be acquired by a

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be acquired by a" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts discussing ownership, acquisition, or transfer of assets, rights, or entities. Example: "The company is expected to be acquired by a larger corporation within the next year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

53 human-written examples

Social enterprises are far less likely to merge or be acquired by a competitor.

The Guardian

"We very much hope some will be acquired by a museum or film institute," she said.

The Guardian - Film

Yes, there are times when a troubled bank needs to be acquired by a stronger bank.

The New York Times

Petro-Lewis agreed to be acquired by a Freeport-McMoran investor group for $750 million.

The New York Times

It offered no secret, specialized knowledge that could be acquired by a select few.

The New York Times - Books

It was the first of the company's bottling plants to be acquired by a black person.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

7 human-written examples

Data could not be acquired by an experimenter blinded to the study design.

Nature

The [IS Verification] principle deals with information that in principle could be acquired by an agent.

SEP

The organization had been acquired by a global major.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Subsequently, Hit Entertainment was acquired by a private equity group.

The New Yorker

The optical transmission was acquired by a Hitachi U-3900 spectrophotometer.

Nature

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "be acquired by a" when emphasizing the passive role of the entity being taken over, and the active role of the acquiring entity. For clarity, specify the industry or type of entity involved, such as "be acquired by a tech company" or "be acquired by a private equity firm".

Common error

Avoid phrasing the sentence in active voice when the emphasis should be on the entity being acquired. For example, instead of "A larger company will acquire the startup", use "The startup will be acquired by a larger company" to highlight the startup's situation.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of the phrase "be acquired by a" is to form the passive voice in a sentence. It indicates that the subject of the sentence is receiving the action of being acquired. This is supported by Ludwig AI, affirming its correct usage in expressing the passive voice.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

18%

Science

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "be acquired by a" is a grammatically sound and frequently used construction to describe a passive acquisition scenario. Ludwig AI validates its correctness and wide applicability. It is most commonly found in contexts like news and media, academia and science. When using this phrase, ensure the passive voice accurately conveys the intended emphasis, and be mindful of potential errors like misusing the active voice. Alternatives such as "be taken over by a" or "be bought out by a" may be more appropriate depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be taken over by a

Focuses on the act of assuming control, emphasizing the shift in management and authority.

be bought out by a

Highlights the financial transaction aspect of the acquisition, indicating a purchase of ownership.

be purchased by a

Emphasizes the act of buying something, specifically a company or asset.

be merged with a

Suggests a more equal combination of entities, rather than a complete takeover.

be absorbed by a

Implies a complete integration of the acquired entity into the acquiring entity, losing its separate identity.

be obtained by a

Focuses on the result of gaining possession of something.

be procured by a

Suggests the obtaining of something through effort or special means.

be controlled by a

Emphasizes the aspect of maintaining authority and influence over the acquired entity.

be possessed by a

Focuses on the ownership of something. It suggests a formal or legal acquisition.

be subsumed by a

Implies that the entity is now included or contained within a larger or more comprehensive entity.

FAQs

How can I use "be acquired by a" in a sentence?

The phrase "be acquired by a" indicates that a company or entity is being taken over by another. For example, "The startup is expected to "be acquired by a" larger corporation next year".

What are some alternatives to "be acquired by a"?

You can use alternatives such as "be taken over by a", "be bought out by a", or "be merged with a" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "be acquire by a" instead of "be acquired by a"?

No, "be acquire by a" is grammatically incorrect. The correct passive form requires the past participle "acquired". Thus, the correct phrase is ""be acquired by a"".

What's the difference between "be acquired by a" and "acquire"?

"Be acquired by a" is in the passive voice, indicating the recipient of the action. "Acquire" is in the active voice, indicating the performer of the action. For example, "The company will "be acquired by a" larger firm" versus "A larger firm will acquire the company".