Brought vs. Bought: What’s the Difference?

Brought and bought sound similar but come from two different verbs:

• Brought → the past tense of bring (to carry something).
• Bought → the past tense of buy (to purchase something).

Let’s look at them closely with examples to make sure you never mix them up again.

Brought: The Past Tense of “Bring”

Meaning

“Brought” means carried, took, or led something or someone from one place to another.
If you are moving or delivering something, you bring it — and in the past, you brought it.

Examples (10 total)

1. She brought cookies to the party.
2. He brought his laptop to work.
3. They brought their kids to the zoo.
4. I brought your book back.
5. She brought flowers for the teacher.
6. We brought our dog on the trip.
7. He brought up an interesting point.
8. You brought joy to everyone here.
9. The waiter brought the check.
10. The storm brought heavy rain to the city.

🧠 Tip:
If you can replace the word with “carried,” “delivered,” or “took,” it’s brought.

Bought: The Past Tense of “Buy”

Meaning

“Bought” means purchased something — you paid money to get it.
If you buy something today, you bought it yesterday.

Examples (10 total)

1. I bought a new phone last week.
2. She bought groceries for dinner.
3. They bought tickets to the concert.
4. We bought our house in 2020.
5. He bought a gift for his mom.
6. She bought coffee for everyone.
7. I bought this jacket on sale.
8. They bought a car together.
9. He bought a round of drinks.
10. We bought flowers for the office.

🧠 Tip:
If you can replace it with “paid for” or “purchased,” it’s bought.

Quick Comparison Table

Common Mistakes

❌ I bought my friend to the party.
✅ I brought my friend to the party.

❌ I brought a new phone yesterday.
✅ I bought a new phone yesterday.

💡 Memory Trick:

“Brought” = Bring → motion.
“Bought” = Buy → money.

Why People Confuse Them

They both sound similar and share a -ought ending, but they describe completely different actions:

• Brought = action (moving something).
• Bought = transaction (spending money).

Even AI sometimes mixes them, which is why Humanizey helps ensure writing sounds truly human and contextually correct.

FAQs

1. What is the past tense of “bring”?

The past tense of bring is brought.

2. What is the past tense of “buy”?

The past tense of buy is bought.

3. Can I say “I bought my friend to dinner”?

No. Use brought — “I brought my friend to dinner.”
(Bought means you purchased something, not invited someone.)

4. How can I remember the difference easily?

Think: Money = Bought, Motion = Brought.

Practice: Choose the Correct Word (“Brought” or “Bought”)

(Answers are listed at the end.)

1. I ___ my favorite snacks to the movie.
2. She ___ a new dress for the party.
3. He ___ his camera to the wedding.
4. They ___ gifts for their parents.
5. I ___ my notebook to class.
6. We ___ a car last weekend.
7. She ___ her cat to the vet.
8. They ___ tickets online.
9. He ___ home pizza for dinner.
10. We ___ souvenirs from the trip.

Answers

1. brought
2. bought
3. brought
4. bought
5. brought
6. bought
7. brought
8. bought
9. brought
10. bought