a fire break out

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a fire break out" is not correct in English.
Did you mean "a fire broke out"? You can use the corrected phrase when describing an incident where a fire suddenly starts or ignites. Example: "Last night, a fire broke out in the old warehouse, causing significant damage."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

When a fire broke out last Aug.

The New York Times

About 4 a.m., a fire broke out in the apartment.

The New York Times

"If a fire breaks out, you're responsible," Arthur explained.

The New Yorker

At the same time a fire broke out in prison.

The New Yorker

After sundown, a fire broke out on its fourth floor.

The New York Times

When a fire broke out on Martin Creek, Rufus Robinson and Mr. Cooley were dispatched.

The New York Times

On Friday evening, a fire broke out at a vacant company office in Derrylin, Northern Ireland.

The New York Times

A fire breaks out next to a small restaurant where people are dining.

The New Yorker

The authorities' attention was drawn to the building when a fire broke out there.

The New York Times

Then, on Thanksgiving Day, a fire broke out on President Street in Park Slope, Brooklyn.

The New York Times

A fire broke out at the mine last month, but there were no reports of injuries.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the correct past tense form "broke out" when describing a fire that has started. For example, "A fire broke out in the warehouse last night."

Common error

Avoid using the present tense "break out" when referring to a past event. The correct form is "broke out". Saying "a fire break out" is grammatically incorrect.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a fire break out" is an incorrect attempt to describe the commencement of a fire. Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect, recommending the past tense form "a fire broke out" instead.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a fire break out" is grammatically incorrect. The correct expression is "a fire broke out". As Ludwig AI indicates, the incorrect use of the present tense "break" instead of the past tense "broke" makes the phrase non-standard. Alternative expressions include "a fire started" or "a fire erupted". Always use the past tense when describing an event that has already occurred.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a fire broke out

Corrects the grammatical error by using the past tense "broke" instead of the infinitive "break".

a fire started

Replaces the verb phrase with a more common and grammatically correct alternative.

a fire erupted

Uses a more intense verb to describe the sudden beginning of a fire.

a blaze ignited

Employs a more formal term ("blaze") and a different verb ("ignited") to convey the same meaning.

a fire flared up

Indicates a sudden and intense start of a fire.

a conflagration began

Utilizes a more dramatic and less common term for fire ("conflagration") and a simple verb ("began").

fire commenced

Replaces "a fire" with "fire" and uses the more formal "commenced".

fire was triggered

Focuses on the cause of the fire, implying an external event initiated it.

an outbreak of fire occurred

Describes the fire as an "outbreak", emphasizing its sudden and unexpected nature.

a fire was reported

Indicates the existence of the fire was formally noted.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say a fire started?

The correct way to say a fire started is "a fire broke out" or "a fire started". The phrase "a fire break out" is grammatically incorrect.

Is "a fire break out" grammatically correct?

No, "a fire break out" is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrase is "a fire broke out", using the past tense of "break".

What are some alternatives to "a fire broke out"?

Alternatives to "a fire broke out" include "a fire started", "a fire erupted", or "a blaze ignited".

What's the difference between "a fire break out" and "a fire broke out"?

"A fire break out" is grammatically incorrect because it uses the present tense "break" when referring to a past event. The correct form is "a fire broke out", which uses the past tense "broke".