take, bring

[Lenka]

What is the difference between take and bring?

Are they interchangable in the following sentence? Or is it completely incorrect to use one of them?
You should take/bring an umbrella with you in case it starts raining.
(By the way, is the rest of the sentence correct? Shall I rather say "in case it started raining" instead?)

[rewboss]

The tense is fine.

Whether "take" or "bring" is the correct word to use depends on the exact meaning of the sentence. "Bring" usually implies motion towards the speaker; "Take" implies motion anywhere else.

For example, if you are planning to visit me, and we are talking about it on the phone, I might say to you: "You should bring an umbrella..." But if you are already at my house and planning to leave, and there are dark clouds overhead, I might offer you one of my umbrellas and say, "You should take an umbrella..."

But what if, for example, we are planning to go for a walk together? We are moving away from where we are at the moment, but you're not actually taking an umbrella away from me. Then I could use either "bring" or "take", and they would be interchangeable.

[Dr. Jamshid Ibrahim]

But what if, for example, we are planning to go for a walk together? We are moving away from where we are at the moment, but you're not actually taking an umbrella away from me. Then I could use either "bring" or "take", and they would be interchangeable.

This is a very interesting perspective but it is still not clear or depends on what you say. Indeed there are cases where both are interchangeable. Could you give an example of what you have in mind.

[Lenka]

Thank you for the explanation, rewboss!

What about this sentence?:
"If you go to Britain, you should take/bring an umbrella with you as it is very likely to rain."
(BTW, does the sentence sound good? Is it correct to say it like this?)

And what about the sentence with "in case"? Shall I use the present simple or past simple?

[Tdol]

The use of 'go' there suggests that it is away from the speaker, so 'take' is more likely to me.

'in case it rains'

[Lenka]

So, if I used "come" (If you some to Briatin, you should .... an umbrella with you.), I should use "bring", am I right?

[rewboss]

That would be the most natural choice, yes.

[Humble]

Hi,
It's similar to the come - go usage, Lenka.
Cheers