Possessive

B1 8+

Pronunciation: /pəˈzɛsɪv/

Definitions of possessive

noun a possessive form or construction

Example Sentences

A1 She doesn't like it when people are possessive of her belongings.

A2 The possessive form of 'dog' is 'dog's'.

B1 His possessiveness over his girlfriend was starting to become suffocating.

B2 The possessive pronouns in English include 'mine', 'yours', 'his', 'hers', 'ours', and 'theirs'.

C1 The author's possessive nature over his work led to conflicts with his editors.

C2 Her possessiveness towards her children sometimes hindered their independence.

adjective showing ownership or possession

Example Sentences

A1 She is possessive of her favorite toy.

A2 The possessive mother always keeps a close eye on her children.

B1 He became possessive of his girlfriend and didn't want her talking to anyone else.

B2 The CEO was possessive of his company's success and didn't want to share credit with anyone.

C1 The artist was possessive of his work and refused to sell any of his pieces.

C2 The dictator was possessive of his power and would do anything to maintain control.

Examples of possessive in a Sentence

formal She exhibited possessive behavior towards her partner, constantly checking his phone and questioning his whereabouts.

informal My sister can be so possessive of her belongings, always marking them with her initials.

slang Don't be so possessive over your friends, let them have their own space.

figurative The artist's possessive grip on his work prevented anyone from making changes to it.

Grammatical Forms of possessive

past tense

possessed

plural

possessives

comparative

more possessive

superlative

most possessive

present tense

possesses

future tense

will possess

perfect tense

have possessed

continuous tense

is possessing

singular

possessive

positive degree

possessive

infinitive

to possess

gerund

possessing

participle

possessed

Origin and Evolution of possessive

First Known Use: 0015 year
Language of Origin: Latin
Story behind the word: The word 'possessive' originated from the Latin word 'possessivus', derived from 'possidere' meaning 'to possess'.
Evolution of the word: Originally used in the 15th century to describe the grammatical case expressing possession, the word 'possessive' has evolved to also describe a personality trait or behavior characterized by a desire to control or dominate.