Basic Details
Word: Possession
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Something that you own; also the state of owning or having something.
Synonyms: belonging, property, ownership
How to Spell Possession
Syllables: pos - ses - sion
Tricky part: There are two pairs of double s: po-ss-e-ss-ion. Students often drop one of the pairs.
Watch out for: posession, possesion, possessoin
Memory tip: Possess has two pairs of s, and possession keeps both. Picture two pairs of shoes as your most precious possession.
Idioms and Phrases
- possession is nine-tenths of the law: the person who has something is in the strongest position to keep it Example: "Dev kept the umbrella he found, saying possession is nine-tenths of the law."
Usage Examples
Example 1: The old clock is Grandpa's most treasured possession.
Example 2: The police found the stolen bicycle in the possession of a scrap dealer.
Example 3: Please take all your possessions with you when you leave the train.
Fun Fact
In football, possession is the share of time each team has the ball, and it is usually shown on television as a percentage.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Cookie
Insert the correct pair of letters to complete the word:
po_ses_ion
a) s, s
b) z, s
c) s, h
d) s, c
Show answer
a) s, s. Both blanks complete a double s - possess has two pairs.
Word Connection
Choose the synonym of the word possession as it is used in the sentence:
The silver anklet was the only possession the old woman had brought from her village.
a) belonging
b) secret
c) habit
d) burden
Show answer
a) belonging. A belonging is a thing you own, which is what a possession is.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the letters in the sentence to form a meaningful word:
After the war, the island passed into the osnisespos of a neighbouring kingdom.
a) possessive
b) profession
c) procession
d) possession
Show answer
d) possession. There are four s's in the jumble, and possessive would need a v.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Possession is to possess as decision is to ____.
a) divide
b) design
c) deliver
d) decide
Show answer
d) decide
2. If a book is in your possession, it is ____.
a) too heavy to carry
b) lost somewhere at school
c) with you or owned by you
d) being printed right now
Show answer
c) with you or owned by you
