Talk about damage and separating things into pieces.
The idea
Break can take an object, or describe what happens to one. Its past is broke and its past participle is broken.
Examples
- I broke a glass while washing the dishes.
- The branch broke in the strong wind.
- Please break the chocolate into small pieces.
- My phone is broken, so I cannot call you.
- The children broke the toy by accident.
- Have you ever broken a bone?
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Watch out
Do not say is broke for a damaged object; say is broken.
Try it yourself
Choose the correct answer. Yesterday the cup ___ on the floor. (broke / broken)
Show answer or example answer
broke
broke places the cup’s action in the completed past.
Choose the correct answer. The window is ___. (broken / broke)
Show answer or example answer
broken
broken describes the window’s damaged state.
Choose the correct answer. Please ___ the bread into two pieces. (break / broke)
Show answer or example answer
break
break follows the request and describes separating the bread.
Practice round
Answer questions and rebuild English sentences to practise. Your score is shown.
Choose the correct answer. Yesterday the cup ___ on the floor. (broke / broken)
Choose the correct answer. The window is ___. (broken / broke)
Choose the correct answer. Please ___ the bread into two pieces. (break / broke)
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
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Describe something that broke and something you can break into pieces.