4.1. Possessive phrases

A possessive phrase is a noun phrase that expresses a relationship of possession between two entities: the one who possesses something (the possessor) and the thing possessed (the possessum, often referred to as possessed or possessee as well). The possessum is the head of the phrase.

There are different types of possessive relationships, including kinship, part-whole relations, and ownership.

In example (1), the relationship is one of kinship.

Example (2), taken from Herrero Blanco (2009, p. 154), shows an ownership relationship.

This section of the GramLSE will focus only on attributive possession, as this is the type that occurs within the noun phrase and in which the possessor-possessum relationship is established. These are therefore attributive possessive phrases. In Spanish Sign Language (LSE), the expression of attributive possession is documented in Herrero Blanco (2009) and Rodríguez González (1992).

Another type of possession, predicative possession, is addressed in other sections of the GramLSE devoted to predication.

Villameriel García, S. (2026). Syntax: The noun phrase: Possessive phrases. In S. Villameriel García (Ed.), Gramática de la Lengua de Signos Española (GramLSE) / Grammar of Spanish Sign Language (GramLSE). Real Patronato sobre Discapacidad-Centro de Normalización Lingüística de la Lengua de Signos Española. Retrieved Month DD, YYYY, from https://cnlse.es/es/recursos/gramlse/ingles/index/syntax/chapter-4-the-noun-phrase/4-1-possessive-phrases

• Next: 4.1.1. Ways of expressing the possesive relation in the noun phrase
• References
• Spanish sign language and written Spanish version
• Videoglossary (in Spanish sign language and written Spanish)