In the following question, four words are given out of which one word is correctly spelt. Select the correctly spelt word.

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: possesses

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
This spelling question asks the candidate to identify the correctly spelt form of a word meaning owns or has something. Spelling questions reward careful observation of common patterns in English words, especially when they contain double consonants and suffixes like es or ing. Here the challenge is to recognise the correct sequence of s letters in the word possesses, a verb related to possession.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • Four similar looking variants of the word are given.
  • The base form is possess, which already contains a double s.
  • The question likely refers to the third person singular form possesses.
  • We assume standard British or Indian spelling, which matches the general English spelling here.
  • The correct answer will maintain the double s from the root and add the appropriate ending.


Concept / Approach:
The root word is possess, spelled p o s s e s s. To form the third person singular present tense, English usually adds es when the verb ends in s, x, ch, sh, or o with certain conditions. Therefore, possess becomes possesses. The main focus is to keep both pairs of s letters in place and then add e s. Any option that drops an s or misplaces letters is incorrect. By mentally writing and pronouncing the root possess, we can build the correct extended form.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Remember the base verb possess, which is spelled p o s s e s s. Step 2: For he, she, or it, we add es to form possesses. Step 3: This gives p o s s e s s e s as the full spelling. Step 4: Option A, possesses, follows this pattern exactly. Step 5: Option B, posseses, drops one s from the middle part, giving only one s before e s, which is wrong. Step 6: Option C, posesses, has only one s in the first pair and two in the second pair, which does not match the root possess. Step 7: Option D, poseses, changes the vowel structure and omits a necessary s. Step 8: Option E, posessess, repeats letters incorrectly and does not follow the verb plus es rule. Step 9: Therefore, possesses in Option A is the only correctly spelt word.


Verification / Alternative check:
Think of related forms. The noun possession contains the same double s pattern before the ion ending. Also consider sentences like He possesses great talent and She possesses many books. In printed texts, the word consistently appears with the double s from possess plus the es ending. If you imagine removing the es ending, you should clearly see the base word possess intact, which confirms that Option A is correct.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Posseses does not preserve the double s pattern from the root and so breaks the base spelling. Posesses wrongly shifts the double consonant to the later part of the word, showing that the writer did not maintain the original structure. Poseses drops the double s entirely and produces a different word sound. Posessess looks like a duplicated error and does not correspond to any correct English form. None of these variants match the standard spelling.


Common Pitfalls:
Many learners struggle with words that contain double consonants followed by suffixes. They may add too many letters or drop one consonant. A useful technique is always to identify the base word first, ensure it is spelt correctly, and then add the required ending without altering the internal pattern. With practice, the visual memory of frequent words like possess, success, and address becomes strong enough to guide quick and accurate choices in spelling questions.


Final Answer:
The correctly spelt word is possesses.

More Questions from English

Discussion & Comments

No comments yet. Be the first to comment!
Join Discussion