The Phrasal Verb: Bring Up
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use 'bring up' to mention a topic in conversation or to describe how someone was raised as a child.
- Use it for topics: 'Don't bring up the bill yet.'
- Use it for parenting: 'She brought up three kids alone.'
- It is separable: 'Bring it up' is correct, 'Bring up it' is wrong.
Overview
"Bring up" is a very common set of words. It is special.
These two words together make a new meaning.
Use it for topics, children, or feeling sick. It is helpful.
How This Grammar Works
up into a conversation), a state of maturity (bringing a child up to adulthood), or a physical state of being expelled (bringing food up from the stomach).- When the object is a noun or noun phrase:
They brought up the issue./They brought the issue up. - When the object is a pronoun:
They brought it up.
Formation Pattern
He brought up the fact that no one had completed the mandatory training.
He brought the fact that no one had completed the mandatory training up.
When To Use It
- Work Email:
Hi team, I'd like to bring up the Q4 sales targets during our call tomorrow. - Casual Conversation:
Don't bring up politics with my uncle; it always ends in an argument. - Internal Thought:
I need to find the right moment to bring it up with my manager.
- Example:
My parents brought me up to be polite and respectful. - Example:
She was brought up by her grandparents in the countryside. - Example:
It is challenging to bring up children in a big city.
- Example:
He felt sick after the boat ride and had to bring up his breakfast. - Example:
The baby brought up a little milk on my shirt.
- Example:
Could you help me bring these boxes up from the cellar? - Example:
While you're downstairs, can you bring up my coat?
When Not To Use It
- Incorrect:
The organization brought up over $1 million for charity. - Correct:
The organization raised over $1 million for charity. - Incorrect:
They are bringing up a new office block downtown. - Correct:
They are putting up a new office block downtown.(orbuilding)
- Incorrect:
Can you bring me up at 7 AM tomorrow? - Correct:
Can you wake me up at 7 AM tomorrow?
pick up is more natural. For a simple vertical movement of a body part, raise or lift is better.- Incorrect:
He brought up his keys from the floor. - Correct:
He picked up his keys from the floor. - Incorrect:
Please bring up your hand if you have a question. - Correct:
Please raise your hand if you have a question.
- Incorrect:
That farmer brings up the best tomatoes. - Correct:
That farmer grows the best tomatoes.
Common Mistakes
- Error:
It's a sensitive issue, but I have to bring up it. - Correction:
It's a sensitive issue, but I have to bring it up. - Why: Pronouns are function words that are usually unstressed. They behave almost like clitics, meaning they attach closely to the verb. The
verb + pronoun + particlestructure maintains the natural rhythm and stress pattern of the sentence.
bring up with raise:- Error:
We need to bring up more funds to complete the project. - Correction:
We need to raise more funds to complete the project. - Why: The verb
raisecarries the specific meaning of 'increase an amount' or 'collect from a source'.Bring updoes not have this financial connotation.
Bring up is transitive and always needs an object. Learners sometimes omit it, especially when they are thinking of the topic but don't state it.- Error:
In the meeting, I will bring up. - Correction:
In the meeting, I will bring up that issue.orI will bring it up. - Why: The verb's meaning is incomplete without knowing what is being brought up. The listener is left waiting for the crucial piece of information.
Common Collocations
- For introducing topics:
bring up+the issue,a point,a question,a concern,the subject,the past,the fact that...- Example:
She brought up a valid concern about the timeline.
- For raising children:
bring up+a child,children,a familybe brought up+to believe...,in a certain way,by someone- Example:
He was brought up to believe that honesty is the best policy.
- For vomiting:
bring up+one's dinner,lunch,breakfast,everything,blood- Example:
The patient started to bring up blood.
Contrast With Similar Patterns
I want to bring up the staffing issue. |I'll mention the staffing issue to her. |bring up. | He put forward a new proposal for the marketing campaign. |In my speech, I'll briefly touch upon our recent challenges. |mention when you mean bring up can signal to a native speaker that you don't want to discuss the topic in depth, which might not be your intention.Quick FAQ
- Is
bring upalways separable?
- Can I use
raiseinstead ofbring upfor children?
- What is the most common meaning of
bring up?
