Brought vs Bought
What’s the difference between them?
Brought
Meaning:
Brought is the past tense of the verb 'to bring', which means to take something or someone from one place and bring it or them to another.
Examples:
1. She brought a bouquet of flowers for the party.
2. His hard work finally brought him the success he had always wanted.
3. She brought her laptop to school to work on a project.
Bought
Meaning:
Bought is a past tense of the verb 'to buy,' which means to have acquired something by paying money or its equivalent.
Examples:
1. She bought a new dress for the party.
2. I bought a new phone yesterday.
3. He bought a new car last week.
Learn similar and opposite words to spot the difference
Synonyms
Antonyms
Brought
Took
carried
Sent
Bought
Purchased
acquired
Sold
Tricks for mastery
Useful tips to understand the difference between confusing words "Brought", "Bought".
1. Brought is the past tense of the verb 'bring,' while bought is the past tense of the verb 'buy.'
2. One easy way to remember the difference is to think of the phrase 'bring and buy.' When you bring something, you are bringing it to you. When you buy something, you are buying it from someone else.
3. Another way to remember the difference is to think of the phrase 'I brought it, but I bought it.' This phrase implies that the item was brought to the person, but then bought from someone else.
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Frequently asked questions
When to use the first word ‘brought’?
The word ‘brought’ is the past tense form of the verb ‘bring’. It is used to talk about an action that has been done in the past, such as 'I brought the groceries home yesterday' or 'I brought my dog to the vet last week'.
When to use the second word ‘bought’?
The word ‘bought’ is the past tense form of the verb ‘buy’. It is used to talk about an action of purchasing something that has been done in the past, such as 'I bought a new car last month' or 'I bought a laptop yesterday'.
Do the words ‘brought’ and ‘bought’ have the same pronunciation?
No, the words ‘brought’ and ‘bought’ do not have the same pronunciation. The word ‘brought’ is pronounced with an 'r' and long 'o' sound, while the word ‘bought’ is pronounced with a short 'o' sound and without 'r.'
What are common mistakes associated with words ‘brought’ and ‘bought’?
A common mistake associated with the words ‘brought’ and ‘bought’ is using the wrong word in a sentence. For example, saying 'I brought the groceries yesterday' when the correct phrase should be 'I bought the groceries yesterday'. The words ‘brought’ and ‘bought’ also have different spellings, so it is important to make sure that you spell them correctly.
Fill in the gaps to check yourself
1. Have you ____ any new books recently?
2. I ____ a new pair of shoes on sale.
3. My mom ____ some cookies to a party.
4. I ____ the groceries to home from the car.
5. Have you ever ____ something online?
6. My aunt ____ me a gift for my graduation.
1. Bought
Explanation: To buy something means to acquire it by paying money for it.
2. Bought
Explanation: To buy something means to acquire it by paying money for it.
3. Brought
Explanation: To bring something means to take it somewhere.
4. Brought
Explanation: To bring something means to take it somewhere.
5. Bought
Explanation: To buy something means to acquire it by paying money for it.
6. Brought
Explanation: To bring something means to take it somewhere.
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List of Commonly Confused Words
Finding your way around the English language can be hard, especially since there are so many confusing words and rules. So, a list of the most confusing words in English is an extremely useful tool for improving language accuracy and sharing the ideas clearly.