were bought

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were bought" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you are discussing past transactions or purchases involving multiple items or entities. Example: "The rare collectibles were bought at an auction last month."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Some were bought for me.

The New York Times

Votes were bought.

The New York Times

Chips were bought.

The New York Times

The memoirs were bought by the Sat.

The New Yorker

"Some of them were bought off.

The New York Times

Many old colonies were bought and cleared.

The New York Times

The curtains were bought and collected.

Independent

New stage curtains were bought.

The New York Times

Faster laser printers were bought.

The New York Times

Another 13% were bought as second homes.

The Economist

Eventually the three dissidents were bought out.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "were bought", ensure the subject clearly identifies what or who is being referred to. For example, "The shares were bought by the company" provides a clear context.

Common error

Avoid using "were bought" with a singular subject. For example, instead of "The book were bought", use "The book was bought".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were bought" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that the subject of the sentence received the action of being bought. As Ludwig AI explains, this is a grammatically correct construction.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

46%

Science

43%

Wiki

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

1%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "were bought" is a grammatically sound and frequently used passive construction to describe past purchases. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. It's common in news, scientific writing, and general contexts. When using "were bought", pay attention to subject-verb agreement and ensure clarity in your sentences. Alternatives like "were purchased" or "were acquired" may be suitable depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were purchased

This alternative uses a more formal synonym for "bought", suggesting a similar transaction but possibly in a more official context.

were acquired

This suggests obtaining something, often through means other than direct purchase, like mergers or takeovers.

were obtained

Implies acquiring something through effort or a specific process, not necessarily involving a monetary transaction.

were secured

Suggests that items were acquired after a period of competition or difficulty, highlighting the effort involved.

were procured

This indicates a formal acquisition, often used in business or governmental contexts, focusing on the process of obtaining goods or services.

were invested in

This phrase highlights the aspect of investment, suggesting a purpose beyond simple acquisition, with an expectation of future return.

were sponsored

Suggests that the items were acquired through sponsorship, indicating support from an external entity.

were funded

Focuses on the financial aspect, indicating that the acquisition was made possible through funding.

were subsidized

Implies that the cost of acquisition was partially covered by a subsidy, reducing the financial burden.

were bartered for

Indicates that the items were acquired through an exchange of goods or services, rather than a monetary transaction.

FAQs

How can I use "were bought" in a sentence?

You can use "were bought" to describe past transactions. For instance, "The tickets "were bought" in advance", or "The company "were bought" by a larger corporation".

What's a more formal alternative to "were bought"?

A more formal alternative is "were purchased". It's suitable for official documents or business communications.

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

It depends on the subject. Use "was bought" for singular subjects (e.g., "The car was bought") and "were bought" for plural subjects (e.g., "The cars "were bought"").

What's the difference between "were bought" and "were acquired"?

"Were bought" specifically implies a purchase, while "were acquired" can refer to obtaining something through purchase, merger, or other means.