possessive
gb/pəzˈɛsɪv/ us/pəzˈɛsɪv/
B1
English
birtokló, kisajátító, birtokos, birtokos alakú, birtokos alak, birtokos eset
B2
1
birtokló
B2
kisajátító
B2
Usage pattern:
be possessive (about/over) [someone/something]
He got possessive whenever she talked to other guys at parties.
Mindig birtoklóan kezdett viselkedni, amikor a lány más srácokkal beszélgetett a bulikon.
She ended the relationship because his possessive behavior kept getting worse.
Azért vetett véget a kapcsolatnak, mert a férfi birtokló viselkedése egyre rosszabb lett.
I’m not possessive, but I don’t like people reading my private messages.
Learner examples
He is possessive of his girlfriend.
Birtoklóan viselkedik a barátnőjével szemben.
Don’t be possessive.
Ne viselkedj birtoklóan!
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use possessive to mean simply 'owning' something; in this sense it usually implies jealousy or control.
Meaning
jealous and controlling in relationships
Collocations
a possessive boyfriend
|a possessive girlfriend
|a possessive partner
|a possessive attitude
|become possessive
|get possessive
|overly possessive
|dangerously possessive
|possessive jealousy
|possessive behavior
Synonyms
jealous (Similar feeling, but possessive emphasizes wanting control or ownership.)
|
controlling (Focuses on behavior; possessive often involves jealousy and exclusivity.)
Antonyms
trusting (Not jealous; comfortable with the other person’s independence.)
|
laid-back (Relaxed and not controlling in relationships.)
Themes
relationships
|emotions
|behavior
Definition
wanting to keep someone only for yourself
Wanting to control or keep someone for yourself, especially in a relationship, and becoming jealous when they give attention to others.
B1
TECHNICAL
2
birtokos
B1
Usage pattern:
[possessive] + noun
In “Sarah’s book,” “Sarah’s” is a possessive noun.
A „Sarah’s book” kifejezésben a „Sarah’s” birtokos alakú főnév.
My and your are possessive words that come before nouns.
A „my” és a „your” olyan birtokos szavak, amelyek főnevek előtt állnak.
The apostrophe can mark a possessive ending in English.
Learner examples
“My” is a possessive word.
A „my” birtokos szó.
“Tom’s” is possessive.
A „Tom’s” birtokos alakú.
Common mistake:
Learners often confuse plural -s (cats) with possessive ’s (cat’s) and sometimes add an apostrophe to regular plurals (cat’s for cats).
Meaning
showing who owns something
Collocations
possessive pronoun
|possessive adjective
|possessive determiner
|possessive noun
|possessive form
|possessive ending
|possessive marker
|possessive apostrophe
|a possessive construction
|a possessive phrase
Synonyms
genitive (More technical term used in grammar.)
Antonyms
nonpossessive (Not used to show ownership or association.)
Themes
language
|grammar
|education
Definition
used to show that something belongs to someone
In grammar, showing possession or association, as in my, your, or John’s.
NOUN
B2
TECHNICAL
3
Usage pattern:
the possessive (of) [word/phrase]
To make the possessive, add ’s to most singular nouns.
A birtokos alak képzéséhez a legtöbb egyes számú főnévhez adj ’s-t.
Teachers often call it “the possessive” when they mean the ’s form.
A tanárok gyakran „birtokos alaknak” hívják, amikor az ’s-es formára gondolnak.
The possessive of children is children’s.
Learner examples
Add ’s to make the possessive.
Adj hozzá ’s-t a birtokos alak képzéséhez.
The possessive of Anna is Anna’s.
Az „Anna” birtokos alakja „Anna’s”.
Common mistake:
Learners may think the possessive always means literal ownership; it can also show relationships (the company’s policy, today’s news).
Meaning
the possessive form of a word
Collocations
use the possessive
|form the possessive
|the possessive case
|the possessive form
|the possessive of a noun
|plural possessive
|singular possessive
|double possessive
|possessive ending
|possessive marker
Synonyms
genitive (Technical grammar term for the same case.)
Antonyms
common case (The unmarked case of a noun (not possessive) in English grammar.)
Themes
language
|grammar
|education
Definition
the grammar form that shows belonging
The possessive case or form of a word, typically shown in English by adding ’s or an apostrophe.
