What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
shopped
Example
I shopped for hours at the mall, but couldn't find anything I liked. [shopped: past tense]
Example
She enjoys shopping for clothes on the weekends. [shopping: gerund or present participle]
buy
Example
I need to buy a new phone since my old one broke. [buy: verb]
Example
The buy-one-get-one-free deal was too good to pass up. [buy: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Buy is more commonly used than shop in everyday language. Buy is a straightforward and versatile verb that covers a wide range of contexts, while shop is less common and more specific to the activity of browsing and exploring stores.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between shopped and buy?
Both shop and buy can be used in various formality levels, depending on the context. However, buy is more neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, while shop may be more casual and informal in tone.
