Bought vs. Brought: Easy Differences Explained

Bought vs. Brought

Many people get mixed up with the words bought and brought. They look alike, but they have different meanings. Let’s learn about them!

History

The word bought comes from the old word buy, meaning to get something by paying for it. Brought comes from the old word bring, meaning to carry something with you.

How to Use Them

Bought means you paid money for something.

Brought means you carried something with you.

Trick to Remember the Difference

A trick to remember is: Bought has the word buy in it. Think of money. Brought has the word bring in it. Think of carrying.

Examples of Bought

• I bought a new book.
• She bought an ice cream.
• They bought presents for us.
• He bought a toy car.
• We bought some apples.

Examples of Brought

• I brought my dog to the park.
• She brought cookies to the party.
• They brought their kids to school.
• He brought a blanket to the picnic.
• We brought gifts for you.

Summary

Bought and brought may look similar, but they are different. Bought means you paid for something. Brought means you carried something with you. Remember: Buy=bought and Bring=brought! This will help you use the right word every time.