it belonged

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it belonged" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate ownership or association in the past. Example: "The old book on the shelf was a treasure; it belonged to my grandmother."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It belonged to Phil, and its name was Molly.

The New York Times

"It belonged to the state".

The New York Times

It belonged to Czarina Alexandra.

The New York Times - Arts

"It belonged to a judge.

The New York Times - Magazine

It belonged to someone else.

The New Yorker

To whom had it belonged?

Independent

It belonged to Sather.

The New York Times - Sports

It belonged there.

The New York Times - Magazine

It belonged to the archival past.

The New Yorker

It belonged to the Yankee Bandit.

The New York Times

It belonged to her father, the coach.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a historical context, use "it belonged" to establish previous affiliations or ownership of a place or object.

Common error

Avoid using "it belonged" if the 'it' is ambiguous or hasn't been clearly defined in the preceding text. Always ensure the pronoun's antecedent is evident to prevent confusion for the reader.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it belonged" functions as a declarative statement indicating past ownership or association. Ludwig AI confirms that it’s grammatically sound and widely utilized.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it belonged" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to denote past ownership or association. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and frequent appearance in various contexts, particularly in News & Media. The phrase's primary function is to provide information, establishing context and historical background. While its register is generally neutral, careful attention should be paid to ensuring clear referents to avoid ambiguity. Using alternatives like "it was owned by" or "it was associated with" can add nuance to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was owned by

Focuses specifically on the act of owning something in the past.

it was the property of

Emphasizes formal ownership or possession.

it was in the possession of

Highlights the state of having something under one's control.

it was associated with

Indicates a connection or link, not necessarily direct ownership.

it pertained to

Suggests a relevance or connection to a particular person or thing.

it had been acquired by

Focuses on the action of gaining ownership in the past.

it was previously held by

Highlights prior ownership or control.

it was formerly under the control of

Emphasizes past control or management.

its origin was with

Focuses on the origin or source of something.

it was once linked to

Indicates a past association or connection.

FAQs

How can I use "it belonged" in a sentence?

You can use "it belonged" to indicate past ownership or association. For example, "The antique clock was beautiful; "it belonged" to my great-grandmother".

What are some alternatives to saying "it belonged"?

Alternatives include "it was owned by", "it was the property of", or "it was associated with", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "it was belonged" instead of "it belonged"?

No, "it was belonged" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is ""it belonged"", which is the simple past tense of the verb 'belong'.

What's the difference between "it belonged to" and "it was associated with"?

"It belonged to" implies ownership, while "it was associated with" suggests a connection or relationship without necessarily implying ownership. For example, "The house belonged to him" indicates he owned it, but "The house was associated with a famous author" simply means the author had some connection to the house.