It was bought

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "It was bought" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that something has been purchased in the past. Example: "The car was expensive, but it was bought with careful consideration."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"It was bought in Paris.

The New Yorker

It was bought by UniCredito.

The Economist

It was bought immediately.

The New York Times - Books

It was bought and it was sold.

The New York Times

It was bought by AOL in 1999.

The New York Times

It was bought, anonymously, for £24.7m.

The Guardian - Arts

It was bought by Nathan Straus Jr. in 1943.

The New York Times

It was bought in 1922 by Thomas Wenzek.

The New Yorker

It was bought for $45,000.

The New Yorker

It was bought for £3.2m in 2006.

The Guardian - Arts

It was bought by a Yorkville admirer of der Führer.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "it was bought", ensure the context clearly indicates what "it" refers to, avoiding ambiguity. For instance, specify the item or entity before using the phrase.

Common error

Avoid using "it was bought" without a clear antecedent for "it". Readers should not have to guess what the pronoun refers to.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was bought" functions as a passive construction, indicating that a particular item or entity was the recipient of an action (the buying). Ludwig's examples demonstrate this structure across diverse contexts, from art acquisitions to business transactions.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

90%

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Less common in

Science

1%

Wiki

0.5%

Reference

0.5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "it was bought" is a common and grammatically correct passive construction used to indicate that something was purchased in the past. Ludwig shows a wide range of sources where this phrase is used, primarily in news and media contexts. While suitable for various situations, clarity is key; always ensure the antecedent of "it" is clear to avoid ambiguity. Alternative phrases like "it was purchased" or "it was acquired" can provide a more formal tone when needed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

It was purchased

A direct synonym, replacing 'bought' with 'purchased' for a slightly more formal tone.

It was acquired

Implies ownership was gained, often used in business or legal contexts.

It was obtained

Suggests an effort or process was involved in getting it.

It came into possession

A more formal way of saying someone now owns it, emphasizing the change of ownership.

Ownership was transferred

Focuses on the act of transferring ownership from one party to another.

It changed hands

An idiomatic expression meaning it was sold or given to someone else.

It was secured

Emphasizes that it was obtained through effort or competition.

It was gotten

An informal way of saying it was acquired or obtained.

It was procured

Suggests careful or diligent acquisition, often for a specific purpose.

It was appropriated

Suggests it was taken or allocated for a specific use, sometimes implying official action.

FAQs

How can I use "it was bought" in a sentence?

Use "it was bought" to indicate that something was purchased in the past. For example, "The painting was expensive, but "it was bought" by a wealthy collector."

What's a more formal alternative to "it was bought"?

A more formal alternative is "it was purchased" or "it was acquired". These options are suitable for business or academic contexts.

Is it correct to say "it was buyed" instead of "it was bought"?

No, "it was buyed" is grammatically incorrect. The correct past participle of "buy" is "bought", so the correct phrase is ""it was bought"".

What's the difference between "it was bought" and "it had been bought"?

"It was bought" indicates a simple past action. "It had been bought" indicates a past perfect action, meaning it was bought before another point in the past. For example, "It was bought last week" versus "It had been bought before the auction began."