Friday, November 6, 2015

synonyms - What is the difference between buy and purchase


When we use the word "to buy" and when the word "to purchase"? I do not understand the difference between these words.



Answer



If it comes to the sense of obtaining something by paying money, both "purchase" and "buy" are usually used interchangeably as a verb. Nevertheless, the use of "buy" is more common in daily conversational English than that of purchase. The use of purchase is a bit formal.


In some contexts, however, it sounds more natural to use buy instead of purchase such as I will buy him the book/let me buy you a drink.


Similarly, when you use these words as a plural noun, it's more natural to use purchase in some contexts such as she opened the bag of her purchases/her purchases were so heavy that she had to take a taxi. Besides, you often say in informal English when you buy something at a low/high price "it's a good/bad buy". "It's a good/bad purchase" sounds a bit weird.


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