Which of the following is the correct way to say it?
A. "I bought that off eBay".
B. "I bought that on eBay".
C. "I bought that from eBay".
Please provide an explanation with your answer.
I'd say:
"I bought it from eBay"
This is because it refers to the singular. My grammar is crap but I think "it" is the object and "eBay" is the subject. I'm happy to be corrected. I did Latin at school 30 years ago. I'd love to do it again and become a grammar Nazi.
If you just want one word substituted, surely it would be 'through'.
I bought that through ebay...
Select to expand quoteMobydisc said..
I'd say:
"I bought it from eBay"
This is because it refers to the singular. My grammar is crap but I think "it" is the object and "eBay" is the subject. I'm happy to be corrected. I did Latin at school 30 years ago. I'd love to do it again and become a grammar Nazi.
There's no problem using a distal demonstrative as a direct object. (ie. "that" is just as correct as "it")
Also, "off", "on" and "from" are all suitable prepositions in this context. I'm really just curious which usage people tend to prefer.
(Red thumb, LOL. Does someone have some bad memories of/from English class? 
)
Select to expand quoteMobydisc said..
... but I think "it" is the object and "eBay" is the subject. I'm happy to be corrected. I did Latin at school 30 years ago. I'd love to do it again and become a grammar Nazi.
That takes me back. I remember basic sentence parsing as 'subject', 'predicate', 'object', 'extension'.
In I bought it off Ebay 'I' is the subject, the verb in this case is the predicate, 'it' is the object, and 'off Ebay' is the extension.
IMO 'through' or 'on' seem appropriate.
B.
Since eBay was the site you were "on" when you bought "it".
edit: What's the that?
Select to expand quoteMastbender said..
off of eBay
Argghhh......pleeeaase nooooooooo!!! 
Select to expand quoteHarrow said..Mastbender said..
off of eBay
Argghhh......pleeeaase nooooooooo!!!
Then "behind eBay"
Select to expand quoteBattle said..
B. "I bought that on eBay".
Since eBay was the site you were "on" when you bought "it".
Agreed.
- I was at K-Mart. I bought it (while I was) at K-Mart.
- I was in Tanzania. I bought it (while I was) in Tanzania.
- I was on eBay. I bought it (while I was) on eBay.
However, Australian English also allows:
- I brought it off of eBay.
^^^ How do you get 'on' aBay though? Aren't you viewing the purchase via their app or webpage? If you want to get technical - you aren't really 'on' eBay. As a preposition, it needs more context as in "I bought an item that was listed 'on' eBay.
Honestly though - I'd be happy with any of the examples, especially after hearing the words 'brung', 'youse', 'ekspecially' and 'dunno' (although that can be dismissed as Aussie slang...I reckon ;-) used so prolifically by our educated youth (and many adults).
I used to hate when friends would say - "I'm just going to put $50 through the pokies". No you're not - you're going to deposit your $50 in the machine - then put in another $50/$100/$500 trying to get your $50 back! The only time it goes 'through' is when the gaming employee takes it out the other side along with every other sucker's money.
How about "i was browsing ebay, spotted something i liked and bought the bastard"
Select to expand quoteSailhack said..
^^^ How do you get 'on' aBay though? Aren't you viewing the purchase via their app or webpage? If you want to get technical - you aren't really 'on' eBay. As a preposition, it needs more context as in "I bought an item that was listed 'on' eBay.
For some reason we've all decided that we are on websites when we read them, not in them, nor at them, even though they actually come to us.
Also, I propose that the most senseless phrase in the English lexicon is "Here/There you are/go." when you give an item to someone. It makes no ****ing sense whatsoever 
Select to expand quoteevlPanda said...Sailhack said..
^^^ How do you get 'on' aBay though? Aren't you viewing the purchase via their app or webpage? If you want to get technical - you aren't really 'on' eBay. As a preposition, it needs more context as in "I bought an item that was listed 'on' eBay.
For some reason we've all decided that we are on websites when we read them, not in them, nor at them, even though they actually come to us.
Also, I propose that the most senseless phrase in the English lexicon is "Here/There you are/go." when you give an item to someone. It makes no ****ing sense whatsoever
Can you even have phrases in a lexicon?
Select to expand quoteevlPanda said...Sailhack said..
^^^ How do you get 'on' aBay though? Aren't you viewing the purchase via their app or webpage? If you want to get technical - you aren't really 'on' eBay. As a preposition, it needs more context as in "I bought an item that was listed 'on' eBay.
For some reason we've all decided that we are on websites when we read them, not in them, nor at them, even though they actually come to us.
Also, I propose that the most senseless phrase in the English lexicon is "Here/There you are/go." when you give an item to someone. It makes no ****ing sense whatsoever
I helped out a fellow student (international - could speak some broken English) with some subjects a few years ago. I couldn't believe how difficult it was to speak plain English. My first question to her "How're you goin' with the..." - I received a total blank look followed by..."I not going anywhere?" So I followed it up with a more sensible way of asking - "sorry, I mean - are you handling the class ok?"..."Handle-ing?"
I soon realised that my English is poor, but I'm 'doin' orite wiv me Ozzy tork!'
When you learn another language it makes you realise how different they are and how some things in English don't translate easily or literally. Even having the grammar different makes you understand why people that learn English as a second language often have problems.
In the context of this thread, I think a few things in other languages are effectively "in" where we would use 'on'. I think Spanish would have something like 'I found it in (the) internet'.
Select to expand quotesotired said..
When you learn another language it makes you realise how different they are and how some things in English don't translate easily or literally. Even having the grammar different makes you understand why people that learn English as a second language often have problems.
In the context of this thread, I think a few things in other languages are effectively "in" where we would use 'on'. I think Spanish would have something like 'I found it in (the) internet'.
Like when the new arrivals that my wife teaches english to say things like "open the light". When we were kids, we could laugh at people for saying stuff like that, when the fact was that we were horribly ignorant of the struggle and effort they were making.
Am I the only one that spends too much time on reddit?
/probably
this is on/off but I don't know where from fits in
Harrow, I'm just happy that you wrote bought and not brought....
Just don't get me started on the there, their or they're errors...
Jeez I'm getting old.
Select to expand quoteJulianRoss said..
Harrow, I'm just happy that you wrote bought and not brought....
Just don't get me started on the there, their or they're errors...
Jeez I'm getting old.
I can be a grammar nazi at times, but at times I comfort a grammar nazi by putting my hand on their shoulder and softly saying, "There, their, they're..." 
