There are regular and irregular verbs in English grammar. “Buy” falls into an irregular verb that can be used in the present, past, and tense. Let us explore the facts.
We are certain to use the verb “buy” in the present tense, past tense, and future tense. The action word “buy’’ provides us the sense of getting something from someone in exchange for money. It refers to the meaning of “purchase’’. It can be used in all the forms of all the tenses.
Now, we will get to know clearly how it works in all forms of three tenses.
“Buy’’ in the present tense.
We refer to the form as the present tense that describes being, having, or doing at present. Let us see how “buy’’ acts in the present tense.
We can insert the term “buy’’ in the present tense to present the action of getting something from any other person by paying. We use it to purchase some goods.
When can we use “buy’’ in the present tense?
| Types of present tense | When to use “buy” in the present tense |
| 1. Present indefinite tense | We use the verb “buy” in the present indefinite tense to refer to an act of purchasing something in exchange for money in a general sense. |
| 2. Present continuous tense | The verb “buying” is used in the present continuous tense with the helping verb am/is/are to show that the act of taking something by paying money that is in progress. |
| 3. Present perfect tense | We can use the verb “bought” in the present perfect tense with the helping ver has/have to show that the act of purchasing has been done in the recent past with its result intact. |
| 4. Present perfect continuous tense | We use the verb “buying” in the present perfect continuous tense with the helping verb has been or have been to indicate that the act of taking something by paying money is in progress for some time. |
Sentence formation and structure of “buy’’ in the present tense-
| Types of present tense | Sentence formation and structure of “buy’’ | Example |
| Present indefinite tense | a. Subject (first person singular/ plural, second person singular/plural, third person singular/ plural) + buy + object b. Subject (third-person singular/plural) + buys + object | a. I/ We/ you/ they buy the flowers. b. He buys the flowers. |
| Present continuous tense | a. Subject (first person singular) + am buying + object. b. Subject (first plural, second person singular/plural, third person plural) + are buying + object. c. Subject (third person and singular number) + is buying + object. | a. I am buying a pencil. b. We/ you/ they are buying the ball. c. He is buying the pen. |
| Present perfect tense | a. Subject (first person singular/ plural second person singular/plural, third person singular/plural) + have bought + object b. Subject (third-person singular) + has bought + object | a. I/ we/ you/ they have bought the mobile. b. He has bought the camera. |
| Present perfect continuous tense | a. Subject (first person singular/ plural second person singular/plural, third person singular/plural) + have been buying + object b. Subject (third-person singular) + has been buying + object | a. I /we/ you/ they have been buying the gift. b. He has been buying the card. |
Examples of “buy’’ in the present tense-
| Types of present tense | Example | Explanation |
| Present indefinite tense | My father buys nice gifts for me on my birthday. | In this cited example, the action word “buy’’ is in the usage of the present indefinite tense that refers to an unspecific time. It shows that my father takes something in exchange for money. |
| Present continuous tense | The customers are buying goods from the shop. | Here it is found that the verb “buy’’ is used in the present participle form to make a present continuous tense form. We see that the customers are buying something at present. |
| Present perfect tense | Lakmal has bought a nice flat which faces south. | In this sentence, we find the usage of the irregular verb “buy’’ in the present perfect tense that shows a complete action with its result. |
| Present perfect continuous tense | We have been buying vegetables from the market for half an hour. | The verb “buy’’ is used in the present participle form to make a present perfect continuous tense. It shows that we have been purchasing vegetables for an hour. |
“Buy’’ in the past tense.
A past tense offers us the actions of the previous moment that have no result at present. Let us find out how “buy’’ acts in the past tense.
We definitely use the irregular verb “buy’’ in the form “bought” in the past tense to show our desire of purchasing something in the past.
When can we use “buy’’ in the past tense?
