In contract law, an advertisement is generally not an offer, but it can be an offer if it specifies a quantity to be bought.

In contract law, an advertisement is generally not an offer, but it can be an offer if it specifies a quantity to be bought.

• A. It can never be an offer
• B. It may be an offer if it specifies a quantity to be bought
• C. It must be in writing to be an offer
• D. It is always an offer

Answer: (B)

The key idea is how offers form in contract law. An offer is a definite promise or commitment to be bound on specific terms once the other party accepts. Advertisements are normally invitations to negotiate because they’re typically open-ended and invite responses rather than promising to sell to anyone who accepts. But there’s an important exception: if the advertisement fixes a specific quantity to be bought and sets out definite terms (like price, time, and condition) with no remaining negotiable terms, it can be treated as an offer. In that situation, when someone accepts by performing or promising to perform under those terms, a contract is formed for that quantity at the stated terms. This is why the ad specifying a quantity to be bought best fits as an offer. If the ad doesn’t specify a quantity or leaves other essential terms open, it remains an invitation to negotiate rather than a binding offer. Amounts or terms that aren’t definite typically keep the ad from being an offer. The requirement isn’t that the ad be in writing; offers can be oral as well.

The key idea is how offers form in contract law. An offer is a definite promise or commitment to be bound on specific terms once the other party accepts. Advertisements are normally invitations to negotiate because they’re typically open-ended and invite responses rather than promising to sell to anyone who accepts.

But there’s an important exception: if the advertisement fixes a specific quantity to be bought and sets out definite terms (like price, time, and condition) with no remaining negotiable terms, it can be treated as an offer. In that situation, when someone accepts by performing or promising to perform under those terms, a contract is formed for that quantity at the stated terms. This is why the ad specifying a quantity to be bought best fits as an offer.

If the ad doesn’t specify a quantity or leaves other essential terms open, it remains an invitation to negotiate rather than a binding offer. Amounts or terms that aren’t definite typically keep the ad from being an offer. The requirement isn’t that the ad be in writing; offers can be oral as well.