needs to be bought

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "needs to be bought" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it whenever you need to express that something needs to be acquired through purchasing. For example, "We need to get some more supplies for the party, so bread and cheese needs to be bought."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

The rest still needs to be bought out, and the trust doesn't have to sell.

The New York Times

Equipment needs to be bought and maintained, and people have to be trained on it".

The New York Times

The boat itself needs to be bought, as well as fuel, two motors, a GPS navigation system, food, and water.

The Guardian

Unemployed, with a family that includes a teenager who needs to be bought out of impending military service, he lives off his mother with no qualms.

The New York Times

There is nothing to say any of the necessary equipment needs to be bought shiny and new from your local, expensive, baby emporium.

The Guardian - Money

I Believe In Unicorns needs to be bought for every library, school and home so that children can read this book and experience its magic for themselves.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

A cake needed to be bought.

The Washington Post

He had a partner who had reached retirement age and needed to be bought out.

The New York Times

Market share appears to be less important for products that need to be bought often.

Harvard Business Review

They allow the determination of the optimum size of utility generation system and backup piping needed to be designed, external utilities that need to be bought and stored.

Computer Aided Chemical Engineering

And it is even more likely to suppress purchases of more expensive items that need to be bought with credit.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "needs to be bought", ensure that the subject requiring purchase is clearly defined to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Ensure subject-verb agreement. It is a frequent mistake to use a plural subject with a singular verb form. For instance, instead of saying "supplies needs to be bought", use "supplies need to be bought".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "needs to be bought" functions as a passive construction indicating a requirement for purchasing something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's correct and usable for expressing that an item or service must be acquired through a buying process. The numerous examples provided by Ludwig demonstrate its usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

2%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "needs to be bought" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression indicating the necessity of purchasing something. Ludwig AI confirms its validity for expressing the requirement of acquisition through purchase. It is most frequently found in News & Media sources, and while maintaining a neutral register, it is used across diverse contexts. When using the phrase, ensure that the subject is clearly defined and that subject-verb agreement is maintained.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

requires purchasing

Focuses on the necessity of a buying action, emphasizing the purchasing aspect.

purchasing is necessary

Highlights the necessity of the act of purchasing

acquisition is required

Focuses on the requirement of acquisition, rephrasing to passive voice.

must be acquired

Highlights the acquisition aspect, broadening the context beyond simple buying.

is imperative to buy

Emphasizes the critical importance of buying something

is essential to purchase

Emphasizes the importance of the purchase, adding a sense of necessity.

demands acquisition

Puts stress on the imperativeness of acquiring something.

should be obtained through purchase

Suggests a recommended method of obtaining something by buying it.

warrants procurement

Uses formal language, indicating a need for official procurement processes.

begs to be purchased

Adds a sense of urgency and appeal to the act of purchasing.

FAQs

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

You can use "needs to be bought" to indicate that something requires purchasing. For example, "The equipment "needs to be bought" before the project can start".

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

You can use alternatives like "requires purchasing", "must be acquired", or "is essential to purchase" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "need to be bought" instead of "needs to be bought"?

Yes, but the choice depends on the subject. Use "need to be bought" with plural subjects (e.g., "Supplies need to be bought"), and "needs to be bought" with singular subjects (e.g., "The equipment needs to be bought").

What's the difference between "needs to be bought" and "has to be bought"?

Both phrases indicate necessity, but "has to be bought" implies a stronger sense of obligation or external requirement than ""needs to be bought"". "Has to be bought" often suggests a rule or unavoidable situation.