| Forms of past tense | When to use “buy” in the past tense |
| 1. Past indefinite tense | We can use the verb “bought” in the simple past tense to indicate a completed action of purchasing something in exchange for money from someone in the past. |
| 2. Past continuous tense | We use the irregular verb “buying” in the past continuous tense with the helping verb was or were to show an act of taking something in exchange for money in the previous moment. The work of purchase was in progress before. |
| 3. Past perfect tense | We can use the verb “bought” in its third form in the past perfect tense with the helping verb had to show the act of purchasing something from someone. The purchase was done in the past before another action. |
| 4. Past perfect continuous tense | The verb “buying” is used in the past perfect continuous tense with the helping verb had been to present the action of obtaining some goods from someone for a period of time in the past before another action took place. |
Sentence formation and structure of “buy’’ in the past tense-
| Forms of past tense | Sentence formation of “buy’’ in the past tense |
| 1. Past indefinite tense | a. Subject (all persons and numbers) + bought + object |
| 2. Past continuous tense | a. Subject (first person singular/ third singular) + was buying + object b. Subject (first person plural, second person singular/plural, third person plural) + were buying + object |
| 3. Past perfect tense | a. Subject (all persons and numbers) + had bought + object |
| 4. Past perfect continuous tense | a. Subject (all persons and numbers) + had been buying + object |
Examples of “buy’’ in the past tense-
| Forms of past tense | Example | Explanation |
| 1. Past indefinite tense | My grandfather bought a nice house for his sons. | The verb “bought’’ is used in the past indefinite tense. Here we see that my grandfather purchased a nice house for his sons. |
| 2. Past continuous tense | They were buying a camera Obscura from the shop. | Here the verb “buy’’ is acting to an ongoing action in the past. We see that they were taking something in exchange for money. |
| 3. Past perfect tense | I had bought a mobile before my father forbade me to do it. | Here the verb “buy’’ in its past participle form is used to make a sentence in the past perfect tense. It is found that I had purchased a thing for money before another action. |
| 4. Past perfect continuous tense | Soumya had been buying fruits and flowers for the Laxmi puja for two hours before his brother went to the market. | The verb “buy’’ in its past participle form is used to make a sentence in the past perfect continuous tense. Here we see that Soumya had been purchasing fruits and flowers before his brother went to the market. |
“Buy’’ in the future tense.
Future tense provides us with the future action that will come off in the future. Now, let us check if “buy’’ is used in the future tense.
We use the verb “buy’’ in the future tense to present our act of purchasing anything from anybody by paying its exact price in the future. We use the forms like shall/ will buy, shall be/ will be buying, shall/ will have bought, and shall/ will have been buying to form the forms of future tense.
When can the verb “buy’’ applied in the future tense?
| Type of future tense | When to use “buy” in the future tense |
| 1. Future indefinite tense | The verb “buy” is used in the simple future tense with shall or will to indicate an action of obtaining in exchange for payment. It shows that the purchase will be done in the future in a general sense. |
| 2. Future continuous tense | We can insert the verb “buying” in the future continuous tense with the helping verb shall be or will be to show the act of acquiring something from someone in the future. It refers to the work that will be going on in the future. |
| 3. Future perfect tense | We can use the verb “bought” in the future perfect tense with the helping verb shall have or will have to show the act of purchasing something from someone. It shows that the purchase will be done in the future before another action. |
| 4. Future perfect continuous tense | The action word “buying” is used in the future perfect continuous tense with the helping verb shall have been or will have been to present the action of purchase that will be going on for a period of time in the future before another action. |
Sentence structure of “buy’’ in the future tense-
| Type of future tense | Sentence formation and structure of “buy’’ in the future tense |
| 1. Future indefinite tense | a. Subject (first person singular/ plural) + shall buy + object. b. Subject (second person singular/plural, third person singular/plural) + will buy + object. |
| 2. Future continuous tense | a. Subject (first person singular/ plural) + shall be buying + object. b. Subject (second person singular/plural, third person singular/plural) + will be building + object. |
| 3. Future perfect tense | a. Subject (first person singular/ plural) + shall have bought + object. b. Subject (second person singular/plural, third person singular/plural) + will have bought + object. |
| 4. Future perfect continuous tense | a. Subject (first person singular/ plural) + shall have been buying + object. b. Subject (second person singular/plural, third person singular/plural) + will have been buying + object |
Examples and explanations of “build’’ in the future tense-
| Type of future tense | Example | Explanation |
| 1. Future indefinite tense | You will buy a nice decorated building this year. | The verb “buy’’ is used in its present form with the verb “will’’ to construct a sentence in the future indefinite tense. We see that you will purchase a nice decorated building this year. |
| 2. Future continuous tense | My elder brother will be buying a nice project with this little amount tomorrow. | The action word “build’’ is used to frame a future continuous tense to indicate that my elder brother will be going on to purchase a nice project with this little amount tomorrow. |
| 3. Future perfect tense | I shall have bought the gold ring for my wife. | The verb “buy’’ with shall have is used in the future perfect tense as the formation shows its function in the sentence. |
| 4. Future perfect continuous tense | My friends will have been buying the utensils for two hours for the picnic at our school. | The usage of the verb “buy’’ shows the action of the future perfect continuous tense. We see that my friends will have been constructing the stage for a period of time in the future. |
Conclusion
We will get sound knowledge on the usage of “buy’’ in all the forms of three tenses. We can use the verb “buy’’ in framing phrasal verbs to give different meanings. The phrasal verbs are “buy into’’, “buy in’’, “buy off’’, “buy up’’, and so on. We can use these phrases in time of composing any sentence.