Grammar
Dictionary form
possessive
IPA
GB/pəzˈɛsɪv/
US/pəzˈɛsɪv/
Syllables & stress
pos - sess - ive (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (sess)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: possessive
Noun
- Base: possessive
- Plural: possessives
Word family
Forms
possessives
noun
Core family
possess
verb B2
possession
noun A2
Related words
possessor
noun B2
possessively
adverb
Advanced or less common
dispossess
verb
dispossession
noun
Expressions
get possessive
1/ɡˈɛt pəzˈɛsɪv/
fixed phrase
start acting jealous and controlling
to begin to feel and act jealous
Examples
- He tends to get possessive when he’s stressed.
- I didn’t realize I would get possessive about the baby’s first milestones.
- Try not to get possessive over your coworkers’ time.
Learner examples
- He gets possessive sometimes.
- Don’t get possessive over me.
possessive adjective
1/pəzˈɛsɪv ˈæd͡ʒɪktɪv/
fixed phrase
technical
word like my before a noun
a word like my or your that comes before a noun
Examples
- In “my phone,” “my” is a possessive adjective.
- A possessive adjective is followed by a noun: “their house,” not “their is big.”
- “Her” can be a possessive adjective (“her car”) or an object pronoun (“I saw her”).
Learner examples
- My is a possessive adjective.
- Use your before a noun.
possessive apostrophe
1/pəzˈɛsɪv əpˈɔstɹəfi/
fixed phrase
apostrophe for ownership
An apostrophe that shows something belongs to someone.
Examples
- The editor fixed the possessive apostrophe in “the cats’ bowls.”
- A possessive apostrophe is not used with possessive pronouns like “hers.”
- They debated whether to write “Jess’” or “Jess’s” as the possessive apostrophe form.
Learner examples
- Use a possessive apostrophe in “Anna’s bag.”
possessive apostrophe
1/pəzˈɛsɪv əpˈɔstɹəfi/
fixed phrase
technical
apostrophe used to show possession
an apostrophe that shows belonging
Examples
- Don’t forget the possessive apostrophe in “the students’ projects.”
- The possessive apostrophe goes before the s in most singular nouns: “the cat’s bowl.”
- “Its” has no possessive apostrophe, but “it’s” is a contraction.
Learner examples
- Use a possessive apostrophe: Tom’s book.
- Don’t write apple’s for apples.
possessive case
1/pəzˈɛsɪv kˈeɪs/
fixed phrase
technical
grammar case marking possession
a grammar form that shows belonging
Examples
- “Maria’s” is in the possessive case.
- In English, the possessive case is usually formed with ’s.
- Some phrases use the possessive case to show time: “a day’s work.”
Learner examples
- Use ’s for the possessive case.
- “Ben’s” is possessive.
possessive determiner
1/pəzˈɛsɪv dɪtˈɚmɪnɚ/
fixed phrase
technical
determiner showing ownership
A word like my or their before a noun.
Examples
- In “our house,” “our” is a possessive determiner.
- She replaced “the report” with “her report” by adding a possessive determiner.
Learner examples
- This is my bag.
possessive determiner
1/pəzˈɛsɪv dɪtˈɚmɪnɚ/
fixed phrase
technical
determiner showing belonging
a word like my or their before a noun
Examples
- In modern grammar, my and your are often called possessive determiners.
- A possessive determiner usually comes at the start of a noun phrase: “his new job.”
- “Its” is a possessive determiner, while “it’s” means “it is.”
Learner examples
- Their is a possessive determiner.
- Its is possessive, not it’s.
possessive pronoun
1/pəzˈɛsɪv pɹˈoʊnaʊn/
fixed phrase
technical
pronoun that shows ownership
a word like mine or yours
Examples
- “Mine” is a possessive pronoun.
- Use a possessive pronoun when the noun is already clear: “Is this your bag?” “No, it’s hers.”
- In “The choice is yours,” “yours” is a possessive pronoun.
Learner examples
- “This is mine” uses a possessive pronoun.
- “Hers” is a possessive pronoun.
possessive pronoun
1/pəzˈɛsɪv pɹˈoʊnaʊn/
fixed phrase
technical
pronoun showing ownership
A word like “mine” or “theirs” that means something belongs to someone.
Examples
- “That seat is mine” uses a possessive pronoun.
- Don’t write “her’s”; the correct possessive pronoun is “hers.”
- In “The choice is yours,” “yours” is a possessive pronoun.
Learner examples
- This book is mine.
- The keys are hers.