For Class 3 students, the word "belong" is an important verb that helps us talk about ownership or being a part of something. It means that something is someone's property, or that a person or thing is a member of a group or place.
Understanding What 'Belong' Means
The word "belong" is used to show a connection. Think of it like a puzzle piece fitting into its spot! Here are the two main ways we use "belong":
1. To Show Ownership or Possession
This is when something is someone's property. If a toy is yours, it belongs to you.
- Example: This book belongs to Sarah. (Sarah owns the book.)
- Example: The red ball belongs to the dog. (The dog owns the ball.)
Just like a house belongs to its owner, or a unique style belongs to a person, objects can belong to people or even pets.
2. To Show Membership in a Group or Place
This is when someone is a part of a team, a family, a club, or even a specific place. If you are part of your class, you belong to your class.
- Example: I belong to the school's soccer team. (I am a member of the soccer team.)
- Example: That chair belongs in the living room. (That chair's proper place is the living room.)
Think of a family belonging to a club; you can belong to a group of friends, a family, or even a certain category.
How to Form Sentences with 'Belong'
Using "belong" in a sentence is quite simple! You usually say who or what it belongs to or where it belongs.
The basic sentence structure often looks like this:
Subject + belong(s) + to/in + Object
- When to use 'belongs': Use "belongs" when the subject (the person or thing doing the action) is singular (one thing or person, like "he," "she," "it," "the cat," "this book").
- When to use 'belong': Use "belong" when the subject is plural (more than one, like "they," "we," "the children," "the toys") or with "I" and "you."
Let's look at some clear examples:
| Subject | Verb | Preposition | Object (Who/Where) | Full Sentence | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The pencil | belongs | to | Lily | The pencil belongs to Lily. | Lily owns the pencil. |
| My brother | belongs | to | our family | My brother belongs to our family. | My brother is a member of our family. |
| The cookies | belong | in | the kitchen | The cookies belong in the kitchen. | The proper place for the cookies is the kitchen. |
| I | belong | to | Class 3 | I belong to Class 3. | I am a student in Class 3. |
| Those shoes | belong | to | my dad | Those shoes belong to my dad. | My dad owns those shoes. |
Tips for Remembering 'Belong'
- Ownership: If you can say "It is mine," you can often use "It belongs to me."
- Place: If something has a special spot, you can say it "belongs in" or "belongs on" that spot.
- Group: If someone is a part of a team or family, they "belong to" that group.
- Singular vs. Plural: Remember the 's' for singular subjects (he, she, it, the cat belongs).
Using "belong" correctly helps make your sentences clear and helps others understand ownership and group connections. For more practice with grammar, explore helpful resources like British Council LearnEnglish Kids or K5 Learning Grammar Worksheets.
