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I bought a bag. vs I've bought a bag.

Both phrases are correct, but they're used in different contexts. 'I bought a bag' is simple past tense, indicating a completed action in the past. 'I've bought a bag' is present perfect tense, indicating an action that happened at an unspecified time before now. The choice between the two phrases depends on the context and the emphasis you'd like to convey.
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Explained by Miss E.
Editor at TextRanch

Last updated: December 17, 2024 • 9097 views

I bought a bag.

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to indicate a completed action in the past.

This phrase is in the simple past tense, indicating that the action of buying the bag was completed in the past.

Examples:

  • I bought a bag yesterday.
  • She bought a bag for her trip.
  • He bought a bag of groceries at the store.
  • Sep 30, 2017 ... What is the difference between I have bought a bag and I bought a bag ? Summary of everyone's answers. What is the difference between bunny ...
  • Mar 28, 2018 ... hail_sized_golf_ball. • 7y ago •. I bought a bag of air once and was shocked to find 3 potato chips in it. Upvote 301. Downvote Share.
  • Aug 30, 2023 ... I bought a bag recently in a European airport while traveling back to the states. Therefore I saved hundreds of dollars on tax.
  • Mar 3, 2022 ... Buying, Selling, & Collecting I Bought A Bag Of Watches For $50. The horological equivalent of saying "I like to party." James Stacey. March ...
  • Aug 11, 2023 ... I bought a bag of rocks that are shiny black. Tried to attempt painting. I think I'm not doing something right. Could be the paint I'm using ...
  • Jan 5, 2017 ... I bought a bag of Brussels sprouts that looked fine but smelled exceptionally bad, even for sprouts · Ask Question. Asked 7 years, 10 months ...
  • I Bought a Bag of Bagels. By Kelsie Pattillo. Buy an item from any store in Wisconsin and you'll have the opportunity to hear ...
  • Jun 30, 2022 ... I bought a bag of frozen Calamari and some Seafood coating. Should I dip the Calamari in egg mixture then coat with the fry coating?
  • Oct 6, 2024 ... So I bought a bag of plums.. I like plums. But I don't think I can eat the whole bag before they go bad. Any recipe ideas using dark plums?

Alternatives:

  • I purchased a bag.
  • I got a bag.
  • I acquired a bag.

I've bought a bag.

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to indicate an action that happened at an unspecified time before now.

This phrase is in the present perfect tense, indicating that the action of buying the bag occurred at some point before the present moment.

Examples:

  • I've bought a bag for my upcoming trip.
  • She's bought a bag for her new job.
  • He's bought a bag of snacks for the party.
  • Jul 12, 2018 ... At last I've bought a bag for my Nord Electro 6HP (73 notes) It's a Fusion 06 Keyboard Gig Bag and it's lightweight but not floppy or thin.
  • Jun 9, 2023 ... I've bought a bag in Florence, it broke on the first day I carried it, and then they exchanged it in Milan. Upvote 2. Downvote Reply reply
  • Sep 22, 2022 ... But any time I've bought a bag of sand years ago it was used for that particular setup within a week . I did recently add 2 bags of sand to ...
  • May 7, 2023 ... I've bought a bag off Cettire before back in 2022 and I had a great experience. Just be mindful that you might have to pay customs over a ...
  • Mar 1, 2017 ... Many times this winter I've bought a bag of Opals and every other apple alternates from outstanding to so-so. But, when they're good, they ...
  • Mar 1, 2023 ... This is the first time I've bought a bag from Prada so I have no reference if this is normal or not. I just bought the Re-Edition 2005 ...
  • Apr 24, 2022 ... i've read from a few people that their pigs aren't too keen on mint and prefer the blackberry nuggets, so i've bought a bag! should i just ...
  • Sep 25, 2009 ... I really must stop buying bags off ebay as I'm becoming a nervous wreck (and DH is about to divorce me) but anyway I've bought a bag which I ...
  • Sep 27, 2015 ... But for the past two Fridays, I've bought a bag of - for lack of a better word - licorice allsorts (a variety of crunchy and gummy candies with ...
  • Dec 22, 2015 ... Like I said, it's been a while since I've bought a bag, but do Outlet Bags not come with a dust bag anymore? And if they do, and the ...

Alternatives:

  • I have purchased a bag.
  • I have got a bag.
  • I have acquired a bag.

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