What you will learn:
16 phrasal verbs with ‘bring’ (with example sentences)
1. BRING ABOUT
- Cause something to happen
Government investment in infrastructure brought about huge changes to society.
Social media has brought about big changes in how children interact.
2. BRING ALONG
- Take someone or something with you when you go somewhere
“Is it ok if I bring along a friend to the party?” – “Sure, everyone is welcome!”
I brought along my camera to the museum in case I wanted to take some photos.
3. BRING AROUND
- Change someone’s view or opinion
At first she didn’t agree that exercise was important but I managed to bring her around to my opinion. - Bring something with you when you visit
I’ll bring around a bottle of wine when I come over later. - Make someone conscious after being unconscious
He fainted so we splashed cold water on his face to bring him around.
4. BRING AWAY
- Learn or gain something valuable, often through experience
I brought away a lot from my cooking classes.
5. BRING BACK
- To return something
My clock stopped working so I brought it back to the shop. - Think about memories/feelings from the past
Those photos bring back memories of our holidays in Spain. - Reintroduce something from past
It would be a very bad idea to bring back slavery. - Re-employ
They’re bringing back their old football manager in the hope that he can turn their season around. - Save someone’s life when they almost died
His heart stopped but they managed to bring him back. - Talk about something you’ve already spoken about
That brings us back to our original point: We need to regulate guns.
6. BRING DOWN
- Fall/collapse
No one knows what brought down the Malaysian airplane in 2014. - Topple/overturn a government
The government was brought down by the corruption scandal. - Make someone feel bad emotionally
David is so negative, he always brings down my mood. - To reduce something/make it lower
The Prime Minister’s aim was to bring down unemployment by half.
7. BRING FORTH (old/formal)
- Cause something to happen/to create or generate something
Her complaint brought forth changes to the company’s policies. - To produce something
The old trees in the garden brought forth apples and pears each year. - To give birth to (old-fashioned)
She brought forth four sons and one daughter.
8. BRING FORWARD
- Change the date or time of an event so that it happens earlier
They brought forward the meeting to 11am as they had another appointment in the afternoon. - Announce a plan or proposal so people can consider it
The Ministry of Defense will bring forward their budget next week.
9. BRING IN
- Use skills of a particular group or person, invite them into an organisation or job
We brought in a marketing expert for the campaign launch. - To make or earn money
With my main job and my freelance work I bring in around £40,000 a year. - To introduce a new law or system
In 2015 the new tax law was brought in throughout the country. - To involve someone new in a discussion or conversation you’re having
At this point I’d like to bring in my colleague Anna, who has some interesting information on this issue.
10. BRING OFF
- Succeed at something that is difficult
It was a very difficult presentation but she brought it off.
If he can bring off this deal he’ll be a very rich man.
11. BRING ON
- Cause something to happen/appear (often related to an illness, pain etc.)
Jane’s illness was brought on by stress.Bring something on - Confidence in meeting a challenge
“Bet I can run up that hill faster than you.”
“Bring it on!”
12. BRING OUT
- Produce a new product
Toyota brought out a new, environmentally-friendly car this year. - To stress, highlight or reveal something
That colour really brings out your blue eyes.
He was such a great teacher that he always brought out the best in his students. - To publish something
When are you bringing out your new book?
13. BRING OVER
- Physically take someone or something from one place to another, especially someone’s home
She’s going to bring over a film on DVD this evening.
David is bringing over his new girlfriend this afternoon.
14. BRING ROUND
- Regain consciousness (in particular after someone faints)
We were worried it was more serious but the doctors managed to bring her round. - Convince or change someone’s opinion or point of view
He didn’t believe in gun control but we discussed it and managed to bring him round. - To come to someone’s home with something
Could you bring round some wine when you come for dinner tonight?
15. BRING TO
- Make someone regain consciousness
After she fainted, the doctors brought her to. - Cause a ship/vessel to stop
We’re approaching the harbor so let’s bring the boat to.
16. BRING UP
- To mention a topic or subject in a conversation
Don’t bring up that topic with Sarah or she’ll get annoyed. - To raise children or animals, the place someone was raised
She brought up three children all on her own.
I was brought up in London. - To vomit
I got food poisoning last night and brought up everything I ate. - To open a program or website to view on a computer screen
My Google search brought up some very interesting results.
Could you bring up that email so I can take another look?
Exercises: phrasal verbs with ‘bring’
Task A
Match the ‘bring’ phrasal verbs 1-8 with their correct meanings a-h:
- Bring forward
- Bring down
- Bring to
- Bring around
- Bring about
- Bring up
- Bring in
- Bring round
- To change someone’s view or opinion
- To mention a topic or subject in a conversation
- To change the date or time of an event so that it happens earlier
- To regain consciousness (in particular after someone faints)
- To make someone feel bad emotionally
- To cause something to happen
- To involve someone new in a discussion or conversation you’re having
- To bring something with you when you visit
Task B
Choose the correct ‘bring’ phrasal verb to complete the sentences below:
- I was brought up/brought in/brought around in South America but I live in Europe now.
- I’m looking forward to seeing you later for dinner. Could you bring in/bring round/bring up some wine when you come?
- The doctors thought that too much stress had brought forth/brought out/brought on the illness.
- As the project was so important we decided to bring on/bring in/bring to external consultants to advise us.
- This song always brings back/brings along/brings round memories of my childhood.
- We argued for hours about it but in the end I managed to bring her back/around/over.
- It would be a good idea to bring along/bring back/bring forth a camera as it’s very beautiful in the forest.
- The war brought about/brought in/brought up a revolution.
Task C
Fill in the gaps with an appropriate ‘bring’ phrasal verb:
- Could you __________ my DVD when you come round later?
- Our company __________ over £1 million profit last year.
- The place where I was __________ is very small, unlike the place I live now.
- He never figured out what _____________ the pain but we thought it was psychological.
- After she passed out, the doctors ______ her ______ with some medicine.
- She was very ill, she __________ all her food.
- If we __________ the dinner to 6pm then we can get to the theatre in time.
- The dress was just a bit too tight so I _____ it _____ to the shop.
Check your answers:
Task A 1. c | Task B 1. Brought up | Task C 1. Bring around/round/over |