What is the past tense of "acquire"?

The past simple of "acquire" is "acquired". She acquired a new skill by practicing regularly.

What is the past participle of "acquire"?

The past participle of "acquire" is "acquired". Use it after have/has/had: "I have acquired".

What is a common mistake with "acquire"?

Wrong: "She acquire new vocabulary every day.". Correct: "She acquires new vocabulary every day.". Third-person singular in present simple needs the -s form: 'acquires' not 'acquire'.

Conjugation of "Acquire" — All Forms, Examples, and Usage

Q: Is "acquire" regular or irregular?

"Acquire" is a regular English verb. Both past simple and past participle are formed by adding -ed.

Q: How do you pronounce "acquire"?

/əˈkwaɪər/ — Stress falls on the second syllable. The initial 'a' sounds like the 'a' in 'about'.

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All 12 Tenses of "Acquire"

Quick reference table — every tense form of "acquire" with the first-person example and a link to the grammar guide for that tense.

Tense	Example (I)	Quick rule
Simple Present	`I acquire`	Used for habits, facts, routines, and permanent situations. Full rule →
Simple Past	`I acquired`	Used for completed actions at a specific time in the past. Full rule →
Simple Future	`I will acquire`	Used for predictions, decisions made at the moment, and promises. Full rule →
Present Continuous	`I am acquiring`	Used for actions happening right now or temporary situations. Full rule →
Past Continuous	`I was acquiring`	Used for actions in progress at a specific moment in the past. Full rule →
Future Continuous	`I will be acquiring`	Used for actions that will be in progress at a specific future time. Full rule →
Present Perfect	`I have acquired`	Used for past actions with present relevance, life experiences, or unfinished situations. Full rule →
Past Perfect	`I had acquired`	Used for an action that was completed before another past action. Full rule →
Future Perfect	`I will have acquired`	Used for an action that will be completed before a specific future time. Full rule →
Present Perfect Continuous	`I have been acquiring`	Used for actions that started in the past and continue now, with focus on duration. Full rule →
Past Perfect Continuous	`I had been acquiring`	Used for ongoing actions in the past that continued up to another past moment. Full rule →
Future Perfect Continuous	`I will have been acquiring`	Used for actions that will have been ongoing up until a specific future time. Full rule →

Past Tense of "Acquire" — Acquired

The past simple of "acquire" is "acquired" — formed by adding "-ed". Use it for actions that were completed at a specific time in the past, such as "yesterday", "last week", or "in 2020". For the full grammar of this tense, see our simple past tense guide.

She acquired a new skill by practicing regularly. B1
The museum acquired a valuable painting for its collection. B1

Past Participle of "Acquire" — Acquired

The past participle of "acquire" is "acquired" — the same form as the past simple, since "acquire" is a regular verb. Use it after "have/has/had" for perfect tenses ("I have acquired") and after "be" for passive voice ("It was acquired").

She acquired a new skill by practicing regularly. B1
The museum acquired a valuable painting for its collection. B1

Is "Acquire" Regular or Irregular?

"Acquire" is a regular English verb. Its past simple and past participle are both formed by adding "-ed" to give "acquired". The 3rd-person singular present is "acquires" and the gerund/present participle is "acquiring".

Conjugation pattern: regular -ed

How to Pronounce "Acquire" and Its Forms

Acquire: /əˈkwaɪər/ — Stress pattern: oO

Stress falls on the second syllable. The initial 'a' sounds like the 'a' in 'about'.

Common mispronunciation of "acquire"

Pronounced as 'ay-kwire'; the first syllable is unstressed like 'uh'.

Syllable breakdown: ac · quire

How to Use "Acquire" — Common Grammar Patterns

Use acquire when something is gained actively, not passively given.

S + V + object
S + V + object + by gerund

Example Sentences with "Acquire" in Different Tenses

Simple Present: Companies often acquire smaller businesses to expand their market share. B2
Simple Past: She acquired a new skill by practicing regularly. B1

Common Collocations with "Acquire"

acquire knowledge
acquire property
acquire skills
acquire experience
acquire resources

When to Use "Acquire" vs Similar Verbs

"acquire" vs "require"

Require means to need something; acquire means to obtain it.

Smart synonyms — when to use each one

obtain — for formal or official contexts, especially documents
gain — for abstract qualities like experience or knowledge
secure — for difficult-to-get items requiring effort

Antonyms: lose, surrender

Common Mistakes with "Acquire"

Wrong: She acquire often.
Correct: She acquires often.
Add "s" to the verb when the subject is third-person singular (he/she/it).

Origin and Etymology of "Acquire"

From Latin "acquirere" — "ad-" (to) + "quaerere" (to seek).

Other Forms of "Acquire"

Noun: acquisition

Conjugation Tables for "Acquire"

Negative Forms

Simple present: I do not acquire · He does not acquire
Simple past: I did not acquire · She did not acquire
Present perfect: I have not acquired · He has not acquired

Question Forms

Simple present: Do you acquire? · Does he acquire?
Simple past: Did you acquire?
Present perfect: Have you acquired?

Passive Voice (where applicable)

Simple present passive: It is acquired
Simple past passive: It was acquired
Present perfect passive: It has been acquired

Frequently Asked Questions About "Acquire"

Is "acquire" regular or irregular?: "acquire" is a regular verb. Add -ed for past simple and past participle: "acquired".
What is the past tense of "acquire"?: The simple past of "acquire" is "acquired".
When do I use simple present vs present continuous with "acquire"?: Use simple present for habits, facts, and routines: "I acquire every day." Use present continuous for actions happening right now: "I am acquiring right now."