"Ir De Compras" VS "Ir A Comprar"

Question

These two sentences have been bugging me for a long time. Why the Compras (second-person singular familiar present indicative) conjugation, and what is the difference between the two?

Answer 1

Ir de compras - to go shopping

Ir a comprar... - to go to buy (something)

This is the easiest explanation yet! :) - Findy, Jun 8, 2016

Answer 2

I will quote from a thread:

http://forum.wordreference.com/threads/ir-de-compras-ir-a-comprar.322887/

Hay una diferencia muy pequeña:

-Ir de compras: generalmente es ir a comprar ropa, accesorios, cosas para la casa, cosas para tí... o simplemente ir a mirar, puedes terminar comprando o no. Tiene más sentido de ocio.

-Ir a comprar: es más general, lo puedes usar para todo: Ej: Voy a comprar ropa, voy a comprar comida, voy a comprarme un perro... Pero si dices solo: Voy a comprar, generalemente es comida.

-Hacer la compra: Comprar comida, para la semana, el mes...etc. Ej: Voy a hacer la compra al supermercado.

Espero que te haya ayudado!

My understanding:

Ir de compras- going out shopping, like at the mall. The "fun" shopping.

Hacer la compra- going shopping for necessities- food, cleaning supplies- the "chore" shopping

Ir a comprar algo- to go to buy something specific

Ir a comprar (by itself), similar to hacer la compra.

Answer 3

Ir de compras ... Here "compras" is a plural noun - not a verb conjugation.

Ir a comprar ... This is an incomplete sentence (¿Comprar qué?)

Answer 4

Just to add a little to "ir a comprar"

The construction "ir+a+infinitive" is called the "near future" construction. You can use it with any verb that will make sense.

Voy a estudiar ahora. I am going to study now.

Vas a comer enchiladas. You are going to eat enchiladas.

José va a acostarse a las diez. Joe is going to go to bed at ten o'clock.

Here's a fun one with "ir" and "de compras"

Voy a ir de compras. I am going to go shopping.

Lots of fun, ¿verdad?

:) - ian-hill, Jun 4, 2016