[Grammar] ‘buy from’ VS ‘buy in’

[northpath]

There is a sentence in the British textbook ‘Spotlight’ by Virginia Evans, Jenny Dooley and others:
“I saw him buy oranges FROM the fruit section.”
Is it absolutely unacceptable if I say?
“I saw him buy oranges IN the fruit section.”
Or
“I’ve bought these oranges IN the fruit section.”

 

[teechar]

No, there's nothing wrong with saying that at all.
Who told you it was incorrect?

 

[northpath]

Nobody, but normally there is the preposition ‘FROM’ in textbooks in similar cases. That’s why I asked this question. Thanks!

 

[emsr2d2]

The only drawback with the version with "in" is that it suggests that the buying took place in the fruit section. The actual purchase usually takes place at a staffed or self-service checkout in another part of the supermarket. The oranges came from the fruit section.

 

[jutfrank]

northpath, you must get used to the idea that different prepositions have different meanings. If you replace one preposition with another, you almost always get a different meaning.

If you use from, you're saying which place he bought them from.
If you use in, you're saying which place he bought them in.

from and in have very different meanings.

 

[emsr2d2]

John bought some oranges from/at the supermarket. He picked them up in the fruit section.