Buy means obtain something by paying money for it.
The idea
The item follows buy directly: buy a ticket. Use buys with she or he in the present; the past form is bought. Use for to name a recipient: buy a book for a friend.
Examples
- I buy bread at the shop.
- She buys a ticket online.
- We bought the chairs yesterday.
- Can you buy some milk?
- He bought a book for his friend.
- They are buying food for dinner.
Read-aloud uses a synthetic English voice on your device. Quality and availability vary; it does not assess pronunciation.
No English device voice is available. You can still read the examples.
Watch out
Say buy a ticket but pay for a ticket: the two verbs have different patterns.
Try it yourself
Choose the present form with she. She ___ a ticket online. (buy / buys)
Show answer or example answer
buys
Buys agrees with she in the present.
Choose the past form for yesterday. Yesterday we ___ the chairs. (buy / bought)
Show answer or example answer
bought
Bought is the past form of buy.
Choose the preposition before the recipient. He bought a book ___ his friend. (for / to)
Show answer or example answer
for
For introduces the person receiving the book.
Practice round
Answer questions and rebuild English sentences to practise. Your score is shown.
Choose the present form with she. She ___ a ticket online. (buy / buys)
Choose the past form for yesterday. Yesterday we ___ the chairs. (buy / bought)
Choose the preposition before the recipient. He bought a book ___ his friend. (for / to)
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Keep your progress
Sign up for free to save your practice results.
Sign up to saveI already have an accountUse it today
Describe something you bought and say whom it was for.