The verb 'bring' alone means to carry something to a place — bring me the book, bring it here. But when 'bring' combines with a particle, it makes phrasal verbs with very different meanings. 'Bring up' (raise a child / raise a topic / vomit). 'Bring about' (cause to happen). 'Bring back' (return / restore / remind of). 'Bring in' (introduce / earn money / hire). 'Bring on' (cause to start). 'Bring out' (release a product / reveal a quality). 'Bring forward' (move to earlier). 'Bring down' (cause to fall / reduce). Each is its own fixed expression. Many have multiple meanings. Students need to learn each phrasal verb and watch context. Eleventh in the verb-root phrasal verb series after get, put, take, come/go, look, make, turn, and topic-based lessons.
Before you start — think honestly about your own teaching and experience.
Look at the examples. Answer each question before reading the explanation — this is how your students will learn too.
1. RAISE A CHILD (parent role):
My grandmother brought me up after my parents died.
They are bringing up three children.
2. RAISE A TOPIC, mention in conversation:
I did not want to bring up the difficult subject at the meeting.
Why did you bring up his name?
3. VOMIT (formal alternative to throw up — see #114):
The child brought up his lunch when he was sick.
Why does 'bring up' have these three meanings?
'Bring up' has three common meanings, all related to the basic idea of bringing something up — making it appear or come into a higher state. Raising a child uses 'bring up' for the long process of helping them grow up. Raising a topic uses 'bring up' for making it appear in conversation — bringing it into the discussion. Vomiting (formal — bringing food up from the stomach) uses the literal direction. Context tells which meaning. With a child or family, raising. With a topic or subject, mentioning. With food or feeling sick, vomiting (less common in casual speech — throw up is more usual). Students should know all three meanings. The raising-a-child meaning is particularly common in adult life conversations.
BRING ABOUT (= cause to happen):
The new policy brought about important changes.
Climate change is bringing about extreme weather.
The leader's actions brought about peace.
BRING BACK (= return / restore / remind of):
Please bring back the books to the library. (return)
This song brings back memories of my childhood. (remind)
They are bringing back the old uniform. (restore)
What is the difference?
'Bring about' is for causing something to happen — a change, a result, an event. 'The new law brought about changes' (caused changes). 'Bring back' has three meanings. Return (the simplest) — bring something physically back. Restore (re-establishing something old) — 'they are bringing back the old menu'. Remind of (causing memories to come back) — 'this song brings back memories'. Each fits a different context. The remind meaning is particularly common in emotional contexts — 'The smell of bread brings back childhood memories.' Students who know these phrasal verbs can describe causes, returns, and memories naturally. Students who use formal alternatives ('caused', 'returned', 'reminded') sound more stilted.
BRING IN (= introduce / earn money / hire):
The government brought in a new tax. (introduced)
My job brings in a good salary. (earns)
They brought in a consultant to help. (hired — also #113)
BRING ON (= cause to start):
The stress brought on a headache.
Cold weather can bring on a cold.
Who brought on this discussion?
Bring on (challenges):
Bring it on! (= I am ready for the challenge — informal)
Why do students need these specific meanings?
'Bring in' has three useful meanings. Introduce a new policy, law, or system. Earn money from a job or business. Hire someone from outside (covered also in lesson #113 on work phrasal verbs). 'The government brought in a new policy.' 'My business brings in good money.' 'They brought in an expert.' All three are common in business and political contexts. 'Bring on' is for causing something to start — usually negative things like illness, stress, headaches. 'The cold weather brought on a cold.' 'The stress brought on a headache.' 'Bring it on!' is a casual challenge — saying you are ready for difficulty. Useful in informal contexts. Students should know all the meanings. Bring in for introducing/earning/hiring, bring on for causing.
