Hello dear friends. Phrasal verbs are very common in English language and always raise a lot of questions from learners of English. In fact phrasal verb is a combination of a verb with a preposition, which in a sentence is a single semantic unit that has a meaning, as a rule, very different from the main meaning of the verb.

Today I would like to consider interesting phrasal verbs with break and use examples to show how they are used in sentences. Mostly break value- to break, break, destroy.

Phrasal verb meanings break

break in- break in, break in

• The thieves waited until it was dark enough to break in.
• The thieves waited until it was dark enough, and only then proceeded to break in.

break in- intervene (in a conversation); interrupt (conversation)

• But I was there, Jane broke in.
• “But I was there,” Jane put in.

break in- break in (clothes, shoes), run in (a new car)

• Don't drive the new car too fast, I'm still breaking it in.
• Don't drive so fast, I'm still running this car.

break in- interrupt (smth.)

• The loud bell on the clock broke in upon his dreams.
• The loud chime of the clock interrupted his sleep.

break into– invade using economic or political advantages; break in; light up; break out; rush

• He felt so happy that he broke into song (= suddenly began to sing).
• He felt happy that he suddenly sang a song.

break down- break, break

• The prisoner's opposition broke down under repeated questioning.
• Repeated interrogation broke the resistance of the arrested.

break down- worsen, pass (about health)

• You will break down if you work too hard.
• If you work too hard, you will lose your health.

break off- suddenly interrupt (conversation, acquaintance); suddenly stop (conversation, friendship, acquaintance)

• I broke off with the m over a year ago.

break up- stop, end

• The party broke up when the police arrived.
• The party was interrupted when the police showed up.

break up- disperse, disintegrate (about a group, company); to fall apart, fall apart (of a family)

• I hear that Joan and Steve are breaking up.
• I heard that Joan and Steve are getting a divorce.

break up– (Brit.) to close for the holidays

• When does your school break up?
• When does your school close for holidays?

break up- upset, upset the peace of mind

• She says, her sister is going to be married and that she fears it will break her up.
• She says that her sister is going to get married, and she is afraid that this will bring her a lot of grief.

break up- Amer.; unfold scary to have fun, burst with laughter

• The camera had only to turn to Tommy Cooper for the audience to break up with laughter.
• As soon as the camera aimed at Tommy Cooper, all the audience rolled with laughter.

break up to divide (into smaller parts)

• The job can be broken up into several activities, which provides some variety.
• The work can be divided into different types of activities, which will add some variety to it.

break up- disappear, interrupt (about a radio signal)

• You are breaking up.
• I can not hear you well. (i.e. you cannot be heard; while talking on a mobile phone)

break out- break out, break through (from prison, etc.)

• Forget about 'em. Fast! — No. I can't. I have to break out of here. Can it be done?
• Forget about them. And faster! - Not. I cant. I have to get out of here. Is it possible?

break out- flare up, explode (about war, fight, enmity, fire, noise, etc.)

• But fighting may break out at any time, so we will work quickly.
• But a fight could break out at any time, so we'll act quickly.

break out- flash, light up (smile); burst out (laughing); become covered (with perspiration, pimples, etc.)

• Halston broke out in inspiration.
• Halston broke into a sweat.

An exercise

The phrasal verb break is most often followed by the words:

– down
– into
- out
– out of
– up

Choose the correct word to insert.

1. They think the forest fire broke ____ because of a loose electrical wire.

2. Burglars broke ____ Dad's office last night and stole his computer.

3. James and Mandy had a terrible argument and then they broke ____.

4. What's wrong with the washing machine now? It's always breaking ____!

5. They broke ____ prison and escaped.

Answers

1. They think the forest fire broke out because of a loose electrical wire. “The forest fire is believed to have started because of a loose wire.

2. Burglars broke into Dad's office last night and stole his computer. Robbers broke into my father's office and stole a computer.

3. James and Mandy had a terrible argument and then they broke up. James and Mandy had a big fight and broke up.

4. What's wrong with the washing machine now? It's always breaking down! - What's wrong with washing machine? She keeps breaking!

5. They broke out of prison and escaped. They escaped from prison and went into hiding.

Phrasal Verbs in English

The verb "break" has many meanings, the most common of which are:
to break, break (in pieces); destroy
Example: He fell through the window, breaking the glass. He fell out of the window, breaking the glass.

Together with the addition of a preposition / adverb, the verb takes on a different meaning:

Break down - break, break
The prisoner's opposition broke down under repeated questioning.
Repeated interrogation broke the resistance of the arrested.

