can be bought

USAGE SUMMARY

The sentence "Can be bought" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that something is available for purchase. For example: "The book can be bought from most bookstores."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Tickets can be bought online.

The New York Times

Everyone can be bought.

The Guardian

Players are easy; they can be bought.

The New York Times - Magazine

Local beer and wine can be bought.

The New York Times - Food

But not everything can be bought.

The New York Times

And access to politicians can be bought.

The Guardian

They can be bought on Battle.net.net

Independent

The person can be bought and sold.

The New Yorker

"They think everyone can be bought.

The New Yorker

Tickets can be bought here.

The Guardian

He can be bought out for $1 million.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "can be bought" when indicating that something is available for purchase, especially when you want to emphasize the possibility or ease of acquiring it. For example, "Tickets "can be bought" online".

Common error

While "can be bought" is generally acceptable, consider using more formal alternatives like "is available for purchase" or "may be acquired" in academic or professional writing to maintain a higher level of formality.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "can be bought" functions as a passive construction indicating the possibility of purchasing something. It employs the modal verb 'can' to express ability or availability. Ludwig shows numerous examples of its use in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Wiki

28%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Science

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "can be bought" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to indicate that something is available for purchase. As Ludwig AI confirms, it fits seamlessly into various contexts, from news reports to wikis, albeit with a slightly more neutral register. While broadly applicable, consider opting for more formal synonyms like "is available for purchase" in academic or professional settings. Its frequency and widespread acceptance make it a reliable choice for expressing the possibility of acquiring something through payment.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is available for purchase

Replaces "can be bought" with a more formal and direct statement of availability.

is obtainable by purchase

Similar meaning, but emphasizes the act of purchasing as the means of obtaining the item.

may be purchased

Uses "may" to indicate possibility or permission to buy.

is for sale

A more concise way to state that something is available to buy.

is on the market

Suggests the item is actively being offered for sale.

can be acquired

Replaces "bought" with "acquired", broadening the scope to include non-monetary means of obtaining.

is procurable

A more formal and less common way of saying "can be bought".

can be obtained

Similar to "can be acquired", indicating a broader range of methods for getting something.

is up for grabs

An informal way of saying something is available, often implying competition or ease of access.

is being sold

Focuses on the action of selling rather than the possibility of buying.

FAQs

What does "can be bought" mean?

The phrase "can be bought" means that something is available for purchase. It indicates that it's possible to acquire the item or service by paying for it.

What can I say instead of "can be bought"?

You can use alternatives like "is available for purchase", "may be purchased", or "is for sale" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "can be bought"?

Yes, it's grammatically correct. "Can be bought" is a passive construction using the modal verb "can" and the past participle "bought".

How to use "can be bought" in a sentence?

You can use "can be bought" to indicate that something is available for purchase, such as "Tickets "can be bought" online" or "This item "can be bought" at any store."