Conjugation of "Bring" — All Forms, Examples, and Usage
To carry or take something or someone to a place or person.
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All 12 Tenses of "Bring"
Quick reference table — every tense form of "bring" with the first-person example and a link to the grammar guide for that tense.
| Tense | Example (I) | Quick rule |
|---|---|---|
| Simple Present | I bring |
Used for habits, facts, routines, and permanent situations. Full rule → |
| Simple Past | I brought |
Used for completed actions at a specific time in the past. Full rule → |
| Simple Future | I will bring |
Used for predictions, decisions made at the moment, and promises. Full rule → |
| Present Continuous | I am bringing |
Used for actions happening right now or temporary situations. Full rule → |
| Past Continuous | I was bringing |
Used for actions in progress at a specific moment in the past. Full rule → |
| Future Continuous | I will be bringing |
Used for actions that will be in progress at a specific future time. Full rule → |
| Present Perfect | I have brought |
Used for past actions with present relevance, life experiences, or unfinished situations. Full rule → |
| Past Perfect | I had brought |
Used for an action that was completed before another past action. Full rule → |
| Future Perfect | I will have brought |
Used for an action that will be completed before a specific future time. Full rule → |
| Present Perfect Continuous | I have been bringing |
Used for actions that started in the past and continue now, with focus on duration. Full rule → |
| Past Perfect Continuous | I had been bringing |
Used for ongoing actions in the past that continued up to another past moment. Full rule → |
| Future Perfect Continuous | I will have been bringing |
Used for actions that will have been ongoing up until a specific future time. Full rule → |
Past Tense of "Bring" — Brought
The past simple of "bring" is "brought". Use it for completed actions at a specific past time. Because "bring" is irregular, "brought" is not formed by adding -ed — you have to memorize this form. See our simple past tense guide for a deeper explanation of the simple past.
Past Participle of "Bring" — Brought
The past participle of "bring" is "brought". Use it after "have/has/had" for the perfect tenses ("I have brought"), and after "be" for passive constructions ("It was brought"). Because "bring" is irregular, "brought" is not the same as the past simple — students often confuse the two forms.
Is "Bring" Regular or Irregular?
"Bring" is an irregular English verb. Its principal parts are: base form "bring", past simple "brought", and past participle "brought". The 3rd-person singular present is "brings" and the present participle/gerund is "bringing". Conjugation pattern: irregular: bring-brought-brought.
Conjugation pattern: irregular: bring-brought-brought
How to Pronounce "Bring" and Its Forms
Bring: /brɪŋ/ — Stress pattern: O
The 'i' is short like in 'sit'; ng at end is one sound /ŋ/.
Common mispronunciation of "bring"
Learners sometimes confuse bring /brɪŋ/ with rang /ræŋ/ or ring /rɪŋ/.
How to Use "Bring" — Common Grammar Patterns
Use bring when moving toward or to the hearer; use take when moving away or elsewhere.
S + V + O + to-locationS + V + O (without to when receiver implied)
Example Sentences with "Bring" in Different Tenses
- Simple Present: Can you bring your friend to the party on Saturday? A1
Common Collocations with "Bring"
- bring a friend
- bring good news
- bring back memories
When to Use "Bring" vs Similar Verbs
"bring" vs "take"
Both involve movement, but bring = toward speaker; take = away from speaker
Smart synonyms — when to use each one
- carry — when emphasizing holding or moving something
- fetch — when someone gets something and returns with it
Antonyms: take, remove
Common Mistakes with "Bring"
-
Wrong: She bring often.
Correct: She brings often.
Add "s" to the verb when the subject is third-person singular (he/she/it).
Origin and Etymology of "Bring"
Old English 'bringan'; related to German 'bringen', from a root meaning to carry.
Other Forms of "Bring"
- Noun: bringing
Conjugation Tables for "Bring"
Negative Forms
- Simple present: I do not bring · He does not bring
- Simple past: I did not bring · She did not bring
- Present perfect: I have not brought · He has not brought
Question Forms
- Simple present: Do you bring? · Does he bring?
- Simple past: Did you bring?
- Present perfect: Have you brought?
Passive Voice (where applicable)
- Simple present passive: It is brought
- Simple past passive: It was brought
- Present perfect passive: It has been brought
Frequently Asked Questions About "Bring"
- Is "bring" regular or irregular?
- "bring" is an irregular verb. Its past simple is "brought" and past participle is "brought". You must memorize these forms.
- What is the past tense of "bring"?
- The simple past of "bring" is "brought".
- Are the past simple and past participle the same for "bring"?
- Yes, for this irregular verb, both the past simple and past participle are "brought".