- Is it rude to say someone
brought uptheir food?
was sick or the clinical term vomited. Among friends or in a direct medical context, it's perfectly normal.Conjugation of 'Bring Up'
| Tense | Subject | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Present Simple
|
I/You/We/They
|
bring up
|
I bring up the news.
|
|
Present Simple
|
He/She/It
|
brings up
|
She brings up the news.
|
|
Past Simple
|
All subjects
|
brought up
|
They brought up the news.
|
|
Present Continuous
|
I
|
am bringing up
|
I am bringing it up now.
|
|
Past Continuous
|
He/She/It
|
was bringing up
|
He was bringing it up.
|
|
Present Perfect
|
All subjects
|
have/has brought up
|
We have brought it up.
|
|
Passive (Past)
|
All subjects
|
was/were brought up
|
I was brought up here.
|
Contractions with 'Bring Up'
| Full Form | Contraction | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
I will bring it up
|
I'll bring it up
|
I'll bring it up later.
|
|
He has brought it up
|
He's brought it up
|
He's brought it up already.
|
|
They are bringing it up
|
They're bringing it up
|
They're bringing it up now.
|
Meanings
A multi-functional phrasal verb used primarily to introduce a subject for discussion or to describe the process of raising and educating a child.
Mention a topic
To introduce a subject or issue into a conversation or discussion.
“Why did you have to bring up my ex-boyfriend?”
“I'll bring it up at the next board meeting.”
Raise a child
To care for a child and help them grow into an adult, including their education and manners.
“He was brought up by his grandparents in a small village.”
“They are bringing their children up to be bilingual.”
Vomit
To cough up or vomit food or liquid.
“The baby brought up some of his milk after the feeding.”
“He felt sick and brought up his entire dinner.”
Digital Display
To cause something to appear on a computer screen.
“Can you bring up the spreadsheet from last month?”
“Clicking this icon will bring up the settings menu.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative (Noun)
|
Subject + bring + up + noun
|
He brought up the topic.
|
|
Affirmative (Noun 2)
|
Subject + bring + noun + up
|
He brought the topic up.
|
|
Affirmative (Pronoun)
|
Subject + bring + pronoun + up
|
He brought it up.
|
|
Negative
|
Subject + do not + bring up
|
Don't bring up the bill.
|
|
Question
|
Do + subject + bring up...?
|
Did you bring it up?
|
|
Passive
|
Subject + be + brought up
|
I was brought up in Italy.
|
|
Gerund
|
Bringing up + noun
|
Bringing up kids is hard.
|
Formality Spectrum
I would like to raise the issue of the budget discrepancy. (Work meeting)
I need to bring up the budget problem. (Work meeting)
I gotta bring up the money thing. (Work meeting)
I'm gonna drop the bomb about the cash. (Work meeting)
The Two Worlds of 'Bring Up'
Conversation
- Mention To start talking about a topic
- Broach To introduce a sensitive subject
Family
- Raise To care for a child
- Nurture To educate and support growth
Bring Up vs. Grow Up
Word Order Decision
Is the object a pronoun (it/them/me)?
Is it a noun?
Examples by Level
I will bring up the map.
She brought up two children.
Don't bring up the problem.
I was brought up in Spain.
Can you bring it up in the meeting?
He was brought up by his aunt.
I need to bring up the website.
Why did you bring that up now?
I didn't want to bring up the money issue while we were eating.
She was brought up to respect her elders.
If you bring it up again, he will get angry.
The lawyer brought up new evidence in court.
It's a sensitive subject, so please don't bring it up unless necessary.
Being brought up in a multicultural environment gave her a unique perspective.
He brought up the menu on the screen to show the available options.
The child brought up his lunch after the bumpy car ride.
I'm sorry to bring this up, but there's a discrepancy in the accounts.
The way he was brought up heavily influenced his political leanings.
She has a tendency to bring up past grievances whenever we argue.
The system will bring up a warning if the temperature exceeds the limit.
To bring up the rear of the procession was the local high school band.
The debate brought up several salient points regarding urban development.
He was brought up on a diet of classical literature and philosophy.
The prosecution intends to bring up his prior convictions during the trial.
Easily Confused
Learners often use 'bring up' for their own growth.
They are synonyms, but 'bring up' is a phrasal verb.
Both use 'up' and start with a verb of movement.
Common Mistakes
I bring up it.
I bring it up.
I bringed up the topic.
I brought up the topic.
I brought up in Italy.
I was brought up in Italy.
My mom grew up me.
My mom brought me up.
He brings up always the money.
He always brings up the money.
Don't bring up it now.
Don't bring it up now.
I brought up by my grandma.
I was brought up by my grandma.
I want to bring up about the party.
I want to bring up the party.
She was brought up very well.
She was well brought up.
I brought up the computer.
I brought up the file on the computer.
The issue was brought up by him.
He brought the issue up.
He brought up his dinner.
He threw up his dinner.
Sentence Patterns
I was brought up in ___ by ___.
I didn't want to bring up ___ because ___.
Can you bring up ___ on the screen?
She was brought up to believe that ___.
Real World Usage
I'd like to bring up my previous experience with Python.
Hey, sorry to bring it up, but do you still have my jacket?
