Example Sentences of the Verb 'To Buy'

This page provides example sentences of the verb "Buy" in all tenses including active and passive forms, as well as conditional and modal forms. 

Present Simple

Use the present simple for routines and habits such as how often you buy something at the store.

Jack usually buys his groceries on Saturdays.
Where do you buy your furniture?
She doesn't buy any food at that store.

Present Simple Passive

The supplies are usually bought on Friday afternoons.
When are new textbooks bought for the school?
Wine isn't bought in great quantities.

Present Continuous

Use the present continuous to speak about what is happening at the present moment such as what you are buying in the store.

They are buying a new house this month.
Are they buying a new car soon?
She isn't buying his story about his hard luck.

Present Continuous Passive

Not commonly used with 'buy'

Present Perfect

Use the present perfect to discuss actions that have happened repeatedly such as how many times you have bought a specific product.

We have bought a number of antique chairs.
How long have you bought his story for?
They haven't bought any new furniture for a while.

Present Perfect Passive

Those antique chairs have been bought by customers in San Diego.
Where has that been bought and sold before?
It hasn't been bought by anyone. 

Past Simple

Use the past simple to speak about something you bought at a point in time in the past.

He bought that painting last week.
Where did you buy that sofa?
She didn't buy any food for dinner, so they're going out.

Past Simple Passive

That painting was bought last week.
What was bought at the garage sale yesterday?
That painting wasn't bought at the auction.

Past Continuous

Use the past continuous to describe what someone was buying when something else occurred.

She was buying a new car when he telephoned.
What were you buying when you got the call?
She wasn't buying his story despite his insistence. 

Past Continuous Passive

Not commonly used with 'buy'

Past Perfect

Use the past perfect to what you had bought before something else happened. 

Larry had bought the books before she arrived.
What had they bought before they were offered the house?
She hadn't bought enough food for the party, so she went out again.

Past Perfect Passive

The books had been bought before she arrived.
Which ingredients had been bought for the meal?
Not enough wine had been bought for the occasion. 

Future (Will)

Use future tenses to speak about something that you will / are going to buy in the future.

I think he will buy a present for Mary.
Will you buy his proposal at the meeting?
She won't buy what he's saying.

Future (Will) Passive

A new book will be bought for that child.
Will that painting be bought at the auction?
Food won't be bought by Peter. 

Future (Going To)

The teacher is going to buy the books for the children.
What are you going to buy for dinner tonight?
She isn't going to buy that house.

Future (Going To) Passive

The books are going to be bought for the children.
What is going to be bought for drinks?
They aren't going to be bought by anyone for that price.

Future Continuous

Use the future continuous to express what you will be buying at ​a specific point in time in the future. 

He will be buying groceries this time next week.
Will you be buying anything this time tomorrow?
She won't be buying a house anytime soon. 

Future Perfect

They will have bought five new computers by the end of the sale.
What will you have bought by the end of the day?
You'll see, she won't have bought anything.

Future Possibility

Use modals in the future to discuss future possibilities. 

I might buy a new computer.
Might Peter buy the house?
She may not buy his story. 

Real Conditional

Use the real conditional to speak about possible events.

If he buys that painting, he will be sorry.
What will he buy if he inherits the money?
She won't buy the house if it's put up for auction.

Unreal Conditional

Use the unreal conditional to speak about imagined events in the present or future. 

I would be sorry if I bought that painting.
What would you need if you bought a new house?
She wouldn't buy the house if you bought it.

Past Unreal Conditional

Use the past unreal conditional to speak about imagined events in the past. 

If you hadn't bought that painting, you wouldn't have lost so much money on the investment.
What would you have done if he had bought you a diamond ring?
She wouldn't have bought that house if she hadn't had enough money.

Present Modal

I should buy some new clothes.
Where can I buy an ice-cream cone?
They mustn't buy anything today. There's no money in the bank.

Past Modal

They must have bought some new clothes.
What should you have bought last year?
They couldn't have bought his story. 

Quiz: Conjugate With Buy

Use the verb "to buy" to conjugate the following sentences. Quiz answers are below. 

1. He ______ that painting last week.
2. Larry _____ the books before she arrived.
3. Jack usually ______ his groceries on Saturdays.
4. I think he ______ a present for Mary.
5. They _____ five new computers by the end of the sale.
6. I would be sorry if I _____ that painting.
7. The supplies are usually _____ on Friday afternoons.
8. We _____ a number of antique chairs.
9. That painting _____ last week.
10. They _____ a new house this month.

Quiz Answers

1. bought
2. had bought
3. buys
4. will buy
5. will have bought
6. bought
7. bought
8. have bought
9. was bought
10. are buying