Possess

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HSS

#375882 Wed, 06 Jun 07 03:38 PM

Hi, there.

He called her back?

'You don't mind, do you?'

It depended on what Missy had said to him. What had gone down between them? When the phone rang, oh Lord, why had he picked up?

As if he were reading the mind Louise honestly didn't know if she still possessed, F. Scott looked up. 'I answered, because I was hoping it would be you.'

'Hmmm,' said Louise, trying to stay calm.

Could you please help me understand what 'she still possessed' mean? Can 'to possess' be an intransitive verb?

Best,

Hiro

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Joined on Wed, Nov 16 2005

Sendai, Japan

Regular Member (501)

JH7JHH, First Class ham radio operator. N9COW in the US.

Verbs

Yankee

#375890 Wed, 06 Jun 07 03:48 PM

Hi Hiro

As if he were reading the mind (that) Louise honestly didn't know if she still possessed, ...

Louise is apparently asking herself if she has lost her mind (i.e. lost her senses, gone crazy).

If you lose something, you no longer possess it. So, the sentence expresses "lost her mind" in an unusual way.

Louise wasn't sure that she still possessed her mind. = Louise wasn't sure that she hadn't lost her mind.

The verb 'possess' is transitive in the sentence.