acheter

Acheter is a French verb meaning to buy or to purchase. It is a transitive verb that requires a direct object, as in J'achète une voiture. The verb is used to indicate acquiring goods or services in exchange for money. It can be followed by a noun phrase naming the purchased item and, in some constructions, by phrases indicating the seller or the purpose (acheter quelque chose à quelqu'un, acheter quelque chose pour quelqu'un).

Conjugation and forms. In the present tense, the forms are: j'achète, tu achètes, il/elle achète, nous achetons, vous achetez, ils/elles achètent. The infinitive is acheter, and the past participle is acheté. The passé composé is formed with the auxiliary avoir: j'ai acheté. The imperfect is achetais, achetais, achetait, achetions, achetiez, achetaient. The future simple forms are achèterai, achèteras, achètera, achèterons, achèterez, achèteront. The subjunctive present is que j'achète, que tu achètes, qu'il achète, que nous achetions, que vous achetiez, qu'ils achètent.

Usage notes. Acheter is typically used with a direct object, e.g., J'achète un livre. It can also express buying for someone or from someone: acheter quelque chose à quelqu'un (to buy something from someone) or acheter quelque chose pour quelqu'un (to buy something for someone). The verb also appears in common expressions such as acheter en ligne (to buy online) or acheter cher (to pay a high price).

See also. The related noun achat refers to the act or result of purchasing. Related verbs and phrases include vendre (to sell) and faire les achats (to do the shopping).