The Possession

 

Possession in English

Possession is an essential concept in English grammar that helps us indicate ownership or relationships between people, objects, and ideas. In this blog post, we will explore the definition, structure, usage, and practical applications of possession. Let’s dive in!

Definition of Possession

In English, possession refers to the way we show that something belongs to someone or something else. This can be done using possessive nouns, possessive adjectives, possessive pronouns, and the preposition "of."

Example:

• This is John’s car. (Indicates that the car belongs to John.)
• The pages of the book are torn. (Shows possession using "of.")

Structure of Possession

There are several ways to express possession in English:

Type	Example
Possessive Nouns ('s / s')	The teacher’s desk (singular), The students’ books (plural)
Possessive Adjectives	My, your, his, her, its, our, their
Possessive Pronouns	Mine, yours, his, hers, its, ours, theirs
Of-construction	The title of the book, The colors of the rainbow

How to Use Possession Correctly

1. Possessive Nouns ('s and s')

   • Add 's to singular nouns: The dog’s leash is red.
   • Add 's to irregular plural nouns: The children’s toys are everywhere.
   • Add ' (apostrophe only) to regular plural nouns: The teachers’ lounge is on the second floor.

2. Possessive Adjectives

   • These words always come before a noun: This is my book. That is their house.

3. Possessive Pronouns

   • These stand alone without a noun: This book is mine. That house is theirs.

4. Using "Of" for Possession

   • Typically used with inanimate objects: The roof of the house is leaking.

Examples of Possession in Sentences

• My brother’s car is very fast.
• The cat’s bowl is empty.
• That jacket is hers.
• The doors of the building are painted blue.
• Their house is bigger than ours.

Practical Exercises

Fill in the blanks with the correct possessive form:

1. This is ___ (Sarah) bag.
2. The ___ (dogs) tails are wagging.
3. Is this book ___ (you)?
4. The colors ___ (the painting) are beautiful.
5. That house is ___ (we).

Answers:

1. Sarah’s
2. dogs’
3. yours
4. of the painting
5. ours

Before you go, try to write three sentences using different ways to show possession and share them in the comments! Let’s practice together.

Mastering possession will help you express ownership and relationships more clearly in English. Keep practicing, and stay tuned for more lessons on EngFluentClass!