has bought

USAGE SUMMARY

"has bought" is correct and is frequently used in written English.
It is used after a subject to describe an action that was completed in the past. For example: "Tom has bought a new car."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Now he has bought one.

The Economist

He has bought what's available.

The New Yorker

This injection has bought it time.

The Economist

This win has bought Wenger time.

Independent

But the team has bought into him.

The New York Times - Sports

has bought the movie rights for $2000.

The New Yorker

With them, she has bought some time.

The Economist

GE has bought Chevron's IGCC technology.

The Economist

Amazon has bought Whole Foods.

The New York Times

She has bought reading glasses.

The New York Times - Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Smith & Loveless Inc has bought headworks equipment designer Schloss Engineered Equipment Inc.

Filtration Industry Analyst

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "has bought" to describe completed actions of purchasing or acquiring something in the past, where the present relevance isn't the primary focus. For ongoing relevance, consider "owns" or "possesses".

Common error

Avoid using "has bought" when you mean "is buying". "Has bought" indicates a completed transaction, while "is buying" indicates an ongoing or planned transaction.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has bought" functions as a present perfect verb phrase. It combines the auxiliary verb 'has' with the past participle 'bought' to indicate a completed action with relevance to the present. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "has bought" is a present perfect verb phrase used to describe a completed purchase or acquisition with present relevance. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is grammatically correct and widely used, particularly in news and business contexts. To ensure clarity, avoid confusing it with "is buying" (an ongoing action) or "had bought" (an action completed before another point in the past). Consider alternatives like "purchased" or "acquired" depending on the desired level of formality. Examples in Ludwig illustrate varied uses, from corporate acquisitions to personal possessions, making it a versatile and essential phrase for English communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

purchased

This is a more formal synonym, suitable for professional or official contexts.

acquired

Implies obtaining something, often a company or asset, and suggests ownership.

taken ownership of

Emphasizes the change in ownership.

obtained

Suggests gaining possession of something, possibly through effort or difficulty.

came into possession of

A more verbose way of saying "has bought", emphasizing the act of gaining ownership.

procured

Implies obtaining something, often with effort or through specific channels.

invested in

Highlights the financial aspect of buying, often with the expectation of future returns.

snapped up

Suggests buying something quickly and eagerly, often because it was a bargain or in high demand.

secured

Suggests obtaining something through effort or competition.

picked up

A more informal way of saying "has bought", often used for smaller or less significant purchases.

FAQs

How do I use "has bought" in a sentence?

Use "has bought" to indicate a completed purchase or acquisition in the past. For example, "She "has bought" a new car" means the purchase is finished.

What can I say instead of "has bought"?

You can use alternatives like "purchased", "acquired", or "obtained" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "has bought" or "had bought"?

"Has bought" is used for actions completed recently or with present relevance, while "had bought" is used for actions completed before another point in the past. For example, "She "has bought" a car today", versus "She had bought a car before she moved".

What's the difference between "has bought" and "is buying"?

"Has bought" indicates a completed action, the purchase is finished. "Is buying" indicates an action in progress, the purchase is currently happening or is planned.