owned

Everyday

1. Owned is the past form of own: it was yours before. tree →
2. Owned (by) tells who something belongs to: «a shop owned by my uncle», «family-owned». tree →

In the lessons

In maths: what someone had earlier, before a change; the starting amount. In everyday life: «the house is owned by…», «a family-owned farm». In history and stories: «the castle was once owned by a king».

Examples

• He owned 12 marbles before the game. tree →
• She owned 4 cats last year. tree →
• The farmer owned 30 cows. tree →
• The bakery is owned by a family. tree →
• The old castle was once owned by a duke. tree →
• Who owned this dog before? tree →
• He has owned that bike for three years. tree →
• Both were called Klaus, but one owned four horses and the other only one. tree →

Note

Gives the starting amount in the past; later changes are added or taken away. Trap: the amount someone «owned» may not be what they have now. «Has owned» means from the past up to now, so he still owns it. Silent «w»: sounds like «oned».