LoginBuy vs. Purchase
These verbs are closely related but they differ in terms of their object and level of formality. This lesson will tell you about their differences.
Both 'buy' and 'purchase' refer to the act of acquiring something in exchange for money or other forms of payment and are sometimes used interchangeably. However, 'buy' is more general and commonly used while 'purchase' is typically used for larger and more expensive items and is a more formal term. This lesson will dive into these differences.
Object of Acquisition
'Buy' is a more general term that can be used for all kind of goods and services, large and small. 'Purchase', on the other hand, is mostly used for large or costly items where deals, contracts and rights of ownership are involved. For example:
I'm going to
We typically do not use 'purchase' with small and everyday items like groceries.
He
The company needs to
They
A 'house' is a large and costly item. You can also use 'buy' in this sentence as it is a more general term.
Level of Formality
'Purchase' is typically considered more formal and is commonly used in professional or official contexts, such as legal documents, business transactions, or formal discussions. 'Buy' is more commonly used in everyday conversations and informal settings.
Let's
The government plans to
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