---
title: possession — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «possession» in the school dictionary: Having or owning something. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# possession

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** person, spirit, She, her, bike, team · **What happens:** have, own, control, pack, possess, prize · **To what, where:** something, things, control, possessions, one bag, prized possession

<!-- .vabout -->
«possession» in the school dictionary: its 5 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: [possession in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/possession.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Having or owning something.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:possession:m1:1
# text = Having or owning something.
1	Having	have	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
2	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	owning	own	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	conj	_	_
4	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

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

<!-- .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}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
possessions: the things a person owns.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:possession:m2:1
# text = possessions: the things a person owns.
1	possessions	possession	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	4	punct	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	conj	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	owns	own	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **own** | present | a person | the things *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn own-100.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot thing=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Having control of the ball.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:possession:m3:1
# text = Having control of the ball.
1	Having	have	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
2	control	control	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	ball	ball	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | gerund |  | control of the ball |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent control=Patient |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Having something illegal on you.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:possession:m4:1
# text = Having something illegal on you.
1	Having	have	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
2	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	1	obj	_	_
3	illegal	illegal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

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

## Meaning 5 {#m5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Being controlled by a spirit, in stories.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:possession:m5:1
# text = Being controlled by a spirit, in stories.
1	Being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	aux:pass	_	_
2	controlled	control	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
3	by	by	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	spirit	spirit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	stories	story	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She packed all her possessions into one bag.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:possession:x1:1
# text = She packed all her possessions into one bag.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	packed	pack	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	all	all	DET	PDT	PronType=Tot	5	det:predet	_	_
4	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	possessions	possession	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
6	into	into	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	8	nummod	_	_
8	bag	bag	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pack** | past | She | her possessions |  | one bag |  |  | vn spray-9.7-1-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent possession=Theme into bag=Destination |
| 2 | **possess** |  | her *= she* |  |  |  |  |  | nom possession «act transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
His bike is his most prized possession.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:possession:x2:1
# text = His bike is his most prized possession.
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	bike	bike	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
4	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
5	most	most	ADV	RBS	Degree=Sup	6	advmod	_	_
6	prized	prize	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	amod	_	_
7	possession	possession	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **prize** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V that S»: agent=Experiencer |
| 2 | **is a** | present | His bike | his prized possession |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our team had possession of the ball for most of the game.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:possession:x3:1
# text = Our team had possession of the ball for most of the game.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	team	team	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	possession	possession	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	ball	ball	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
8	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	most	most	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	7	nmod	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	game	game	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | Our team | possession of the ball for most of the game |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent possession=Patient |
| 2 | **possess** |  |  | the ball for most of the game |  |  |  |  | nom possession «act transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The apostrophe in "Sam's hat" shows possession.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:possession:x4:1
# text = The apostrophe in "Sam's hat" shows possession.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	apostrophe	apostrophe	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
4	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	Sam	Sam	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	's	's	PART	POS	_	5	case	_	_
7	hat	hat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	7	punct	_	_
9	shows	show	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	possession	possession	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | present | the apostrophe in Sam's hat | possession |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent possession=Recipient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The man was arrested for possession of stolen goods.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:possession:x5:1
# text = The man was arrested for possession of stolen goods.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	man	man	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	arrested	arrest	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	possession	possession	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	stolen	steal	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	9	amod	_	_
9	goods	goods	NOUN	NNS	Number=Ptan	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **arrest** | past · passive |  | the man |  |  |  | for possession of stolen goods | vn prosecute-33.2-1 «NP V NP PP.theme»: subject=Patient for possession=Theme |
| 2 | **steal** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **possess** |  |  | stolen goods |  |  |  |  | nom possession «act transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
They took possession of the new house.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:possession:x6:1
# text = They took possession of the new house.
1	They	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	took	take	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	possession	possession	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	house	house	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | past | They | possession of the new house |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent possession=Theme |
| 2 | **possess** |  |  | the new house |  |  |  |  | nom possession «act transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the film, the girl suffers from ghostly possession.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:possession:x7:1
# text = In the film, the girl suffers from ghostly possession.
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	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	girl	girl	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	suffers	suffer	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	from	from	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	ghostly	ghostly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	possession	possession	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **suffer** | present | the girl |  |  | the film |  | from ghostly possession | vn marvel-31.3 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Thus Jack took possession of the castle.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:possession:x8:1
# text = Thus Jack took possession of the castle.
1	Thus	thus	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
2	Jack	Jack	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	took	take	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	possession	possession	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	castle	castle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | past | Jack | possession of the castle |  |  |  | thus *property* | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent possession=Theme |
| 2 | **possess** |  |  | the castle |  |  |  |  | nom possession «act transitive»: of=patient |

<!-- 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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