could be acquired

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "could be acquired" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate the possibility of obtaining something in the future or under certain conditions. Example: "The necessary skills for this job could be acquired through online courses and practical experience."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"We could be acquired, or we could be the acquirer," he added.

TechCrunch

could be acquired by Vodafone.

The New York Times

Cooperation could be acquired through mutation or assigned in advance.

Yale University

251, prescribed the procedure by which mineral lands could be acquired.

Cornell University

Ti2AlN phases could be acquired only after annealing via solid state reaction.

Surface and Coatings Technology

You could be acquired equally if your share value is low.

The New York Times

It also heightened some speculation that ImClone could be acquired by Bristol-Myers.

The New York Times

However, United believe the player could be acquired for closer to £25m.

The Guardian - Sport

And he quickly and brilliantly figured out how senatorial power could be acquired and wielded.

The New York Times - Books

The highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) of thin films could be acquired directly from Fig. 7a.

Nature

These could be acquired in four years for approximately $160 million.

MIT Technology Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Choose alternatives like "can be obtained", "might be procured" or "may be attained" depending on the nuance you intend to convey.

Common error

Avoid using "could be acquired by itself" without specifying the subject and object involved in the acquisition. For example, instead of saying "The company could be acquired", specify "The company could be acquired by its competitor."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "could be acquired" functions as a passive construction, indicating that a subject is the recipient of an action. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically correct and widely applicable. The verb "acquire" is transformed into its passive form, emphasizing the potential for something to be obtained or taken over.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

33%

Academia

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "could be acquired" is a grammatically correct and versatile phrase used to express the potential for something to be obtained or taken over. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is widely applicable and frequently found in news, science, and academic contexts. It is a passive construction, indicating that the subject is the recipient of the action. When using this phrase, ensure clarity by specifying the subject and object involved. Consider alternatives like might be obtained or can be attained to fine-tune the nuance. The phrase is a staple in discussions about mergers, acquisitions, and potential outcomes across various fields.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

might be obtained

Replaces "could" with "might", indicating a slightly lower probability.

may be obtained

Substitutes "could" with "may", suggesting possibility or permission.

can be obtained

Uses "can" instead of "could", implying ability or opportunity.

might be procured

Replaces "acquired" with "procured", suggesting formal acquisition.

may be procured

Substitutes "acquired" with "procured", suggesting formal acquisition.

can be procured

Uses "can" instead of "could", implying ability or opportunity of procuring.

might be attained

Replaces "acquired" with "attained", implying achievement.

may be attained

Substitutes "acquired" with "attained", suggesting achievement and possibility.

can be attained

Uses "can" instead of "could", implying ability or opportunity of attaining.

is liable to acquisition

Expresses the idea of being likely to be acquired in a more formal tone.

FAQs

How to use "could be acquired" in a sentence?

Use "could be acquired" to indicate the possibility of something being obtained or taken over. For example, "The startup "could be acquired" by a larger corporation."

What can I say instead of "could be acquired"?

You can use alternatives like "might be obtained", "may be procured", or "can be attained" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "could be acquired" or "could acquire"?

"Could be acquired" indicates a passive action where something is being acquired by someone else. "Could acquire" indicates an active action where someone is acquiring something else. The correct phrase depends on the intended meaning.

What's the difference between "could be acquired" and "might be acquired"?

Both phrases express possibility, but "could be acquired" suggests a slightly higher probability or potential than "might be acquired". "Could" indicates a general possibility, while "might" implies a more remote chance.