Cool MateBring vs Carry vs Convey vs Deliver vs Transport
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Bring
Top 1,000 (very common)A1verb
Carry
Top 1,000 (very common)A1verb
Convey
Top 3,000 (common)B2verb
Deliver
Top 1,000 (very common)B1verb
Transport
Top 1,000 (very common)A2noun
| Bring | Carry | Convey | Deliver | Transport | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈtrænspɔːt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈtrænspɔːrt/"]/ |
| 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 | To carry something from one place to another. |
| 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. | We need a good transport system to reduce traffic in the city. |
| Register | Neutral | 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) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | A1 | B2 | B1 | A2 |
| Part of speech | verb | verb | verb | verb | noun |
| 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 | public, cheap, efficient, use, arrange, provide, facilities, provision, services, without transport, access to transport, a form of transport, a means of transport, public, cheap, efficient, use, arrange, provide, facilities, provision, services, without transport, access to transport, a form of transport, a means of transport, public, cheap, efficient, use, arrange, provide, facilities, provision, services, without transport, access to transport, a form of transport, a means of transport, army, military, cargo, aircraft, helicopter, plane |
| Antonyms | take | drop, leave, abandon | miscommunicate, hide, obscure | receive, withhold, retain | halt, stop, stay |
| 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. | Confused with 'transmit' which means to send information., Using 'transportation' incorrectly as a verb., Mixing up the object placement in sentences. |
| 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. | Often used in formal contexts like logistics and planning. Not typically used in casual conversation unless discussing travel or moving goods. |
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Frequently asked questions: Bring vs Carry vs Convey vs Deliver vs Transport
What's the difference between Bring, Carry, Convey, Deliver, and Transport?
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 Transport: To carry something from one place to another.
Which is more advanced: Bring, Carry, Convey, Deliver, and Transport?
Convey is the highest level, at B2, on the CEFR scale.
Are Bring, Carry, Convey, Deliver, and Transport the same CEFR level?
Bring: A1, Carry: A1, Convey: B2, Deliver: B1, Transport: A2 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Bring, Carry, Convey, Deliver, and Transport?
Bring: verb, Carry: verb, Convey: verb, Deliver: verb, Transport: noun.
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. Transport: We need a good transport system to reduce traffic in the city.
Can I use Bring, Carry, Convey, Deliver, and Transport interchangeably?
Not always. Bring, Carry, Convey, Deliver, and Transport 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.