Cool MateBring vs Carry vs Convey vs Deliver
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Bring
Carry
Convey
Deliver
| Bring | Carry | Convey | Deliver | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/brɪŋ/","/brɪŋz/","/brɔːt/","/ˈbrɪŋɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/brɪŋ/","/brɪŋz/","/brɔːt/","/ˈbrɪŋɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈkæri/","/ˈkæriz/","/ˈkærid/","/ˈkæriɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈkæri/","/ˈkæriz/","/ˈkærid/","/ˈkæriɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/kənˈveɪ/","/kənˈveɪz/","/kənˈveɪd/","/kənˈveɪɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/kənˈveɪ/","/kənˈveɪz/","/kənˈveɪd/","/kənˈveɪɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/dɪˈlɪvə(r)/","/dɪˈlɪvəz/","/dɪˈlɪvəd/","/dɪˈlɪvərɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/dɪˈlɪvər/","/dɪˈlɪvərz/","/dɪˈlɪvərd/","/dɪˈlɪvərɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | To carry something to a place. | To hold something and move it from one place to another. | To communicate or express something. | to bring something to someone |
| Example | Please bring your books to class tomorrow. | I will carry the groceries into the house. | She used gestures to convey her feelings when words failed. | The courier will deliver the package by noon. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 3,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | A1 | B2 | B1 |
| Part of speech | verb | verb | verb | verb |
| Collocations | bring a gift, bring it back, bring to mind | carry a bag, carry out an assignment, carry someone’s weight, carry a message | clearly, perfectly, powerfully, can, could, try to, to | free of charge, by hand, personally, to, by, via, have something delivered, consistently, effectively, efficiently, on, safely, by Caesarean, by Caesarean section, safely, by Caesarean, by Caesarean section |
| Antonyms | take | drop, leave, abandon | miscommunicate, hide, obscure | receive, withhold, retain |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'take' — remember 'bring' is to the speaker's location, 'take' is away from it., Using 'bring' with uncountable nouns incorrectly, like 'bring water' instead of 'bring a bottle of water.' | Using 'carry' without an object, like saying 'I will carry.', Confusing 'carry' with 'take' when implying movement without physical hold., Incorrectly using 'carry' in passive voice constructions. | Using 'convey' without an object (e.g., saying 'I convey' without specifying what)., Confusing it with 'conveyer' which refers to a type of belt., Mixing up the meaning with 'conveying' as in carrying physical items. | Confused with 'devour' — both start with 'd,' but have different meanings., Using 'delivered' intransitively — 'deliver' needs an object., Saying 'delivering to' without specifying the recipient. |
| Usage notes | Use 'bring' when you are talking about moving something from one place to another where the speaker is. Avoid using it when the object is not physically moving. | Use 'carry' when talking about physically moving something. It's appropriate in most contexts but can be less formal in casual conversations. | Use 'convey' when you want to express an idea or feeling. It's appropriate in both spoken and written language, but might sound a bit formal in everyday conversation. | Used when giving items, messages, or services. Appropriate in most contexts, but avoid in very casual speech. In formal writing, specify what is being delivered. |
Frequently asked questions: Bring vs Carry vs Convey vs Deliver
What's the difference between Bring, Carry, Convey, and Deliver?
Bring: To carry something to a place. Carry: To hold something and move it from one place to another. Convey: To communicate or express something. Deliver: to bring something to someone
Which is more advanced: Bring, Carry, Convey, and Deliver?
Convey is the highest level, at B2, on the CEFR scale.
Are Bring, Carry, Convey, and Deliver the same CEFR level?
Bring: A1, Carry: A1, Convey: B2, Deliver: B1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Bring, Carry, Convey, and Deliver?
Bring: verb, Carry: verb, Convey: verb, Deliver: verb.
Can you show an example of each?
Bring: Please bring your books to class tomorrow. Carry: I will carry the groceries into the house. Convey: She used gestures to convey her feelings when words failed. Deliver: The courier will deliver the package by noon.
Can I use Bring, Carry, Convey, and Deliver interchangeably?
Not always. Bring, Carry, Convey, and Deliver are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.