by PushtoLearn
Sell vs Sale
Table of Contents
Vocabulary Exercise with Sell and Sale
What’s the Difference Between Sell and Sale?
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Sell is a verb – it means to give something to someone in exchange for money.
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Sale is a noun – it means the act of selling, or a special event with lower prices.
Think of it like this:
You sell something.
A sale is what happens when you sell, or when prices are reduced.
Grammar and Sentence Use
|
Word |
Part of Speech |
Meaning |
Example Sentence |
|
Sell |
Verb |
To give something for money |
"I want to sell my old phone." |
|
Sale |
Noun |
The act of selling, or a discount |
"The phone is on sale for $200." |
Rules and Examples
How to Use Sell (Verb)
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Present: sell
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Past: sold
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Future: will sell
Examples:
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“They sell fresh fruit at the market.”
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“She sold her bike last week.”
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“I will sell my car next month.”
How to Use Sale (Noun)
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As an event: “There’s a big sale at the mall.”
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As a result: “The sale of my car made me $500.”
Common Mistakes
|
Mistake |
Why it’s wrong |
Correction |
|
"I want to sale my car." |
“Sale” is not a verb |
"I want to sell my car." |
|
"The sell starts tomorrow." |
“Sell” is not a noun |
"The sale starts tomorrow." |
|
"She is on sell." |
Incorrect phrase |
"The item is on sale." |
Everyday Use Examples
|
Situation |
Phrase |
Meaning |
|
At a store |
“Is this on sale?” |
Asking if the price is reduced |
|
Selling online |
“I want to sell this jacket.” |
Planning to give it away for money |
|
Discussing deals |
“They had a big sale yesterday.” |
There was a special discount event |
|
Past action |
“He sold his laptop for $400.” |
He gave his laptop to someone for money |
FAQ – Sell vs Sale
What is the difference between "sell" and "sale"?
“Sell” is a verb (an action). “Sale” is a noun (a thing or event).
Can I say “I want to sale my phone”?
No. It should be: “I want to sell my phone.”
What does "on sale" mean?
It means something is being sold at a lower price than usual.
What is the past tense of “sell”?
The past tense is “sold.”
Can “sale” be used as a verb?
No. “Sale” is never a verb. Always use “sell” for the action.
