---
title: buy — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «buy» in the school dictionary: To buy is to get something by paying money for it. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

<!-- md -->
[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/buy/)

<!-- crumbs -->
[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/) / [school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/) / [B](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/) / buy

# buy

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** buy, coat, Ben, many cards, Mia, pack · **What happens:** buy, be, pay, hold, have, leave · **To what, where:** money, something, good buy, 6 cards, total, 8 packs

<!-- .vabout -->
«buy» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 9 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [buy in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/buy.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To buy is to get something by paying money for it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:buy:m1:1
# text = To buy is to get something by paying money for it.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	buy	buy	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	csubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	get	get	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	obj	_	_
7	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
8	paying	pay	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	5	advcl	_	_
9	money	money	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	_
10	for	for	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **buy** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn accept-77.1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | get *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **pay** | gerund |  | money |  |  |  | for money | vn pay-68-1 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Agent money=Asset for it=Theme |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A buy is something bought: this coat was a good buy (it was worth the money).

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:buy:m2:1
# text = A buy is something bought: this coat was a good buy (it was worth the money).
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	buy	buy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	0	root	_	_
5	bought	buy	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	12	punct	_	_
7	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	8	det	_	_
8	coat	coat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
9	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	buy	buy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	_
13	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	16	nsubj	_	_
15	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	16	cop	_	_
16	worth	worth	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	parataxis	_	_
17	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	money	money	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a buy | something |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **buy** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn accept-77.1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **is a** | past | this coat | a good buy |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **is** | past | coat |  |  |  |  | worth *property* | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ben bought 6 cards on Monday and 5 cards on Tuesday. How many cards did Ben buy in total?

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* Ben bought 6 cards on Monday and 5 cards on Tuesday.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:buy:x1:1
# text = Ben bought 6 cards on Monday and 5 cards on Tuesday.
1	Ben	Ben	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	bought	buy	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	6	6	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	4	nummod	_	_
4	cards	card	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	Monday	Monday	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
8	5	5	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	9	nummod	_	_
9	cards	card	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	conj	_	_
10	on	on	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	Tuesday	Tuesday	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **buy** | past | Ben | 6 cards |  |  | monday; tuesday |  | vn accept-77.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent card=Theme |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* How many cards did Ben buy in total?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:buy:x1:2
# text = How many cards did Ben buy in total?
1	How	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	2	advmod	_	_
2	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	cards	card	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
4	did	do	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
5	Ben	Ben	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	buy	buy	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	total	total	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **buy** | past · do-support | many cards |  |  | total |  |  | vn accept-77.1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mia buys 8 packs of cards. A pack holds 3 cards.

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* Mia buys 8 packs of cards.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:buy:x2:1
# text = Mia buys 8 packs of cards.
1	Mia	Mia	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	buys	buy	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	8	8	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	4	nummod	_	_
4	packs	pack	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	cards	card	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **buy** | present | Mia | 8 packs of cards |  |  |  |  | vn accept-77.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent pack=Theme |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* A pack holds 3 cards.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:buy:x2:2
# text = A pack holds 3 cards.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	pack	pack	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	holds	hold	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	3	3	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	cards	card	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hold** | present | a pack | 3 cards |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent card=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sam has 20 pence and buys a pen for 7 pence. How much money is left?

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* Sam has 20 pence and buys a pen for 7 pence.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:buy:x3:1
# text = Sam has 20 pence and buys a pen for 7 pence.
1	Sam	Sam	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	20	20	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	4	nummod	_	_
4	pence	pence	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	buys	buy	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	pen	pen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
9	for	for	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	7	7	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	11	nummod	_	_
11	pence	pence	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | Sam | 20 pence |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent pence=Patient |
| 2 | **buy** | present | Sam *not said here* | a pen |  |  |  | for 7 pence | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP PP.beneficiary»: agent=Agent pen=Theme for pence=Beneficiary |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* How much money is left?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:buy:x3:2
# text = How much money is left?
1	How	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	2	advmod	_	_
2	much	much	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	money	money	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
5	left	leave	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **leave** | present · passive |  | much money |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We buy bread at the bakery.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:buy:x4:1
# text = We buy bread at the bakery.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	buy	buy	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	bread	bread	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	at	at	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	bakery	bakery	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **buy** | present | We | bread |  | the bakery |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP PP.source NP.asset»: agent=Agent bread=Theme at bakery=Asset |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I saved my pocket money to buy a new ball.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:buy:x5:1
# text = I saved my pocket money to buy a new ball.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	saved	save	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
4	pocket	pocket	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	money	money	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	buy	buy	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	ball	ball	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **save** | past | I | my pocket money |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent money=Theme |
| 2 | **buy** | to-infinitive | I *not said here* | a new ball |  |  |  |  | vn accept-77.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent ball=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mum bought a bag of apples for 3 dollars.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:buy:x6:1
# text = Mum bought a bag of apples for 3 dollars.
1	Mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	bought	buy	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	bag	bag	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	apples	apple	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	3	3	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	9	nummod	_	_
9	dollars	dollar	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **buy** | past | Mum | a bag of apples |  |  |  | for 3 dollars | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP PP.beneficiary»: agent=Agent bag=Theme for dollar=Beneficiary |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Can I buy a ticket here?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:buy:x7:1
# text = Can I buy a ticket here?
1	Can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
2	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	buy	buy	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	ticket	ticket	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	here	here	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **buy** | can | I | a ticket |  | here |  |  | vn accept-77.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent ticket=Theme |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It is cheaper to buy a big pack.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:buy:x8:1
# text = It is cheaper to buy a big pack.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	cheaper	cheap	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	buy	buy	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	pack	pack	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | It |  |  |  |  | cheap *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **buy** | to-infinitive |  | a big pack |  |  |  |  | vn accept-77.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent pack=Theme |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
“But why did you buy me?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:buy:x9:1
# text = “But why did you buy me?
1	“	"	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	But	but	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
3	why	why	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	6	advmod	_	_
4	did	do	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
5	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	buy	buy	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
7	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	6	iobj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **buy** *in a quote* | past · do-support | you |  | me |  |  |  | vn accept-77.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent i=Theme |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

<!-- pn -->
- ← previous: [butty](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/butty/)
- next →: [buyer](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/buyer/)
- ↑ back to [B in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/)