Direction decides it: bring is movement towards the place you're speaking from, take is movement away from it. "Can you bring the laptop to my office?" works if you're in the office; "I'll take the laptop to the office" works if you're not. The quick pairing is come/bring and go/take.
It's about where you are
Neither verb describes the object being carried — they describe the direction of travel relative to a point of reference, and that point is usually the speaker.
- Bring your notes to the meeting. — said by someone who will be at the meeting.
- Take your notes to the meeting. — said by someone who won't.
The reference point can shift to the listener, which is why "I'll bring the drinks over tonight" is natural: you are speaking from the perspective of the destination, where your listener already is.
The test
Swap in come and go. Whichever fits, its partner is your verb.
- Are you coming to the party? → Bring a bottle.
- Are you going to the office? → Take these forms with you.
Second check: ask where you will be when the object arrives. If you'll be at the destination, it's bring. If you'll be somewhere else, it's take.
Common slips
The usual mistake is bring for a journey away from everyone involved: I'll bring the parcel to the depot tomorrow. If neither speaker nor listener is at the depot, the standard choice is take. The same goes for I brought my sister to the airport — unless you are speaking from the airport, took is the fit.
Be honest about how it's used
This is not a distinction English speakers police very hard. Loose bring — bring used for movement away — is extremely common in speech everywhere, and in some regions it is simply the local norm. It never causes real confusion. In formal writing, though, the directional rule is expected, and an editor will change it, so it is worth getting right where it counts.
Past tenses catch people out
- bring → brought (never "brang" or "brung" in standard writing)
- take → took → taken ("I have taken", not "I have took")
Fixed phrases override everything
Plenty of idioms use these verbs with no directional logic at all, and you simply learn them as they are: bring up a child, bring about a change, bring something to light, take a photo, take a break, take place, take after your father. Don't try to reason about direction in these — there isn't any.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I bring or take a gift to a party?
If you're speaking to someone who will be at the party, say bring: "I'll bring a bottle." If you're talking to someone staying at home, take is the fit: "I'm taking a bottle to Sam's."
Is "bring it with you" correct?
Yes, when the person is coming to where you are: "Bring it with you when you come." If they're heading elsewhere, use take: "Take it with you when you go."
Is "brang" a word?
Not in standard English. The past tense of bring is brought. Brang and brung exist in some regional dialects but are out of place in writing.