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Anonymous Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

Goods bought through a computer can be cheaper than shops.

Hi there,

Here's an everyday sentence that I can't explain:

"Goods bought through a computer can be cheaper than shops."


This talks about a generalisation or fact, but I can't explain the use of the past simple 'bought' in this sentence.


Please help.

Thanks

DKUK
  

Top answer

Anonymous I can't explain the use of the past simple 'bought' in this sentence. Hi, DKUK, It's not simple past , it's the past participle . " What kind of goods are they?

— Avangi

  • Anonymous I can't explain the use of the past simple 'bought' in this sentence.
  • Hi, DKUK, It's not simple past , it's the past participle .
  • " What kind of goods are they?
  • " You can think of "bought" as an adjective.
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3 Answers
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AnonymousI can't explain the use of the past simple 'bought' in this sentence.
Hi, DKUK,
It's not simple past, it's the past participle.

The participial phrase "bought through a computer" modifies "goods."

What kind of goods are they? They are "bought goods." You can think of "bought" as an adjective.
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Anonymous"Goods [that are] bought through a computer can be cheaper than shops."
Avangi is right. Bought is a past participle. In My grammatical knowledge it is used in a relative clause equivalent. I think many native speakers call structures like this reduced clauses. I don't like the ending of the sentence, wh
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Cool BreezeI don't like the ending of the sentence, which seems to imply that the goods are cheaper than the shops.
I agree with you wholeheartedly! Somehow I resisted the temptation. I guess I'mthe lazy one.
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