Break down - worsen, pass (about health)
You will break down if you work too hard.
If you work too hard, you will lose your health.

Break in - break in, break in
The thieves waited until it was dark enough to break in.
The thieves waited until it was dark enough, and only then proceeded to break in.

Break in - intervene (in a conversation); interrupt (conversation)
But I was there, Jane broke in.
“But I was there,” Jane put in.

Break in - break in (clothes, shoes), run in (a new car)
Don "t drive the new car too fast, I" m still breaking it in.
Don't drive so fast, I'm still running this car.

Break in - interrupt (smth.)
The loud bell on the clock broke in upon his dreams.
The loud chime of the clock interrupted his sleep.

break into – invade using economic or political advantages; break in; light up; break out; rush
He felt so happy that he broke into song (= suddenly began to sing).
He felt happy that he suddenly sang a song.

break off - suddenly interrupt (conversation, acquaintance); suddenly stop (conversation, friendship, acquaintance)
I broke off with them over a year ago.

break out - break out, break through (from prison, etc.)
Forget about "em. Fast! - No. I can" t. I have to break out of here. Can it be done?
Forget about them. And faster! - Not. I cant. I have to get out of here. Is it possible?

break out - flare up, explode (about war, fight, enmity, fire, noise, etc.)
But fighting may break out at any time, so we will work quickly.
But a fight could break out at any time, so we'll act quickly.

break out - flash, light up (smile); burst out (laughing); become covered (with perspiration, pimples, etc.)
Halston broke out in inspiration.
Halston broke into a sweat.

break up - stop, end
The party broke up when the police arrived.
The party was interrupted when the police showed up.

break up - disperse, disintegrate (about a group, company); to fall apart, fall apart (of a family)
I hear that Joan and Steve are breaking up.
I heard that Joan and Steve are getting a divorce.

break up – (Brit.) to close for the holidays
When does your school break up?
When does your school close for holidays?

break up - upset, upset the peace of mind
She says, her sister is going to be married and that she fears it will break her up.
She says that her sister is going to get married, and she is afraid that this will bring her a lot of grief.

break up - Amer.; unfold scary to have fun, burst with laughter
The camera had only to turn to Tommy Cooper for the audience to break up with laughter.
As soon as the camera aimed at Tommy Cooper, all the audience rolled with laughter.

break up to divide (into smaller parts)
The job can be broken up into several activities, which provides some variety.
The work can be divided into different types of activities, which will add some variety to it.

break up - disappear, interrupt (about a radio signal)
You are breaking up.
I can not hear you well. (i.e. you cannot be heard; while talking on a mobile phone)

The prisoner's opposition broke down under repeated questioning
Longinterrogationbrokeresistancearrested

2) worsen, pass

synonyms break up, crack up, crock

You will break down if you work too hard
If you work too hard, you will lose your health

3) disassemble (into parts); divide, subdivide, divide; classify; analyze

4) break up

The figures break down into several kinds, showing us different ways of looking at the firm's activities
Figures can be grouped in different ways and from different points of view to look at the activities of the company

5) fail; fail

Peace talks have broken down in the Middle East
Peace talks in the Middle East fail

6) not withstand, break loose

Peter broke down and wept when he saw the deer that he had shot
Peternotmovedkindshotthemdeerandsobbed

7) split

Chemicals in the body break down our food into useful substances
Chemicalsubstancesourbodydecomposefoodon theusefulconstituents

1) stop, stop

The police broke up the fight.
The police stopped the fight.

The party broke up when the police arrived.
The party was interrupted when the police showed up.

2) disperse, disintegrate (about a group, company), fall apart (about a family)

synonyms: bust up split

I hear that Joan and Steve are breaking up.
I heard that Joan and Steve are getting a divorce.

4) Briticism - to close for the holidays

When does your school break up?
When does your school close for holidays?

5) to break smb. up - upset

She says her sister is going to be married and that she fears it will break her up .
She says that her sister is going to get married, and she is afraid that this will bring her a lot of grief.

6) vernacular - weaken

synonyms: break down, crack up, crock

7) Americanism, vernacular - laugh

The camera had only to turn to Tommy Cooper for the audience to break up with laughter.
As soon as the camera aimed at Tommy Cooper, all the audience rolled with laughter.

8) to break smth. up - divide (smaller)

The job can be broken up into several activities, which provides some variety.
The work can be divided into different types of activities, which will add some variety to it.