Representing being and having
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Using have and other possession verbs | page 7 of 9 |
Using possess
Possess is typically used to talk about someone's qualities and abilities:
Cantona possesses a rare talent, as he displayed so gracefully at Wembley in Sunday's Charity Shield. (Bank of English)
The dog, a black labrador, is said to possess the power to send people into a deep trance. (Bank of English)
However, all youngsters possess the ability to grow, change and respond to stimulus at an early age. (Bank of English)
Possess is also used to refer to things that have been acquired illegally:
Police, who bailed him until February 2, also allege he possessed drugs and an offensive weapon. (Bank of English)
The more general verb have can be used instead of, or together with, possess:
Pam had the ability to work twenty-three hours a day without food and possessed a tremendous sense of humour. (Bank of English)
Possess is typically only used in passive voice to refer to someone or something being controlled or strongly influenced by a spirit or an emotion:
The house is possessed by the evil spirit Medusa, who symbolises all the women's anxieties. (Bank of English)
The Hexton choir existed to sing "Messiah" at Christmas and to try, if possessed by an adventurous mood, to put together a performance of "The Creation" or "Elijah" at some other point of the year. (Bank of English)
For further information about passive voice and possession verbs, see 
Using passive voice: Passive voice with possession verbs.
Using possess
