have not acquired

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "have not acquired" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone has not obtained or gained something, whether it be knowledge, skills, or possessions. Example: "Despite years of study, I have not acquired the necessary skills to pass the exam."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

45 human-written examples

But they have not acquired all the land needed to build the tower they have in mind.

The New York Times

In general, North America's large predators have not acquired, or been effectively encouraged to acquire, the unobtrusive behaviors that help keep their European relatives out of trouble.

The New Yorker

Although the Macklowes have a nonbinding agreement with an anchor tenant, a Nordstrom department store, they have not acquired all the land for the project.

The New York Times

The Mets have not acquired any high-priced free agents in the off-season, but they have a new tenant at Citi Field: Amway.

The New York Times

According to a Cornell graduate student, Amanda Flaim, about 100,000 of the highlanders "have not acquired the Thai citizenship to which they are legally entitled".

The New York Times

They have not at least, they have not acquired the crucial ancillary faith in government's ability to intervene positively, in markets or anywhere.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

12 human-written examples

I haven't acquired a lot of new habits.

The New Yorker

"That guy's an acquired taste," he said, hanging up after one call, "and I haven't acquired it yet".

The New York Times - Magazine

It isn't that this fish isn't tasty, but we haven't acquired a taste for it".

The New York Times

"We actually haven't acquired the computer, but the nose is under the tent," said Dr. Frank Williams, the center's director.

The New York Times

That doesn't mean that the people who can taste these things are bluffing; rather, they have a vocabulary of specific sense references that I haven't acquired.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "have not acquired", ensure the context clearly indicates what has not been obtained. Be specific about the skill, knowledge, or item that is lacking to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "have not acquired" when a passive construction is more appropriate. For example, instead of saying "The information have not acquired by the team", say "The information has not been acquired by the team".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have not acquired" functions as a verb phrase indicating a lack of attainment or possession. It's used to express that a subject has not gained or obtained something, whether it's a skill, knowledge, or physical object. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

38%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

3%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "have not acquired" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to indicate a lack of attainment or possession. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's widely accepted in formal and informal contexts. It's most commonly found in science and news media, suggesting a neutral to formal tone. When using "have not acquired", ensure clarity in what specifically hasn't been obtained. Consider alternatives like ""have not obtained"" or ""still lack"" based on the specific context. Avoid using the phrase in passive constructions where an active voice would be more appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have yet to acquire

Adds "yet to" to emphasize that the acquisition is still pending.

have not attained

Replaces "acquired" with "attained", emphasizing a formal achievement.

have not gained

Substitutes "acquired" with "gained", suggesting a more general acquisition.

have not obtained

Uses "obtained" instead of "acquired", indicating a more deliberate effort to get something.

failed to acquire

Uses "failed to" to highlight that the acquisition was attempted but unsuccessful.

have not secured

Replaces "acquired" with "secured", highlighting a successful effort to obtain something, which was not achieved.

have not come by

Employs the phrasal verb "come by" instead of "acquired", offering a more informal tone.

still lack

Uses "still lack" to directly state the absence of something.

do not possess

Replaces "have not acquired" with "do not possess", emphasizing the absence of ownership.

remain without

Expresses the lack of acquisition by stating that something "remains without".

FAQs

How can I use "have not acquired" in a sentence?

You can use "have not acquired" to indicate a lack of attainment or possession, such as "Despite his efforts, he "has not acquired" the necessary skills for the job".

What are some alternatives to "have not acquired"?

Some alternatives include "have not obtained", "have not gained", or "still lack", depending on the context.

Is it better to say "have not acquired" or "did not acquire"?

The choice between "have not acquired" and "did not acquire" depends on the context. "Have not acquired" suggests a state that continues to the present, while "did not acquire" refers to a completed action in the past.

What's the difference between "have not acquired" and "have not been acquired"?

"Have not acquired" is in the active voice, indicating that someone has not obtained something. "Have not been acquired" is in the passive voice, indicating that something has not been obtained by someone. For example, "I "have not acquired" the skill" vs. "The skill "has not been acquired" by me".