What does fetch mean?

[AmYankee]

Hi Torsten

As you know, I am a native speaker of English and have also been involved in ESL for a very long time. If I were to advise a learner on whether to use "pick me up at the airport" or "fetch me from the airport", I would definitely advise using "pick me up at the airport".

Interestingly, a search of the Corpus of Contemporary American English for the phrase "fetch me" gets 73 results. However, none (i.e. zero!) of them is spoken English, and 66 of the 73 results come from works of fiction, among which are books such as Huckleberry Finn (i.e. older works of fiction), Harry Potter books (i.e. British), and probably also Grisham books. (I didn't look specifically for Grisham because you already know he uses that word in his books.)

In addition, the vast majority of the results for "fetch me" were not used to mean "pick me up (from/at) somewhere" but rather "go and get (something) for me".

You might also find it interesting that there is only one single example of "fetch me from" in the British National Corpus -- and it's from a work of fiction.

Take care,
Amy

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ESL teacher, translator, native speaker of American English, and previously known as Yankee on this site.

[Amalmusica]

ohh now lemme ask..
Can't we also say like "the book is upstairs,I'll just go and pick it up"?

[Kitosdad]

Yankee, then it must be a Geordie invention. I say this because nearly all the Mothers used to say, " I'm just going to fetch the bairns from school ".

Oh aye bonnie lass, Fetch has been around for a very long time in the North East, I don't care what the experts say. :) :)

" but rather "go and get (something) for me"." Something " being the bairns. LOL.
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Keep it simple ... Keep it interesting.

[Hemaghazal]

great information

realy

thanks

[DarkEdition]

Can you fetch me at nine clock,I will be near police station.
Is this sentence correct?

[Kitosdad]

NO, " Can you pick me up ?" is the main context here.
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Keep it simple ... Keep it interesting.

[DarkEdition]

Can you pick me at nine a clock , I will be near police station.
Omg,I just now watched all my post,its amazin how much mistakes I made..
Expecially becouse (i) in my language we writte i(small) so I will need some times to (how to say, fix?correct?) my mistakes in written English.

[Kitosdad]

Good morning DE, We all feel more comfortable when using our own language.

I too would find great difficulty in trying to write in your language, and so I appreciate what you are saying, but you have to concentrate my friend.

You are learning a new language, and it is never going to be easy, but it will become easier if you slow down and concentrate. Just do your very best. No-one can ask for more.

We can help, but you have to show us that YOU are really trying.

Take care . Kitosdad.
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Keep it simple ... Keep it interesting.

[Rolana]

I have never heard about fetch, so thanks for detailed explanations)) I think it isnt worthwile to use such a complicated example for elementary level)) many thanks anyway

[Bototcon]

Thanks so much
I learn more here.

[Kousik]

hello sir
this is kousik from india. i m confused with using of verbs > bring vs fetch vs take. please guide me so that i can figure them out properly...

[Mister Micawber]

Bring = carry to/from this place
Take = carry to/from that place
Fetch = go to that place and get (something) and carry it to this place.
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Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's

[Kousik]

hi mr micawber,
thank u very much for your kind reply and explanation.i got it now.
with regards
kousik

[Alex1975cz]

When your train arrives, I'll FETCH you from the station.

When your train arrives, I'll TAKE you from the station.

Personally I would use TAKE instead of FETCH in this sentence. or maybe fetch is more British and take more US ?[/b]

[Nganguyen]

Thank you Torsten,Yankee and Alan all about your post. Now I'm understand verry clear about the words Fetch and Pick up are the same meaning but as Yankee have said : We the most use the word Pick up people instead fetch. Thank you again.