had been acquired

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been acquired" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that something was obtained or received in the past, often in a context involving a change of ownership or possession. Example: "The company had been acquired by a larger corporation, leading to significant changes in its operations."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Each had been acquired by trade.

The Washington Post

The organization had been acquired by a global major.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

(It had been acquired by France's King Francis I).

The New York Times - Books

The property had been acquired, he said, as "an investment for old age".

The Guardian

But we are not told how the dead child had been acquired.

The Guardian - Books

A number of the latter had been acquired from monasteries closed during the Reformation.

Britannica

Complicating matters, Greyhound by that point had been acquired by Laidlaw Inc. of Canada.

The New York Times

Other sporadic cases had been acquired from travel to Asia, Africa and the Americas.

The Guardian - Travel

Some wanted to liquidate business property that had been acquired through foreclosures.

The New York Times

(By that time, Spartan's parent company, Massey Energy, had been acquired by Alpha Natural Resources.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

It has been acquired by Universal.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had been acquired" to clearly indicate that an action of acquisition occurred before a specific point in the past. This helps establish a timeline of events, especially in historical or business contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "has been acquired" when you need to emphasize that the acquisition happened before a certain time in the past. "Has been acquired" implies a more recent or ongoing relevance, while "had been acquired" situates the event firmly in the past relative to another past event.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been acquired" functions as a past perfect passive construction, indicating that the action of acquiring was completed before a specific point in the past. This construction is used to establish a sequence of events, as shown in Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

25%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Academia

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had been acquired" is a past perfect passive construction used to indicate that the action of acquisition occurred before a specific point in the past. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used, particularly in news, science, and encyclopedia contexts. When using this phrase, ensure clarity in establishing the timeline of events and choose alternative phrases based on the specific nuance you wish to convey. Be cautious not to confuse it with "has been acquired", which has a different tense and implication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was taken over

Implies control was seized, often in a business context.

was obtained

Focuses on the act of receiving something, differing from a takeover scenario.

was taken into ownership

Focuses more on ownership than the action of acquiring.

came into possession

Highlights the change in ownership or control.

was secured

Highlights the effort made to ensure the acquisition.

was procured

Emphasizes the effort made to obtain something.

became the property of

Shifts the focus to the resultant ownership.

was gained

Emphasizes the benefit or advantage obtained.

was attained

Suggests achievement or accomplishment in getting something.

was captured

Implies an element of force or competition in obtaining something.

FAQs

How is "had been acquired" used in a sentence?

Use "had been acquired" to indicate that something was obtained or taken over before a specific point in the past. For example, "By 2002 all of Seagram's assets "had been acquired" by other companies."

What's the difference between "was acquired" and "had been acquired"?

"Was acquired" describes a single event in the past, while "had been acquired" describes an event completed before another point in the past. "The company was acquired last year" vs. "The company "had been acquired" before the merger."

What are some alternatives to using "had been acquired"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "was obtained", "was taken over", or "came into possession" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it correct to say "has been acquired" instead of "had been acquired"?

The choice between "has been acquired" and "had been acquired" depends on the timeline you're establishing. Use "has been acquired" for recent or ongoing relevance, and "had been acquired" when referring to an event completed before another point in the past.