# Possessive notation

Learn how to access properties using a phrase-like form.

The possessive notation is another way to access properties in CQL that emphasizes natural language. It is complementary to the [ownership notation](/reference/cql/expressions/accessors/ownership) and can be used interchangeably or in combination with it.

The syntax for the possessive notation consists of the keyword `property` followed by the property name, the keyword `of`, and the value or variable name.

Here is an example that accesses the `interests` property of the `user` variable:

```cql
property interests of user
```

You can access nested properties by chaining multiple property accesses together.

```cql
property city of property address of user
```

As mentioned earlier, you can combine the possessive notation with the [ownership notation](/reference/cql/expressions/accessors/ownership) for an even more natural sentence:

```cql
property city of user's address
```

You can optionally add the word `the` before the property name to make the sentence more readable depending on the context:

```cql
the property city of user's address is equal to 'New York'
```

To combine the possessive notation with other technical notations, such as the bracket notation, you can use parentheses:

```cql
(property interests of user)[0]
```

While the possessive notation can provide a more natural way to access properties in some scenarios, it may not always be the most suitable choice for all situations.

**Consider using the possessive notation when:**

- The property name is a [valid identifier](/reference/cql/syntax#identifiers) and is known in advance.
- The property is not deeply nested.
- You prefer writing queries using a more natural language style.
- You want to combine it with the ownership notation for a more natural sentence.

## Explore

- [Ownership notation](/reference/cql/expressions/accessors/ownership): Learn how to access properties using the apostrophe-s notation.
- [Dot notation](/reference/cql/expressions/accessors/dot): Learn how to access properties using dot notation.