What Does “Bring sth before sb” Mean?
“Bring sth before sb” means to present or introduce a matter, issue, or object to someone, often for consideration or judgment.
Introduction
The phrase “bring sth before sb” is commonly used in formal and legal contexts to describe the act of presenting something to a person or group, usually for review or decision-making. The “sth” stands for “something,” and “sb” means “somebody.” Understanding the “bring sth before sb meaning” helps learners grasp how to express the idea of submitting or showing something to an authority or individual. This phrasal verb is useful in professional, academic, and everyday situations when discussing the act of formally presenting ideas, documents, or problems to someone else.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: bring something before somebody
- Type: transitive
- Level: B2
- Short meaning: to present or submit something to someone for consideration or decision
Structure (Grammar Rules)
The phrasal verb “bring sth before sb” is separable, which means you can place the object (something) between “bring” and “before” or after “before somebody.”
- bring something before somebody
- bring before somebody something (less common but possible in formal contexts)
Example:
- They brought the case before the judge.
- The lawyer brought before the court new evidence.
How to Use “Bring sth before sb”?
Use “bring sth before sb” when you want to describe the action of formally presenting an issue, document, or problem to a person or group who has the authority to make a decision or provide judgment. It is often used in legal, business, or official settings but can also apply to everyday situations where you show or submit something important for consideration.
Examples
- The lawyer brought the new evidence before the jury.
- The committee will bring the proposal before the board next week.
- She brought her complaint before the manager to seek a solution.
- The issue was brought before the council during the meeting.
- They brought the contract before the client for approval.
Using “bring sth before sb in a sentence” helps learners see how the phrase fits naturally in different contexts.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: Bring before me the report.
- Correct: Bring the report before me.
- Incorrect: She brought before the boss her ideas.
- Correct: She brought her ideas before the boss.
Remember, the object usually goes right after “bring.”
Differences / Synonyms
- Present sth to sb: More general and informal than “bring before.”
- Submit sth to sb: Often used in official or formal contexts, similar to “bring before.”
- Take sth to sb: Less formal, means physically carrying something to a person.
While “bring sth before sb” emphasizes formal presentation for judgment or decision, “present” and “submit” can be less formal or more general.
Common Collocations
- bring evidence before the court
- bring a case before a judge
- bring a proposal before a committee
- bring a complaint before management
- bring documents before a panel
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of bring sth before sb:
Real-life Dialogue
Anna: Did you bring the report before the board like we planned?
John: Yes, I brought it before them this morning during the meeting.
Anna: Great! Did they approve the new budget?
John: They asked a few questions but seemed satisfied overall.
Practice
Fill in the blanks with the correct form of “bring sth before sb”:
- They __________ the contract __________ the client yesterday.
- The lawyer __________ new evidence __________ the judge.
- She wants to __________ her concerns __________ the manager.
FAQs
- Q: Is “bring sth before sb” formal or informal?
A: It is mostly used in formal or official contexts.
- Q: Can I use “bring sth before sb” in everyday conversation?
A: Yes, but it is more common in professional or legal settings.
- Q: What does “sth” and “sb” mean?
A: “sth” means “something” and “sb” means “somebody.”
- Q: Can the object be placed after “before sb”?
A: Yes, but it is less common and more formal.
- Q: What is a synonym for “bring sth before sb”?
A: “Present sth to sb” or “submit sth to sb” are close synonyms.
