---
title: possessed — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «possessed» in the school dictionary: Had or owned. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

<!-- md -->
[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/possessed/)

<!-- crumbs -->
[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/) / [school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/) / [P](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/) / possessed

# possessed

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Tom, ghost, He, She, old knight, WOMAN · **What happens:** have, own, control, possess, run, paint · **To what, where:** quality, 15 cards, doll, film, great courage, magic sword

<!-- .vabout -->
«possessed» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 7 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: [possessed in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/possessed.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Had or owned.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:possessed:m1:1
# text = Had or owned.
1	Had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	owned	own	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	1	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

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

<!-- .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: adjective — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Controlled by an evil spirit or a very strong feeling, as in ghost stories.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:possessed:m2:1
# text = Controlled by an evil spirit or a very strong feeling, as in ghost stories.
1	Controlled	control	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
2	by	by	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
3	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	evil	evil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	spirit	spirit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
8	very	very	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
9	strong	strong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	feeling	feeling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
12	as	as	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
13	in	in	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	ghost	ghost	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	compound	_	_
15	stories	story	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **control** | participle |  |  |  |  |  | by a evil spirit or a strong feeling | vn enforce-63 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
possessed of (formal, old): having a quality.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:possessed:m3:1
# text = possessed of (formal, old): having a quality.
1	possessed	possess	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
2	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	formal	formal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
9	having	have	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	advcl	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	quality	quality	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Tom possessed 15 cards before the game.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:possessed:x1:1
# text = Tom possessed 15 cards before the game.
1	Tom	Tom	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	possessed	possess	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	15	15	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	4	nummod	_	_
4	cards	card	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	before	before	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	game	game	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **possess** | past | Tom | 15 cards |  |  | before the game |  | vn own-100.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot card=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

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

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:possessed:x2:1
# text = In the film, 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	film	film	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 film |  |  | vn own-100.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot subject=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He ran like a man possessed.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:possessed:x3:1
# text = He ran like a man possessed.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	ran	run	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	like	like	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	man	man	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	possessed	possess	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **run** | past | He |  |  |  |  | like a man | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **possess** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn own-100.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot |

## Example 4 {#x4}

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

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:possessed:x4:1
# text = She possessed great courage.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	possessed	possess	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|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** | past | She | great courage |  |  |  |  | vn own-100.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot courage=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The old knight possessed a magic sword.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:possessed:x5:1
# text = The old knight possessed a magic sword.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	knight	knight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	possessed	possess	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	magic	magic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	sword	sword	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
What possessed you to paint the cat?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:possessed:x6:1
# text = What possessed you to paint the cat?
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	paint	paint	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	?	?	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 | **paint** | to-infinitive |  | the cat |  |  |  |  | vn image\_impression-25.1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent cat=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A WOMAN possessed a Hen that gave her an egg every day.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:possessed:x7:1
# text = A WOMAN possessed a Hen that gave her an egg every day.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	WOMAN	woman	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	possessed	possess	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	Hen	hen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
7	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
8	her	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	iobj	_	_
9	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	egg	egg	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
11	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	12	det	_	_
12	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **possess** | past | a WOMAN | a Hen |  |  |  |  | vn own-100.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot hen=Theme |
| 2 | **give** | past | a Hen | a egg | WOMAN |  | day |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent she=Recipient egg=Theme |

<!-- 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 -->
- ← previous: [possess](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/possess/)
- next →: [possession](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/possession/)
- ↑ back to [P in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/)