I need to bring up these headaches I've been having.
We were all brought up in this tiny house.
Can you bring up the task manager on your computer?
The witness brought up a new piece of information.
The Pronoun Sandwich
Don't say 'Bring up about'
Use Passive for Childhood
Softening the Blow
Smart Tips
Stop! Use 'bring up' instead and remove the 'about'.
Use the passive 'was brought up' to sound more natural than 'my parents raised me'.
Always put it in the middle of 'bring' and 'up'.
Add 'I'm sorry to...' before 'bring up' to soften a difficult topic.
Pronunciation
Stress on the particle
In phrasal verbs like 'bring up', the stress usually falls on the particle 'up'.
Linking
When 'bring' is followed by 'up', the 'ng' sound links smoothly to the 'u'.
Rising on 'up'
Did you bring it UP? ↗
Standard yes/no question intonation.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of 'bringing' something 'up' from the basement. You bring a topic 'up' to the living room (conversation) or a child 'up' to adulthood.
Visual Association
Imagine a person holding a small seedling and lifting it up until it becomes a tall tree (raising a child), or a person lifting a heavy box labeled 'TOPIC' up onto a table (mentioning a subject).
Rhyme
To mention a thing or raise a pup, the phrasal verb is 'bring it up'.
Story
Little Timmy was brought up in a house full of books. One day at dinner, he decided to bring up a difficult question about space. His parents were surprised he brought it up so suddenly!
Word Web
Challenge
Write three sentences about your childhood using 'was brought up' and one sentence about a topic you want to 'bring up' with your boss or teacher.
Cultural Notes
In the UK, 'well brought up' is a common phrase to describe someone with good manners and a middle-to-upper class background.
Americans often use 'raised' more frequently than 'brought up' in casual speech, though both are understood.
In corporate environments, 'bringing something up' is seen as a sign of transparency and proactive communication.
The phrase dates back to Middle English, combining the verb 'bringen' (to carry) with the adverb 'up'.
Conversation Starters
Where were you brought up?
Is there a topic you are afraid to bring up with your parents?
How were you brought up to handle money?
If you could bring up any new law in your country, what would it be?
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
She was _______ in a very religious family.
I have a problem and I need to _______.
Find and fix the mistake:
I brought up in a small town near the sea.
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
No menciones eso ahora. (Don't mention that now.)
Answer starts with: Bot...
A: Did you tell the boss about the error? B: No, I didn't want to _______ during the meeting.
Find the wrong sentence.
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercisesShe was _______ in a very religious family.
I have a problem and I need to _______.
Find and fix the mistake:
I brought up in a small town near the sea.
up / why / you / did / that / bring / ?
1. Mention a topic, 2. Raise a child, 3. Vomit
No menciones eso ahora. (Don't mention that now.)
A: Did you tell the boss about the error? B: No, I didn't want to _______ during the meeting.
Find the wrong sentence.
Score: /8
Practice Bank
12 exercisesHe was ____ up by his grandparents.
Please, don't bring up them right now.
Choose the correct sentence:
Translate into English: 'Ella no quería sacar el tema.'
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Match the sentence beginnings with their appropriate endings.
The CEO will ____ up the quarterly results at the board meeting.
He needs to bring his grades up.
Choose the correct sentence:
Translate into English: 'Ella vomitó el almuerzo.'
Arrange these words into a question:
Match the meaning to the correct example:
Score: /12
FAQ (8)
It is neutral. You can use it in a business meeting or with friends. However, in very formal writing, you might use `mention` or `raise`.
No, that sounds strange. You would say `I grew up on my own` or `I raised myself`.
`Rear` is more formal and often used for animals or in academic texts about parenting. `Bring up` is the standard everyday term.
No. For plants, we use `grow`. You `grow` tomatoes, you don't `bring them up`.
No. The past participle of `bring` is `brought`. `Broughten` is a common non-standard error.
Yes! You can say `Bring up the browser` or `Bring up the settings`.
The 'up' signifies bringing something to the surface (like a topic) or helping someone grow taller (like a child).
Yes, it is a transitive verb. You must bring *something* or *someone* up.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Criar / Sacar un tema
English uses one phrasal verb for both raising and mentioning.
Élever / Évoquer
French verbs are not phrasal and don't split.
Erziehen / Ansprechen
German also uses separable structures but different roots.
育てる (Sodateru) / 持ち出す (Mochidasu)
Japanese uses specific verbs for each context without a common particle.
ربى (Rabba) / طرح (Taraha)
Arabic uses root-based verbs with no particles like 'up'.
养育 (Yǎngyù) / 提到 (Tídào)
The 'lifting' metaphor only applies to the 'mentioning' sense in Chinese.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
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