going 'there' with the flowers."
Using 'bring,' the nuance is "you're 'taking the flowers with you.'"
 
The only time I have EVER been corrected for using 'bring' instead of 'take' 
was when an English-speaking Barbadian (i.e., not American) "corrected" me 
for doing so.
 
I suspect usage in the UK might be different.
 
-- 
Joey from New York
Remember: It is To Laugh
 
Among those whom I like or admire, I can find no common denominator,
but among those whom I love, I can:
all of them make me laugh.
   -- WH Auden
 


 
Thank you Kiuhnm and Joe for your answers.
 
My daughter's teacher (an Austrian) does not accept "bring" - that's why I 
wanted to hear the opinion of native speakers or of people who are better 
off than me!
 
Another question:
The same teacher corrects "I like to talk to people" in " I like talking to 
people", in general after "like" she always wants an "-ing" verb.
I always thought that "like to" was ok, what is your opinion?
 
Many thanks!
Anna
 
 

 I always thought that "like to" was ok, what is your opinion?
 
I'd like to [sic] point out that "I like to" is perfectly fine.
 
If I were to follow the teacher's rule I would end up saying "I like pointing 
out that 'I like to' is perfectly fine," which sounds ridiculous, and has a 
totally different connotation.
 
Granted, "I like talking to people" is slightly more sensible, as it implies 
an ongoing preference: that of talking to people. I like to think of it that 
way. :)
 
It seems to me this teacher needs to learn that personal preferences don't 
make good education.
 
But also, in fairness, keep in mind that English usage varies from 
English-speaking country to English-speaking country. (Such as the Barbadian 
correcting me for using "bring.") And on that subject, I don't understand the 
teacher's not accepting the word "bring" outright.


"Joe from NY" <g...@invalid.invalid> schrieb im Newsbeitrag 
news:0001HW.CB0230B0...@news.eternal-september.org...

Well, yes, the teacher is making me crazy! I know I badly need to brush off 
my English, but I have spent 4 years of my life in the States and have 
studied at an American college, besides that I've worked for several years 
as a technical writer (in English) so I don't think my English is completely 
useless! Nevertheless I often think she is correcting good sentences ... 
then writes things like "this belongs to *the* dad"!!! (In German you use 
articles much more often than in English)!
 
Sorry - I'm so angry! And one reason is that my daughter, being dyslexic, 
has great difficulties in English and I wish the teacher wouldn't mark as 
wrong things that are perfectly acceptable to native speakers!
 
I will certainly have more questions soon!
 
Thank you all for your kind answers! :-)
Anna 
 
 

):

Based on your history and your writing experience, it's clear you know the 
difference between formal or technical writing and casual conversation. Your 
English, by the way, is impeccable. Much unlike my Italian would be: peccable 
as all get-out. :)
 
It's too bad this teacher is causing problems. The only time "for the dad" is 
acceptable would be in a sentence like "The XXX is for the Mom; the YYY is 
for the Dad." It doesn't sound like that's the situation, though.
 
I hope you are able to review your daughter's school work and revise those 
'corrections' that are 'incorrect,' hoping to instill some confidence in your 
child. There could be two lessons for her there: the correct use of an 
English phrase and the deeper, more meaningful notion that not all 
teachers/people are perfect. Your daughter could very well end up knowing 
more than her teacher.
 
Anger, when justified, isn't always a bad thing. Just remember to vent 
appropriately and take deep breaths.


 wrong things that are perfectly acceptable to native speakers!
 
I will assume that you are right in your criticism of the teacher. 
However, it might be a better life lesson to teach your daughter that 
figures in authority are not always right, and often do not have the 
ability to understand that they are not right. Either that, or pick your 
battles carefully, because English grammar is field with more opinions 
than rules, and the teaching profession often draws personalities who 
view the world in a rather compressed contrast ratio. They often see the 
classroom as their domain, and the last thing you would want would be an 
angry, passive-aggressive teacher playing out his or her insecurities at 
the expense of your daughter.


 
Thank you, Joe and Tony, for your answers!
 
About the "the dad" question, of course I didn't give you enough context, 
but I can assure you the article was not needed in that particular sentence.
 
I know that grammar is a very complex field, that's why I'm asking natives 
about their opinion. I am going to discuss your answers with my daughter, of 
course, but I'll tell her to write what the teacher expects! A discussion 
with the teacher about proper English would certainly be interesting, but it 
would ruin my daughter's (already shakey) school career.
 
More questions will come sooner or later!
Anna