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I know that the normal possessive form is usually formed `subject+「の」+object`.
Though, in one instance, I found `が` being used in `天は我が物`. I know that 「が」
can be used to express possession, though is there a certain way it can be
used.
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2016-09-18T01:29:16.880
39264
2016-09-18T08:05:45.173
16147
question
syntax particle-が possession
「が」vs「の」 with possessives
The possessive が is literary and archaic, and I don't think it's productive
anymore. You'll rarely see it outside several fixed expressions such as:

  * [我]{わ}がＸ (e.g. 我が[家]{や}、我が子、我が国、我が道、我が命、我が物(にする)、我が物顔(で)...) 
  * [我]{われ}らがX (e.g. 我らが母校、我らが祖国、我らがヒーロー)  
(Not 私がＸ or 私たちがＸ, since the が is literary but 私・私たち are not.)

  * 『君が代』 
  * Xがために (=Xのために) (e.g. [誰]{た}がために、これがために、～せんがために) 
  * Xが如く (=Xの如く)
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2016-09-18T03:05:35.700
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2016-09-18T08:05:45.173
2016-09-18T08:05:45.173
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answer
が for possession was more common in old Japanese.

But it's rare today and it only remains in proverbs (e.g.
[人間]{にんげん}[万事]{ばんじ}[塞翁]{さいおう}が[馬]{うま}) and other fixed phrases.

One exception is [我]{わ}が. Usages as follows is common today.

  * 我が社, 我が国, 我が母校, etc.
  * 我が物顔
  * [我]{わ}が[家]{や}

我が is still old-fashioned has a bit arrogant nuance, so if someone is using 我が
unlimitedly, I feel like he is playing a role of [魔王]{まおう}.

I recommend you to use が for possession only in such fixed phrases.
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2016-09-18T03:05:53.297
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2016-09-18T03:05:53.297
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answer