Fill the correct present perfect or simple past form of the verb from the options given below:
This house _____ to me for twenty years.
‘Has belonged’ is thepresent perfect form of the verb 'belong'. It is used to denote an action that was completed at some point in the past, especially something that was completed in the recent past. While ‘has been belonging’ is an example of present perfect continuous tense, which is used to denote an action that began in the past and continues to the present, especially an action that is ongoing. The given sentence explains that the person had the ownership of the house for twenty years, which denotes that the act of ownership started and ended in the recent past. Hence option B is correct. The action is not ongoing, therefore option D is incorrect. Simple past tense denotes an action that occurred in the distant past. Whereas, ‘belongs’ is in simple present tense form, which is used to talk about general statements or actions that are true at all times. The sentence doesn't speak of the distant past or about a general truth. Therefore options A and C are incorrect.