| Phrasal verb | Meaning | Example | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| bring up | 1. Raise a child / 2. Raise a topic / 3. Vomit (formal) | They brought up three children. / Why bring that up? / He brought up his lunch. | Three meanings — context decides. |
| bring about | Cause to happen | The policy brought about changes. | For changes and results. |
| bring back | 1. Return / 2. Restore / 3. Remind of | Bring back the book. / They brought back the old uniform. / The song brings back memories. | Three meanings. |
| bring in | 1. Introduce / 2. Earn / 3. Hire | Bring in a new law. / The job brings in good money. / Bring in an expert. | Three meanings — common in business. |
| bring on | Cause to start (often negative) | Stress brought on a headache. | For illnesses, problems. |
| bring out | 1. Release product / 2. Reveal a quality | They brought out a new phone. / The trip brought out the best in him. | Two meanings — release and reveal. |
| bring forward | Move to earlier (date or time) | They brought forward the meeting to Monday. | For schedules and dates. |
| bring down | 1. Cause to fall / 2. Reduce | The protest brought down the government. / They brought down prices. | For political and economic contexts. |
| bring along | Take with you | Bring along your laptop. | For things you carry to a place. |
NOTE 1 — Bring up has three meanings: Raising a child (parent role). Raising a topic (mention). Vomiting (formal — throw up is more casual). Context tells which.
NOTE 2 — Bring about for causing: 'Bring about' is the standard for causing changes or results. Similar to 'cause' but more dynamic. Common in news and formal writing.
NOTE 3 — Bring back has three meanings: Return physically. Restore (re-establish something old). Remind of (memories). Different contexts.
NOTE 4 — Bring in for business: 'Bring in' for introducing policies, earning money, or hiring outside help. Common in business and political contexts.
NOTE 5 — Bring on for negatives: 'Bring on' usually causes negative things to start (illness, stress, headache). 'Bring it on!' is a casual challenge — different (positive ready-for-challenge meaning).
Bring phrasal verbs are highly productive. The multiple meanings of 'bring up', 'bring back', and 'bring in' especially need attention. Students who know these chunks can read and produce many sentences. Eleventh in the verb-root phrasal verb series. Connects to other phrasal verb lessons (get, put, take, come/go, look, make, turn) and to topic-based lessons (problems, work, health).
Drill the multiple meanings of bring up specifically — the three meanings are common and confused. Use clear context examples. Raising a child (long-term parenting). Raising a topic (in conversation). Vomiting (medical). Then drill bring about (cause), bring back (return/restore/remind), bring in (introduce/earn/hire). Real examples make the multiple meanings memorable.
Choose the correct bring phrasal verb for each situation.
Each sentence has a problem with a bring phrasal verb. Suggest a better version and explain.
Use this sequence directly in class — guided discovery, no textbook needed. Tap each step to mark it done.
STEP 1 — Bring with multiple meanings (4 min): Establish that bring phrasal verbs often have multiple meanings. Bring up has three. Bring back has three. Bring in has three. Multiple meanings are common with bring. Students need to read context.
STEP 2 — Bring up — three meanings (8 min): Drill the three meanings carefully. Raise a child. Raise a topic. Vomit (formal). Different contexts. The raise-a-child meaning is most common in personal stories. The raise-a-topic meaning is most common in conversations. The vomit meaning is less common (throw up is more casual). Practise five examples.
STEP 3 — Bring about (5 min): Drill bring about (cause to happen). For changes, results, events. 'The new policy brought about changes.' 'Climate change is bringing about extreme weather.' Practise five examples.
STEP 4 — Bring back — three meanings (7 min): Drill the three meanings of bring back. Return (literal). Restore (bring back the old menu). Remind of (brings back memories). Match each to a context. The 'remind of' meaning takes 'memories' or 'thoughts' as object.
STEP 5 — Bring in and bring on (6 min): Drill bring in (introduce, earn, hire — three meanings). Bring on (cause to start, usually negative). Show the differences between bring about (general cause) and bring on (specifically negative things). Practise five examples each.
Use directly in class — copy, adapt, or read aloud. No printing needed.
For each strategy, choose the option that best describes where you are now.
Your feedback helps other teachers and helps us improve TeachAnyClass.