possessive

/pə'zesiv/

Thân thiện

A possessive child holds their favorite toy tightly.

Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Desiring to own or control: Having or showing a strong desire to own things or control people, often to an excessive degree.
   • Indicating ownership: In grammar, used to show that something belongs to or is connected with someone or something.

2. Noun:

   • The grammatical case of ownership: In some languages, the grammatical case used to show possession or a close relationship.
   • A possessive word: A word (like a pronoun or adjective) that indicates possession.

Usage and Examples

• Adjective (Behavioral):

  • He has a possessive attitude towards his friends and gets jealous easily.
  • A possessive partner may try to control who you see.

• Adjective (Grammatical):

  • "My," "your," "his," "her," "its," "our," and "their" are possessive adjectives.
  • In the phrase "the cat's toy," the 's is a possessive ending.

• Noun (Grammatical):

  • In Old English, nouns changed their form in the possessive.
  • The word "mine" can function as a possessive.

Advanced Usage

• "to be possessive of/over someone/something": To show an excessive desire to control or own.
  • She is very possessive of her personal space.
  • He became possessive over the project, refusing any help.

Variants and Related Words

• Possessiveness (n): The quality or state of being possessive.

  • His possessiveness eventually drove his friends away.

• Possess (v): To have or own something.

  • She possesses great talent.

Synonyms

• Controlling: Exercising restraint or direction over.
• Dominating: Having a commanding influence over.
• Clingy: Excessively dependent on or attached to someone.
• Proprietary: Relating to an owner or ownership.

Antonyms

• Sharing: Willing to let others use or enjoy something jointly.
• Detached: Aloof and objective; not emotionally involved.
• Unselfish: Willing to put the needs of others before one's own.

Related Phrases and Idioms

• Possessive streak: A tendency to be possessive.
  • He has a possessive streak when it comes to his books.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. having or showing a desire to control or dominate
   • a possessive parent
2. desirous of owning
   • small children are so possessive they will not let others play with their toys
3. serving to express or indicate possession
   • possessive pronouns
   • the genitive endings

Noun

1. the case expressing ownership

Từ đồng nghĩa

• genitive
• genitive case
• possessive case