which belonged

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "which belonged" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate ownership or association in the past, often referring to something that was previously owned or connected to someone or something. Example: "The painting, which belonged to my grandmother, has been passed down through generations."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Each noun belonged to one of three genders: masculine, to which belonged most nouns designating male creatures; feminine, to which belonged most names of female creatures; and neuter, to which belonged only a few words for individual adult living creatures.

Encyclopedia Britannica

An examination of the drives established that they contained data which belonged to the trust.

The Guardian

One, which belonged to a county government, held endless drawers of birth and death certificates.

The New Yorker

But when he got there the paintings, which belonged to two of his clients, were gone.

The New York Times

It was discovered in a grave in Siberia, which belonged to an ancient tribe, the Scythians.

The New Yorker

The two men found 14 lost patents at the library, 10 of which belonged to Morey.

The New York Times

That's the end of a really, really long day, which belonged emphatically to Pakistan.

The Guardian - Sport

The teams traded goals in the first period, which belonged to the Maple Leafs.

The New York Times - Sports

Several art works, not all of which belonged to Finlay, were removed from the garden temple.

The Guardian - Arts

In 2007 a Serbian businessman purchased 14 theatres, including the Zvezda, which belonged to Beograd Film.

The Guardian - Film

It has one $5000 Amati which belonged to a German baroness.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "which belonged", ensure the context clearly establishes the past ownership or association you're referring to. Providing specific details about who or what the item belonged to can enhance clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "that belonged" when "which belonged" is grammatically correct. "Which" is appropriate for nonrestrictive clauses, while "that" is typically used for restrictive clauses that are essential to the sentence's meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "which belonged" functions as a relative clause introducing additional, non-essential information about a noun. It indicates past ownership or association. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage through numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

46%

Science

24%

Encyclopedias

6%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "which belonged" is a grammatically sound and frequently used construction for adding descriptive details about a noun by specifying its previous ownership or association. As affirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is applicable across various contexts, with the most common occurrences in news articles, scientific papers, and encyclopedic entries. Though it is grammatically correct, you must be careful of the usage, for example, in which contexts a more formal expression could be needed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that was owned by

Replaces "which belonged" with a more explicit statement of ownership.

that was the property of

Emphasizes the legal aspect of ownership.

that formerly belonged to

Highlights the past nature of the ownership.

that used to be owned by

Indicates a previous state of ownership.

that was once possessed by

Focuses on the act of possessing something in the past.

that was previously held by

Highlights a previous state of holding something.

that was in the possession of

Specifies that the item was once owned by the person in question.

that was associated with

Suggests a connection or relationship rather than direct ownership.

that pertained to

Implies relevance or connection without necessarily indicating ownership.

that was connected to

Focuses on a connection or affiliation, which may or may not involve ownership.

FAQs

How do I use "which belonged" in a sentence?

Use "which belonged" to introduce a nonrestrictive clause that provides additional information about a noun. For example, "The house, which belonged to my grandfather, is now for sale."

What can I say instead of "which belonged"?

You can use alternatives like "that was owned by", "that was the property of", or "that formerly belonged to" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "that belonged" instead of "which belonged"?

While "that belonged" can be grammatically correct, "which belonged" is more appropriate for nonrestrictive clauses. A nonrestrictive clause adds extra information but is not essential to the sentence's meaning. Consider whether the clause is necessary to identify the noun.

What is the difference between "which belonged to" and "belonged to"?

"Which belonged to" introduces a relative clause providing extra information, while "belonged to" is a simple verb phrase indicating ownership. For example, "The book, which belonged to my mother, is very old" versus "The book belonged to my mother."