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possessive

Meaning in simple English, pronunciation and examples

Pronunciation: US /pəˈzɛsɪv/ · UK /pəˈzesɪv/

possessive means: Showing who owns something, who it belongs to, or where it comes from.

adjective

SHOWING OWNERSHIPB1

Showing who owns something, who it belongs to, or where it comes from.

  • “Mine” is a possessive pronoun.
  • Add an apostrophe to make the noun possessive.
  • We practised possessive forms in our English lesson.

Common phrases: possessive pronoun, possessive form, possessive adjective

WANTING CONTROLB2

Wanting to keep someone or something for yourself and control them rather than share them.

  • Her boyfriend is very possessive.
  • He became possessive of his new car.
  • Why are you so possessive about your friends?

How to use it: possessive of someone/something (He is very possessive of his books.); possessive about someone/something (She gets possessive about her closest friends.)

Similar words: controlling, jealous

Common phrases: possessive partner, possessive of someone, possessive about something

Questions about possessive

What does possessive mean?

Showing who owns something, who it belongs to, or where it comes from.

What is possessive in other languages?

Türkçe: iyelik · Español: posesivo · Français: possessif · Deutsch: possessiv · Italiano: possessivo · 日本語: 所有を表す

How do you pronounce possessive?

In American English /pəˈzɛsɪv/; in British English /pəˈzesɪv/.

How do you use possessive in a sentence?

“Mine” is a possessive pronoun. Add an apostrophe to make the noun possessive.

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Phrases with possessive

possessive in other languages

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