What Does “Sell sth on” Mean?
“Sell sth on” means to sell something you have bought to another person, usually to make a profit.
Introduction
The phrasal verb “sell sth on” is commonly used in everyday English when talking about selling an item to someone else after purchasing it. The Sell sth on meaning involves transferring ownership by selling something you already own, often at a higher price. This phrase is useful in many contexts, such as business, markets, or casual conversations about buying and selling. Understanding how to use “sell sth on” correctly will help you express ideas about reselling products or goods effectively.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: sell something on
- Type: transitive
- Level: B1 (Intermediate)
- Short meaning: to sell something you have bought to another person
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Sell sth on” is a separable phrasal verb. You can place the object between “sell” and “on” or after “on.”
- sell + something + on (e.g., She sold the car on to a friend.)
- sell on + something (less common but possible, e.g., They sell on their old books.)
The most natural and common structure is to put the object between the verb and the particle.
How to Use Sell sth on?
Use “sell sth on” when you want to describe selling an item that you have previously purchased or acquired. It often suggests reselling, sometimes for profit or to pass the item to another person. This phrasal verb is often used in informal and business English.
Example contexts include:
- Reselling tickets for an event.
- Passing on used goods like clothes or electronics.
- Business transactions involving buying and reselling.
Examples
When you buy something and then decide to sell it to someone else, you can use “sell sth on.” Here are some examples:
- He bought the old bike cheaply and sold it on for a good profit.
- They often sell on second-hand clothes at the market.
- After the concert tickets sold out, people tried to sell them on online.
- She sells on her handmade crafts through different shops.
- We decided to sell the car on because we needed a bigger one.
These examples show how “sell sth on” is used in a sentence to describe reselling.
Common Mistakes
Many learners confuse “sell sth on” with simply “sell” or use it incorrectly in sentence structure. Here are some common errors and corrections:
- Incorrect: I sell on my old phone.
- Correct: I sell my old phone on.
- Incorrect: She sells on the car to her friend.
- Correct: She sells the car on to her friend.
Remember, the object usually comes between “sell” and “on.”
Differences / Synonyms
Similar phrasal verbs include:
- Sell off: To sell something quickly, often at a lower price.
- Sell out: To sell all of a product or tickets.
- Pass on: To give something to someone else, not necessarily by selling.
“Sell sth on” specifically means reselling an item after buying it, often implying a chain of sales.
Common Collocations
“Sell sth on” is often used with the following objects:
- Tickets: Sell on tickets means reselling event tickets.
- Goods: General items sold again.
- Clothes: Often used in second-hand clothing sales.
- Cars: Reselling vehicles after purchase.
- Books: Selling used or second-hand books.
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of sell sth on:
Real-life Dialogue
Here is a short conversation using “sell sth on”:
Alice: I bought these concert tickets, but I can’t go anymore.
Ben: You should try to sell them on. There are people looking for tickets.
Alice: Good idea! I hope I can get a good price.
Practice
Try to complete the sentences with the correct form of “sell sth on”:
- He bought the phone and _______ it _______ for twice the price.
- They often _______ old books _______ to other readers.
- She decided to _______ her bike _______ after moving to a new city.
FAQ
- Q: Can “sell sth on” be used for new items?
A: It is usually used for items you already own, often second-hand or previously bought. - Q: Is “sell sth on” formal or informal?
A: It is common in both informal and business English. - Q: Can the object come after “on”?
A: Yes, but it is less common. Usually, the object is placed between “sell” and “on.” - Q: What is the difference between “sell on” and “sell out”?
A: “Sell on” means reselling, while “sell out” means all items are sold and none remain. - Q: Can “sell sth on” imply making a profit?
A: Often yes, but not always. It just means reselling something you bought.
