whose possession are they

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "whose possession are they" is not correct in standard English.
A more appropriate form would be "whose are they" or "to whom do they belong." Example: "I found some keys on the table, but I don't know whose they are."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

That currency is indeed precious for it is almost universally accepted that rights, insofar as they exist, are things whose possession is of very great advantage to their owners.

SEP

Nor indeed has he any reason for fearing her, for he counts not only chattels, property, and high office, but even his body, his eyes, his hands, and everything whose use makes life dearer to us, nay, even his very self, to be things whose possession is uncertain; he lives as though he had borrowed them, and is ready to return them cheerfully whenever they are claimed.

The New Yorker

Criminal laws generally do not include dogs on the list of potentially deadly items whose possession is a crime.

The New York Times

But does taking testosterone — a controlled substance whose possession is illegal unless prescribed for medical reasons — automatically improve athletic performance?

The New York Times

Historically, the US and other countries have worried most about specific germs such as smallpox, including them on a list of "select agents" whose possession is tightly controlled.

MIT Technology Review

Court records show that, depending on the prosecutor or judge, "The Communist Manifesto" was either a political pamphlet of historical interest or "subversive material" whose possession was punishable by as much as seven years in prison.

The New York Times

Court records show that, depending on the prosecutor or judge, "The Communist Manifesto" was either an innocuous academic text or "subversive material" whose possession was punished by as much as seven years in prison.

The New York Times

Here one might leave open the question whether there is also some kind of phenomenal character (perhaps that involved in some kinds of bodily sensation or after-images) whose possession is not sufficient for intentionality.

SEP

Natural kind essentialists hold that natural kinds have essences (Ellis 2001 , 2002 Devitt 2008), where the essence of a natural kind is a property or set of properties whose possession is a necessary and sufficient condition for a particular's being a member of the kind.

SEP

The supposition that Adam and Noah differ in their essential properties in this way, although sufficient to block the generation of this example of a role-switching world, does not by itself imply that each of Adam and Noah has an individual essence: a set of essential properties whose possession is (not only necessary but also) sufficient for being Adam or Noah.

SEP

These warnings are all familiar to Marie McClellan, whose possession was said to have been caused by a Ouija Board.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When asking about ownership, use the correct and concise form "whose are they" or "to whom do they belong" for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using the construction "whose possession are they" as it is grammatically incorrect. Instead, opt for simpler and more direct phrasing like "whose are they".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "whose possession are they" attempts to inquire about ownership, but it's grammatically flawed. Standard English prefers constructions like "whose are they" or "to whom do they belong". Ludwig AI reports that the phrase is not correct.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

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News & Media

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "whose possession are they" is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrasing does not align with standard English grammar. Instead, opt for more conventional alternatives such as "whose are they", "to whom do they belong", or "who owns them" to clearly and correctly inquire about ownership. These alternatives ensure clarity and adhere to established grammatical norms.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

whose are they

This is a grammatically correct and more concise way to ask about ownership, omitting the noun "possession".

to whom do they belong

This alternative emphasizes the concept of belonging and uses a more formal sentence structure.

who owns them

A direct and simple way to inquire about ownership, suitable for informal contexts.

who do these belong to

This rephrasing clarifies that the items in question belong to someone.

whose belongings are these

This option specifies that you are asking about belongings and uses a demonstrative pronoun.

who is the owner of these

This phrase is more descriptive and formal, clearly stating the inquiry about the owner.

whose property is this

Using "property" instead of "possession" offers a more formal and legal tone.

what is the ownership of these

This focuses on the concept of ownership itself, asking about its state or nature.

who has these in their possession

This focuses on who currently has possession or custody of the items.

under whose ownership are these

A more formal and less common construction emphasizing the concept of legal ownership.

FAQs

What's a grammatically correct alternative to "whose possession are they"?

A grammatically sound alternative is "whose are they". This phrasing is concise and clearly indicates a question about ownership.

Is it ever correct to use "whose possession" in a question?

While grammatically unconventional, a construction such as, "In whose possession was the evidence found?" might be acceptable in formal or legal contexts, but "whose possession are they" is incorrect. Simpler alternatives like "who owns them" are preferable.

How can I rephrase "whose possession are they" to sound more natural?

To sound more natural, use phrases like "to whom do they belong" or "whose belongings are these". These options are grammatically correct and commonly used.

What is the difference between "whose are they" and "who owns them"?

"Whose are they" is a more direct question about ownership, whereas ""who owns them"" focuses on the act of owning. Both are correct but might suit different contexts.