break
breaks
breaking
broke
Break means to separate into pieces, or to stop functioning. Irregular verb: break-broke-broken.
Meanings
- To separate into pieces
- To stop functioning
- To violate a rule
Common Collocations
break down
break up
break out
break through
break the ice
Tip for Learners
Break down: fail or analyze. Break up: end relationship. Break the ice: start conversation.
Present Simple
| I | break |
| you | break |
| he/she/it | breaks |
| we | break |
| they | break |
Examples - Present Simple
- I break the rules sometimes.
- You break promises too often.
- He breaks the silence.
- We break for lunch at noon.
- They break records every season.
Present Continuous
| I | am breaking |
| you | are breaking |
| he/she/it | is breaking |
| we | are breaking |
| they | are breaking |
Examples - Present Continuous
- I am breaking bad habits.
- You are breaking my heart.
- She is breaking new ground.
- We are breaking the news gently.
- They are breaking the code.
Present Perfect
| I | have broken |
| you | have broken |
| he/she/it | has broken |
| we | have broken |
| they | have broken |
Examples - Present Perfect
- I have broken my leg before.
- You have broken my trust.
- He has broken the world record.
- We have broken through the barrier.
- They have broken many rules.
Present Perfect Continuous
| I | have been breaking |
| you | have been breaking |
| he/she/it | has been breaking |
| we | have been breaking |
| they | have been breaking |
Examples - Present Perfect Continuous
- I have been breaking new ground.
- You have been breaking promises.
- She has been breaking records.
- We have been breaking the mold.
- They have been breaking barriers.
Past Simple
| I | broke |
| you | broke |
| he/she/it | broke |
| we | broke |
| they | broke |
Examples - Past Simple
- I broke the vase accidentally.
- You broke your promise.
- He broke the silence.
- We broke the news carefully.
- They broke into the building.
Past Continuous
| I | was breaking |
| you | were breaking |
| he/she/it | was breaking |
| we | were breaking |
| they | were breaking |
Examples - Past Continuous
- I was breaking the news when you arrived.
- You were breaking the rules.
- She was breaking new ground.
- We were breaking for lunch.
- They were breaking down the door.
Past Perfect
| I | had broken |
| you | had broken |
| he/she/it | had broken |
| we | had broken |
| they | had broken |
Examples - Past Perfect
- I had broken my arm before the game.
- You had broken the record already.
- He had broken through the defenses.
- We had broken the ice.
- They had broken the code.
Past Perfect Continuous
| I | had been breaking |
| you | had been breaking |
| he/she/it | had been breaking |
| we | had been breaking |
| they | had been breaking |
Examples - Past Perfect Continuous
- I had been breaking rules for years.
- You had been breaking promises.
- She had been breaking barriers.
- We had been breaking new ground.
- They had been breaking records.
Future Simple
| I | will break |
| you | will break |
| he/she/it | will break |
| we | will break |
| they | will break |
Examples - Future Simple
- I will break the news tomorrow.
- You will break the record.
- He will break through the obstacles.
- We will break for lunch soon.
- They will break the mold.
Future Continuous
| I | will be breaking |
| you | will be breaking |
| he/she/it | will be breaking |
| we | will be breaking |
| they | will be breaking |
Examples - Future Continuous
- I will be breaking the news.
- You will be breaking new ground.
- She will be breaking records.
- We will be breaking barriers.
- They will be breaking through.
Future Perfect
| I | will have broken |
| you | will have broken |
| he/she/it | will have broken |
| we | will have broken |
| they | will have broken |
Examples - Future Perfect
- I will have broken the record by then.
- You will have broken through.
- He will have broken the barrier.
- We will have broken the code.
- They will have broken new ground.
Future Perfect Continuous
| I | will have been breaking |
| you | will have been breaking |
| he/she/it | will have been breaking |
| we | will have been breaking |
| they | will have been breaking |
Examples - Future Perfect Continuous
- I will have been breaking records for years.
- You will have been breaking barriers.
- She will have been breaking new ground.
- We will have been breaking the mold.
- They will have been breaking through.