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bought an ice cream vs bought ice cream

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. "Bought an ice cream" refers to a single serving of ice cream (such as a cup or a cone), while "bought ice cream" is used more generally to indicate the action of purchasing ice cream without specifying the quantity or type.

Explained by Camille
Editor at TextRanch

Last updated: October 20, 2024 • 13516 views

bought an ice cream

This phrase is correct and commonly used when referring to a specific ice cream that was purchased.

This phrase is used when you want to emphasize the purchase of a particular ice cream, specifying that it was one ice cream among others.

Examples:

I bought an ice cream for my daughter.
She bought an ice cream with sprinkles on top.

Show examples from the web [+]

He bought an ice cream, then went to his apartment.
Who bought you an ice cream?
Afterwards, he said he was sorry, and then he bought me an ice cream.
I bought her an ice cream and saw her laugh for the first time.
I wouldn't get hired, so with my last two dollars, I bought Ralph an ice cream, and sat him in the booth while I talked to the owner.
I bought ice cream last night.
You bought ice cream from my dad before.
You bought ice cream, Mikey?
My roommate and I didn't see eye-to-eye at first. I bought ice cream cone cupcakes from the Treats Truck and we bonded.
For dessert, store-bought ice cream or cookies.
He bought some ice cream for a little girl.
No one's bought me ice cream since my dad died.
We haven't bought your ice cream yet.
Lou Todd has bought two ice creams, both for his friend Andy.
That's why Brad bought the ice-cream shop.
That was a day... Y'all bought me ice cream off the truck.
I bought some chocolate ice cream.
He bought some ice cream for a little girl.
Do you remember I bought you ice cream cone here once.
Then when she put the movie back on, the boy took a cheerleader roller skating and bought her some ice cream.

Alternatives:

purchased an ice cream
got an ice cream
acquired an ice cream
picked up an ice cream
obtained an ice cream

bought ice cream

This phrase is correct and commonly used in a general sense to indicate the action of purchasing ice cream without specifying the quantity or type.

This phrase is used when you want to convey the idea of buying ice cream in a more general way, without focusing on a specific ice cream.

Examples:

I bought ice cream for the party.
They bought ice cream at the store.

Show examples from the web [+]

I bought ice cream last night.
I bought ice cream.
You bought ice cream from my dad before.
You bought ice cream, Mikey?
My roommate and I didn't see eye-to-eye at first. I bought ice cream cone cupcakes from the Treats Truck and we bonded.
For dessert, store-bought ice cream or cookies.
He bought some ice cream for a little girl.
No one's bought me ice cream since my dad died.
We haven't bought your ice cream yet.
Lou Todd has bought two ice creams, both for his friend Andy.
That's why Brad bought the ice-cream shop.
He bought an ice cream, then went to his apartment.
That was a day... Y'all bought me ice cream off the truck.
I bought some chocolate ice cream.
He bought some ice cream for a little girl.
Do you remember I bought you ice cream cone here once.
Then when she put the movie back on, the boy took a cheerleader roller skating and bought her some ice cream.
But the girl he bought the ice cream for was not the girl he should have bought it for.
She bought us ice-cream and she said you're spiteful and you're in for retribution.
Maybe I would have bought the ice cream when I did some other errand.

Alternatives:

purchased ice cream
got some ice cream
acquired ice cream
picked up ice cream
obtained ice cream

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