break
Base form
break
/breɪk/
Past simple
broke
/brəʊk/
Past participle
broken
/ˈbrəʊkən/
MeaningA1
to make something go into pieces
to break a promise
In use
- Negative · Form 1Be careful, don’t break the glasses when you wash them.
- Question · Form 1How did you break your arm at the weekend?
- Past simple · Form 2I broke my phone screen when I dropped it on the bus yesterday.
- Past simple · Form 2Last night thieves broke into the shop on our corner.
- Passive · Form 3The window was broken by a football during the match.
- Present perfect · Form 3Oh no, I think I’ve broken the washing machine.
Watch out
I’m broke means you have no money; the participle is broken: my phone is broke → my phone is broken.
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