he was bought

USAGE SUMMARY

"he was bought" is correct and usable in written English.
For example, you could say: "He was bought a new car for his birthday."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Theroux realized he was bought and paid for.

The New Yorker

He was bought back for slightly over $100,000.

The New York Times

The big surprise was when he was bought by Widnes for a fee of £450.

Independent

Real Quiet was called a "bargain-basement colt," as he was bought for only $17,500.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Lukaku was a prodigy when he was bought by Anderlecht, the Brussels club, when he was 16.

The New York Times - Sports

"He was bought with stolen money, but I want Curlin to do well.

The New York Times - Sports

He was bought to play, not sit on the sidelines but sometimes you have got to be patient".

The Guardian - Sport

He was bought for $15,200 at the 1974 Lexington yearling sales by Esteban Rodriguez Tizol, a Puerto Rican banker.

The New Yorker

He was bought when the Zoo decided to sell him when he became sullen and restless at auction.

The New Yorker

His drug-dealing mother died when he was aged eight, he was bought up by his grandmother, and started dealing crack at the age of 12.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

And still have a fantastic profit on the investment Chelsea made in the past with Juan [he was bought for £23.5m].

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "he was bought", ensure the context clearly indicates who or what did the buying. For example, specify the company or person involved in the transaction to provide a complete picture.

Common error

Avoid using "he was bought" without specifying by whom. This can leave the reader wondering who made the purchase, leading to confusion or misinterpretation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he was bought" functions as a passive construction indicating that a male subject became the object of a purchase. This aligns with Ludwig AI's assessment of its grammatical correctness. It typically describes a transaction where someone is acquired.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Wiki

11%

Encyclopedias

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Science

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "he was bought" is a grammatically sound and frequently used passive construction that indicates the acquisition of a male subject, either literally through purchase or metaphorically through influence. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, with numerous examples from reliable sources like The New York Times, The Guardian and the BBC. This phrase is seen frequently in News & Media, but can also be found in Wiki and encyclopedic contexts with a neutral register. Remember to specify the buyer to avoid ambiguity and consider using alternatives like "he was acquired" or "someone purchased him" depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he got purchased

Replaces the passive voice "was bought" with "got purchased", which is less formal but conveys the same meaning.

he got acquired

Uses "acquired" instead of "bought", suggesting a more corporate or formal context of acquisition.

he was acquired

Simply replaces "bought" with "acquired", keeping the sentence structure the same.

he was obtained

Replaces "bought" with "obtained", implying that something was gained or secured, not necessarily through monetary exchange.

someone purchased him

Changes the sentence from passive to active voice, highlighting the buyer.

someone bought him

Expresses the same meaning in active voice.

he was procured

Uses a more formal term "procured" instead of "bought", indicating that something has been obtained through special effort.

a deal was struck for him

Indicates that an agreement for acquisition was achieved, which is more roundabout.

he was redeemed

Conveys that someone was rescued or saved by being acquired which slightly differs from buying.

he was secured

Conveys someone being acquired or made safe which slightly differs from buying.

FAQs

What does "he was bought" mean?

The phrase "he was bought" indicates that someone was acquired, typically through a transaction involving money. It implies a change of ownership or control.

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

You can use it like this: "After a successful season, "he was bought" by a larger club for a significant sum."

What are some alternatives to saying "he was bought"?

Alternatives include "he was acquired", "someone purchased him", or "a deal was struck for him", depending on the context.

Is it better to use the active or passive voice when describing a purchase?

It depends on the focus. If you want to emphasize the buyer, use the active voice ("someone bought him"). If you want to focus on the person being bought, use the passive voice ("he was bought").