Sell us his share vs Trade

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Sell us his share

Top 2,000 (common)

Trade

Top 1,000 (very common)B1noun
Most common: Trade
 Sell us his shareTrade
Pronunciation🇬🇧 //sɛl ʌs hɪz ʃɛə//🇺🇸 //sɛl ʌs hɪz ʃɛr//🇬🇧 /["/treɪd/"]/🇺🇸 /["/treɪd/"]/
MeaningTo give away part of something in exchange for money to us.To exchange one thing for another.
ExampleHe decided to sell us his share of the business.The trade between the two countries has increased significantly this year.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 2,000 (common)Top 1,000 (very common)
CEFR level-B1
Part of speechnoun
Collocationssell a share, sell his stake, sell to investorsbooming, brisk, burgeoning, conduct, do, engage in, boom, expand, flourish, balance, figures, performance, in a/​the trade, trade between, trade in, booming, brisk, burgeoning, conduct, do, engage in, boom, expand, flourish, balance, figures, performance, in a/​the trade, trade between, trade in, booming, brisk, burgeoning, conduct, do, engage in, boom, expand, flourish, balance, figures, performance, in a/​the trade, trade between, trade in, booming, brisk, burgeoning, conduct, do, engage in, boom, expand, flourish, balance, figures, performance, in a/​the trade, trade between, trade in, skilled, building, learn, carry on, exercise, by trade, a jack of all trades, the tricks of the trade
Antonyms-keep, retain, hold
Common mistakesConfusing 'sell' with 'buy'., Using incorrect prepositions, such as 'for' instead of 'to'.Confusing 'trade' with 'trick' when talking about exchanging items., Using 'trade' without specifying what is being exchanged., Mixing up 'trade' with 'deal' although they can be used similarly.
Usage notesUse in business contexts when discussing transactions. Avoid in formal writing when discussing more complex sales agreements.Use 'trade' for exchanging goods or services. Avoid in overly informal contexts. More suitable in business or economic discussions.

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Sell us his share
Trade

Frequently asked questions: Sell us his share vs Trade

What's the difference between Sell us his share and Trade?

Sell us his share: To give away part of something in exchange for money to us. Trade: To exchange one thing for another.

Which is more common: Sell us his share and Trade?

Trade is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Sell us his share: He decided to sell us his share of the business. Trade: The trade between the two countries has increased significantly this year.

Can I use Sell us his share and Trade interchangeably?

Not always. Sell us his share and Trade are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.

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