possess capabilities

USAGE SUMMARY

"possess capabilities" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe someone or something that has certain abilities or skills. For example, "This new technology possesses capabilities far beyond what any current technology offers."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

On the other hand, Thompson's explanation of surface tension ignores the bees, which painstakingly build the honeycomb, and possess capabilities that are not yet fully understood.

The Economist

A linchpin of his thinking is what he calls the "technological singularity," a point at which the intelligence of machines takes a huge leap, and they come to possess capabilities that exceed those of humans.

The New York Times - Tech

While they are independently developed, they possess capabilities appropriate for collaboration.

Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences

They possess capabilities of integrating different functionalities, including provision of effective contrast for imaging modalities, synaphic delivery, and thermal therapies.

Engineering of Nanobiomaterials Applications of Nanobiomaterials Volume 2

Compared with older linear barcodes, 2D barcodes are a machine-readable representation of binary data that possess capabilities of location and tolerance.

EURASIP Journal on Image and Video Processing

A general characteristic of recent mass spectrometers is that most are composed of a sequence of multiple mass analyzers with different strengths and properties, resulting in tandem instruments that possess capabilities unattainable by the individual components (Fig. 1A).

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Having identified the relevant sub-technologies, we analysed whether the acquirer or the target already possesses capabilities in any of them.

European Journal of Futures Research

Biochemical characterization of specifier proteins of all three types has shown that TFPs possess additional capabilities (organic thiocyanate formation) as compared to ESPs while ESPs possess additional capabilities (epithionitrile formation) as compared to NSPs [ 28- 30, 44].

BMC Evolutionary Biology

They want to possess the capabilities: this is dual-use technology with both military and peaceful applications.

The Guardian

Crucially it was to possess operational capabilities, with the implication that it would be given powers over the 43 local forces.

The Guardian

"They behave almost identically to wild yeast cells, only they now possess new capabilities and can do things that wild yeast cannot," said Boeke.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "possess capabilities" when you want to emphasize a formal or technical description of having certain abilities or skills. For instance, "The new software possess capabilities for advanced data analysis."

Common error

While "possess capabilities" is grammatically correct, it can sound overly formal in casual contexts. Use simpler alternatives like "have the ability" or "can" in informal writing to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "possess capabilities" functions as a verb phrase followed by a noun, indicating the act of owning or having certain abilities or skills. This is supported by the examples in Ludwig, which demonstrate its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

33%

Encyclopedias

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "possess capabilities" is a grammatically correct and usable expression that denotes the act of having certain skills or abilities. As indicated by Ludwig, the phrase is more formal and less common than alternatives like "have the ability". It is most frequently found in scientific and news contexts, demonstrating a preference for formal or technical writing. When choosing this phrase, consider the audience and context to ensure it aligns with the desired level of formality. While acceptable, be mindful of the potential for overuse and explore more common alternatives for informal communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have the ability

This alternative uses a more common verb ("have") and noun ("ability") to convey a similar meaning.

own skills

This alternative uses "own" instead of "possess" to describe the state of having skills.

have talents

This alternative uses "talents" implying innate or natural abilities.

demonstrate aptitude

This alternative focuses on showing or proving skills or abilities.

exhibit competence

This alternative replaces "capabilities" with "competence", highlighting a level of skill.

enjoy strengths

This alternative uses "strengths" to highlight positive attributes or advantages.

display proficiency

This alternative replaces "capabilities" with "proficiency", emphasizing a high level of skill or expertise.

command expertise

This alternative uses "command" to indicate a strong control or mastery of expertise.

wield power

This alternative shifts the focus to the ability to influence or control, using "power" as a metaphor for capabilities.

control resources

This alternative emphasizes the control over tangible resources rather than abstract capabilities.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "possess capabilities"?

You can use alternatives like "have the ability", "own skills", or "demonstrate aptitude" depending on the context.

How to use "possess capabilities" in a sentence?

Use "possess capabilities" to describe someone or something that has specific skills or abilities. For example, "The newly developed AI algorithms possess capabilities exceeding human cognitive functions".

Which is correct, "possess capabilities" or "have capabilities"?

Both "possess capabilities" and "have capabilities" are grammatically correct. "Possess capabilities" is more formal and emphasizes ownership, while "have capabilities" is more common and neutral.

What's the difference between "possess capabilities" and "acquire capabilities"?

"Possess capabilities" describes a current state of having skills or abilities, while "acquire capabilities" describes the process of gaining them. For instance, "The company possess capabilities in data analysis" versus "The company is investing in training to acquire capabilities in machine learning".