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Remember this!

The past tense form of 'possess' is possessed. Example: He possessed great wealth before losing it all. (He possessed great wealth before losing it all.)

Definition of “possess”

to have or own something
to hold or occupy a particular position, quality, or characteristic
to be affected or dominated by a feeling or emotion

Tense sentence structure and examples:

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Notes from a Native English Speaker

Here are the general structures of a present and past participle. Remember, some verbs have an irregular form and may not follow this structure: Present Participle: [Verb] -ing Past Participle: [Verb] -ed

Past Simple	possessed
Past Continuous	possessing
Past Perfect	possessed

Past Simple

The simple past tense is used to describe completed actions or events that occurred at a specific point in the past.

Subject + Past Simple Verb + (Object)

Example

He possessed a large collection of books.

Example

She possessed a strong determination to achieve her goals.

Past Continuous

The past continuous tense is used to indicate actions or events that were in progress or happening at a specific point in the past.

Subject + was/were + Present Participle + (Object)

Example

At that time, they were possessing a great deal of knowledge.

Example

I wasn't possessing the necessary skills to complete the task.

Past Perfect

The past perfect tense is used to show that one past action or event occurred before another past action or event, emphasizing the order of events in the past.

Subject + had + Past Participle + (Object)

Example

By the time he retired, he had possessed a vast amount of experience.

Example

She had possessed a deep understanding of the subject before starting the project.

Is possessed an irregular verb in the past?

No, "possessed" is not an irregular past tense verb.

Learn More About Tenses

Discover the present tense of possess!

Discover the future tense of possess!