Have vs possess

[Eveee]

what is differences have and possess?
should I choose one of them as relative to and when?

[luke]

"Possess" is very formal.

In talking about cars, you would use "have", unless maybe you're talking to an attorney about a legal matter.

"Possess" has other meanings though, such as, "what sort of demon possesses that child"? But that might be limited to a specific genre of movie like, "The Exorcist".

[tastyonions]

"Possess" has other meanings though, such as, "what sort of demon possesses that child"? But that might be limited to a specific genre of movie like, "The Exorcist".

“What possessed you/him/her to say/do that?” is a pretty common idiom in American English, used when someone has done or said something foolish or uncharacteristic of their usual behavior. I assume it derives from the more specific “demonic” sense.

https://www.merriam-webster.com/diction ... you%2Fthem

[luke]

"Possess" has other meanings though, such as, "what sort of demon possesses that child"? But that might be limited to a specific genre of movie like, "The Exorcist".

“What possessed you/him/her to say/do that?” is a pretty common idiom in American English, used when someone has done or said something foolish or uncharacteristic of their usual behavior. I assume it derives from the more specific “demonic” sense.

That's a good point. A lot of common words have many senses.

One thing I've found helpful in situations like this (but for Spanish) is to do a google search. In this case:

https://thisvsthat.io/own-vs-possess

This sort of search is not definitive, but generally puts me on track for understanding the differences.

[Le Baron]

These words tend to go around in a circle. I could say 'possess' means to own (and it does) and claim lineage to Latin possideo, but then there's also habeo and it means the same! With little distinction beween 'owning' and 'having'.

Skeats's old etymological dictionary claims it is derived from: Lat. port- or porti-, towards, a conjectural form of the prefix; and sedere, to sit, remain, continue ; as if the sense were ‘to remain near,’ hence to have in ion.... So perhaps originally the idea of having something, but actually close to hand. Such as 'possessing' a firearm really meaning that you have it on you or at least close to hand.

I think it's just easier to treat them as synonyms, but only in terms of 'ownership'. After all you wouldn't say e.g. 'I possess a headache' instead of 'I have a headache'.

[luke]

These words tend to go around in a circle. I could say 'possess' means to own (and it does) and claim lineage to Latin possideo, but then there's also habeo and it means the same! With little distinction beween 'owning' and 'having'.

Skeats's old etymological dictionary claims it is derived from: Lat. port- or porti-, towards, a conjectural form of the prefix; and sedere, to sit, remain, continue ; as if the sense were ‘to remain near,’ hence to have in ion.... So perhaps originally the idea of having something, but actually close to hand. Such as 'possessing' a firearm really meaning that you have it on you or at least close to hand.

I think it's just easier to treat them as synonyms, but only in terms of 'ownership'. After all you wouldn't say e.g. 'I possess a headache' instead of 'I have a headache'.

That's all true, and one would never use "possess" as an auxilliary verb either, e.g., "I'm in better shape because I possess been going to the gym lately".

[mclang]

“Have” is more commonly used in everyday English, while “possess” sounds more formal or literary. Use “have” in most situations, especially in casual conversation. You might choose “possess” for emphasis or in legal contexts.