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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.
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Explained by Camille
Editor at TextRanch

Last updated: October 20, 2024 • 13563 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.
  • Jul 22, 2015 ... Hi, I would like to ask something about present perfect and past tense: a)I have bought an ice cream. Does this mean I bought an ice cream, ...
  • May 17, 2024 ... I had never bought an ice cream tub. Food. r/indiasocial - I had never bought an ice cream tub.
  • Sep 29, 2023 ... I finally bought an ice-cream maker, can I realistically make a batch a day of different flavours over 2 weeks and accumulate them in the ...
  • Jul 22, 2020 ... The girl bought an ice cream cone and took it to the park. A simple sentence is not necessarily simple. Take the following example: The girl—a ...
  • Jun 27, 2021 ... Keanu Reeves bought an ice cream. And it's the most heartwarming story you'll ever read. Thanks to James Dator for sharing on Twitter.
  • Jul 6, 2023 ... Finally bought an ice cream machine at the ripe age of 29 and my world has forever changed Today we made dairy-free cookie dough ice cream.
  • May 28, 2013 ... I bought an ice cream maker. Store-bought ice cream is convenient and, frankly, often cheaper than homemade but there really is something ...
  • Aug 25, 2011 ... I bought an ice cream maker last summer and enjoy using it, so I made two ice cream recipes at home for the party. One was this roasted ...
  • May 11, 2010 ... This one had nothing to do with the bake sale. But, I made it a few weeks ago, after I finally broke down & bought an ice cream maker. I saw ...

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.
  • Jul 22, 2015 ... Also, in AmE, ice cream does not take a determiner (unless for specific use) — e.g., I bought ice cream. However you could say "I bought a[n ...
  • Mar 12, 2024 ... store bought ice cream that's not airy and it's just “hard”? Question. I don't know if I'm making any sense but yeah I've bought some ...
  • Apr 21, 2020 ... Here are two ways to turn store-bought ice cream into a soft serve treat: Method 1: Simple Mixing This method is quick and easy, ...
  • May 13, 2022 ... Why does my freshly bought ice cream look like this? Is it safe to eat? Solved.
  • Jul 6, 2023 ... For the sake of ease and time I am using store bought ice cream. I suggest getting your favorite brand. I prefer premium ice creams and natural ...
  • Jul 8, 2024 ... ago. Maleficent_Quality_1. ADMIN MOD. Join. Options. Report. What's the best store bought ice cream you've ever had? Ice Cream! Upvote 15
  • Jun 1, 2011 ... Store-bought Ice Cream Sandwiches. lagoldberg8397. By lagoldberg8397. June 1, 2011 in Ready to Eat. Share. More sharing options... Followers 2 ...
  • Mar 15, 2021 ... I bought ice cream, though when I got home the tub was soft to touch. Is it still safe to put it in the freezer or will I get sick? All ...
  • Dec 19, 2022 ... The Creami is not a blender. No, you can't use ice. If you mean store bought ice cream, yet you can use that to make a milkshake.

Alternatives:

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

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