Breaked or Broken – Which is Correct?
When it comes to the past tense of the verb “break,” there seems to be some confusion among English learners. Are we supposed to say “breaked” or “broken”? Well, let’s clear this up once and for all. The correct form is “broken.” This may come as a surprise to some, but stick with me as I explain why and provide some examples.
First and foremost, it’s important to understand that “break” is an irregular verb. Irregular verbs do not follow the regular pattern of adding “-ed” to form the past tense. Instead, they have their own unique forms. In the case of “break,” the past tense form is “broken.” This is a rule that remains consistent and unchanging.
Now, let’s dive into some examples to see how “broken” is used correctly.
1. “I accidentally dropped my phone, and now the screen is broken.”
In this sentence, “broken” is used as the past participle of “break.” The action of dropping the phone happened in the past, so we use the past tense form. Saying “breaked” in this context would be incorrect and would sound strange to native English speakers.
2. “She left the glass on the edge of the table, and it fell off and broke into pieces.”
Again, we see “broke” here as the past tense form of “break.” The glass fell off the table and experienced the action of breaking. Saying “breaked” just wouldn’t fit in this sentence.
3. “He has broken his promise to be on time again.”
In this example, “broken” is used as the past participle to indicate a completed action. It shows that the promise was made in the past and has not been fulfilled. “Breaked” would not convey the same meaning and would be incorrect.
4. “Their car broke down on the way to the airport.”
“Broked” is not a valid option here. We use “broke” to describe the action of the car suddenly failing or ceasing to function properly. It’s a past event, so we need to use the appropriate past tense form.
So, to summarize, “broken” is the correct past tense and past participle form of the verb “break.” Using “breaked” would be grammatically incorrect and would be seen as a mistake by English speakers. It’s important to remember this rule and apply it consistently in your English language learning journey.
In conclusion, the confusion between “breaked” and “broken” stems from the fact that “break” is an irregular verb. While regular verbs typically form their past tense by adding “-ed,” irregular verbs have their own unique forms. In the case of “break,” the past tense is “broke” and the past participle is “broken.” By using these forms correctly, you’ll be able to articulate your thoughts accurately and impressively in English. So, don’t let the confusion break you down – remember to use “broken” when talking about past events involving breaking.