Word: Belong to
Part of Speech: Verb
Basic Meaning: The phrase "belong to" means that something is a part of or is owned by someone or something. It indicates ownership or association.
Usage Instructions:
Examples:
Ownership: "This book belongs to me." (This means that I own the book.)
Association: "He feels like he belongs to this community." (This means he feels connected to the community.)
Fit/Appropriateness: "These shoes don't belong in the living room." (This means the shoes are out of place in the living room.)
Advanced Usage:
"Belong to" can be used in more complex sentences to express feelings of identity or acceptance, such as, "After moving to the city, I finally feel like I belong to a group of friends."
Word Variants:
Belonging (noun): The state of being part of or connected to something. For example, "He has a strong sense of belonging in his new town."
Belonged (past tense): Used to indicate that something was owned or associated with someone in the past. For example, "This painting belonged to my grandfather."
Different Meanings:
In a more abstract sense, "belong" can imply a sense of fitting in or being accepted, beyond just ownership. For example, "She belongs with people who understand her."
Synonyms:
Own
Be a part of
Be associated with
Fit in
Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:
Summary:
"Belong to" is a versatile phrase that expresses ownership, connection, and fit. It can be used in various contexts, from talking about personal belongings to discussing feelings of acceptance in a community.