possessive
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
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When the possessive and paranoid Frank Ford runs into Margaret as she’s scurrying to meet his wife, Alice, he pointedly remarks, “I think, if your husbands were dead, you two would marry.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026
With her husband so frequently absent, child-rearing fell almost entirely to Frances, who proved a loving but possessive mother.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 12, 2026
Ms Pilley, 38, had recently ended her year-long secret relationship with Gilroy, who was described in court as possessive and manipulative.
From BBC ● Aug. 6, 2025
As it moved through TikTok and Instagram, the term focused solely on the plural possessive, as people jokingly addressed their intangible audiences.
From Slate ● Nov. 3, 2024
There are scores of other possessive puzzles: Are you a friend of Jake, or a friend ofJake’si Are you going to your aunt and uncle’s house, or to your aunt’s and uncle’s house?
From "Woe Is I" by Patricia T. O'Conner
I wrote “our sycamore” above, but great trees defy possessives.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 29, 2024
His world, at least as related to the tiny mark that denotes possessives and the omission of letters from certain words, appears to be crashing down around him.
From Slate ● May 23, 2013
Booker Prize-winning author James Kelman uses apostrophes for possessives but not for contractions in his most recent work.
From Slate ● May 23, 2013
That’s the only good reason I can think of for this next exception to the usual rules on possessives.
From "Woe Is I" by Patricia T. O'Conner
As long as there are haves and have-nots, there will be questions about possessives.
From "Woe Is I" by Patricia T. O'Conner
Vocabulary lists containing possessive
Unit 1: Telling Details
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Language and Grammar - Introductory
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Eats, Shoots & Leaves
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