---
title: possess — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «possess» in the school dictionary: To own or have something. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# possess

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** someone, you, Tom, She, museum, ghost · **What happens:** own, have, take, mind, possess, do · **To what, where:** something, quality, control, you, that, earth

<!-- .vabout -->
«possess» in the school dictionary: its 4 meanings for a pupil and its 8 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [possess in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/possess.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: formal — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To own or have something.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:possess:m1:1
# text = To own or have something.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	own	own	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	have	have	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
5	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **own** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn own-100.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot |
| 2 | **have** | infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Patient |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: formal — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To have a quality or skill.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:possess:m2:1
# text = To have a quality or skill.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	have	have	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	quality	quality	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	skill	skill	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | to-infinitive |  | a quality or skill |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent quality=Patient |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: of a feeling or spirit — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To take control of someone's mind, as in stories about ghosts.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:possess:m3:1
# text = To take control of someone's mind, as in stories about ghosts.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	take	take	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	control	control	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	7	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	's	's	PART	POS	_	5	case	_	_
7	mind	mind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
9	as	as	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	stories	story	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
12	about	about	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	ghosts	ghost	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | to-infinitive |  | control of someone's mind |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP ADVP»: agent=Instrument control=Theme story=Destination |
| 2 | **mind** |  | someone |  |  |  |  |  | nom mind «cognition transitive»: poss=agent |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: informal, in questions — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"What possessed you?" = why on earth did you do that?

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* "What possessed you?"

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:possess:m4:1
# text = "What possessed you?"
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	What	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	3	nsubj	_	_
3	possessed	possess	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **possess** *in a quote* | past |  | you |  |  |  |  | vn own-100.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot you=Theme |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* = why on earth did you do that?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:possess:m4:2
# text = = why on earth did you do that?
1	=	=	PUNCT	NFP	_	7	punct	_	_
2	why	why	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	7	advmod	_	_
3	on	on	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	earth	earth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
5	did	do	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
6	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
8	that	that	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | past · do-support | you | that |  | earth |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent that=Eventuality |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Tom possesses 12 marbles and gives away 5.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:possess:x1:1
# text = Tom possesses 12 marbles and gives away 5.
1	Tom	Tom	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	possesses	possess	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	12	12	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	4	nummod	_	_
4	marbles	marble	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	gives	give	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
7	away	away	ADV	RB	_	6	compound:prt	_	_
8	5	5	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **possess** | present | Tom | 12 marbles |  |  |  |  | vn own-100.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot marble=Theme |
| 2 | **give away** | present | Tom *not said here* | 5 |  |  |  |  | vn contribute-13.2 «NP V NP.theme (PP)»: agent=Agent 5=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She possesses great courage.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:possess:x2:1
# text = She possesses great courage.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	possesses	possess	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	courage	courage	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **possess** | present | She | great courage |  |  |  |  | vn own-100.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot courage=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The museum possesses a famous painting.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:possess:x3:1
# text = The museum possesses a famous painting.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	museum	museum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	possesses	possess	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	famous	famous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	painting	painting	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **possess** | present | the museum | a famous painting |  |  |  |  | vn own-100.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot painting=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the story, the doll was possessed by a ghost.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:possess:x4:1
# text = In the story, the doll was possessed by a ghost.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	doll	doll	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj:pass	_	_
7	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	aux:pass	_	_
8	possessed	possess	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
9	by	by	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	ghost	ghost	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **possess** | past · passive | a ghost | the doll |  | the story |  |  | vn own-100.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot subject=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
What possessed you to climb on the roof?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:possess:x5:1
# text = What possessed you to climb on the roof?
1	What	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	2	nsubj	_	_
2	possessed	possess	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	2	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	climb	climb	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	roof	roof	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **possess** | past |  | you |  |  |  |  | vn own-100.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot you=Theme |
| 2 | **climb** | to-infinitive |  |  |  | the roof |  |  | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme on roof=Trajectory |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Do you possess a library card?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:possess:x6:1
# text = Do you possess a library card?
1	Do	do	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
2	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	possess	possess	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	library	library	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	card	card	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **possess** | present · do-support | you | a library card |  |  |  |  | vn own-100.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot card=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He possesses a talent for drawing.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:possess:x7:1
# text = He possesses a talent for drawing.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	possesses	possess	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	talent	talent	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
6	drawing	draw	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **possess** | present | He | a talent |  |  |  |  | vn own-100.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot talent=Theme |
| 2 | **draw** | gerund | a talent *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"We'll give you half of all we possess."

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:possess:x8:1
# text = "We'll give you half of all we possess."
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	'll	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	give	give	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	4	iobj	_	_
6	half	half	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing|NumForm=Word|NumType=Frac	4	obj	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	6	nmod	_	_
9	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
10	possess	possess	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** *in a quote* | future | We | half of all | you |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent you=Recipient half=Theme |
| 2 | **possess** *in a quote* | present | we |  |  |  |  |  | vn own-100.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

<!-- pn -->
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