fall and broke

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "fall and broke" is not correct in written English.
It seems to be a mix of tenses and should be "fell and broke" to be grammatically accurate. Example: "He fell and broke his arm while playing soccer."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Waste of Money, Super Disappointed Written by AB from Gonzales Jul 12, 2008 Too light, doesn't fit the ear well at all, falls out really easily, and after a 3 foot fall, broke and gave constant heavy static….

TechCrunch

A battle fought there in 1849 broke Sikh power and permitted British annexation of the Punjab.

Encyclopedia Britannica

He graduated from Lady Margaret Hall in classics and English in 1992, broke.

The Guardian

Boiler Room's recent broadcast from Nigeria – which we're revisiting on Guardian Music today – broke new ground.

The Guardian - Music

Henman, who has not won a tour title since October 1998, broke Kafelnikov in the second game of the second set.

The New York Times - Sports

Relieving the pressure on Manuel was Thompson, who almost one year ago broke two vertebrae in his back when he lowered his head on a run.

The New York Times - Sports

Oakvale – 1596 Broke Road, Pokolbin NSW The Oakvale label has been growing grapes and making wine in the Hunter Valley since the 1890s.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Twenty-one of the 38 players in the field, limited to tournament winners the last two years and the winners of majors the last five years, broke par.

The New York Times - Sports

Among the Argentina players is Sergio Aguero, who in 2003 broke Diego Maradona's record by playing in the Argentine first division at age 15.

The New York Times - Sports

If the nominators didn't embrace her, many critics did, and audiences paid up: "I'll Eat You Last" broke box office records at the Booth Theater and recouped its $2.4 million investment in May after 8 weeks of performances, a rare feat for a play.

The New York Times

Determined not to be sidelined, Taiwan is seeking to solidify its existing relationships with countries like Belize, St. Kitts and Nevis, and St. Lucia — which in 2007 broke relations with China in favor of Taiwan — with a bevy of projects, many of them agricultural, including an agreement signed with Belize in recent weeks to develop the fish farming industry there.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the correct past tense form, "fell and broke", to describe a completed action in the past. For example, "He fell and broke his arm".

Common error

Avoid using the base form "fall" with "broke". Always use the past tense "fell" to maintain grammatical correctness when describing an action that has already occurred.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fall and broke" is intended to describe an event where someone loses their balance (fall) and subsequently damages something (broke). However, it's grammatically flawed as it uses the base form of "fall" instead of the past tense, according to Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "fall and broke" aims to describe an incident involving a fall and subsequent breakage, it's grammatically incorrect. According to Ludwig, the correct past tense form, "fell and broke", should be used instead. Although the intention is clear, grammatical accuracy is crucial for formal and professional communication. Related phrases like "tripped and broke" or "slipped and broke" can provide alternative expressions for similar scenarios, and always ensure to maintain proper tense and grammatical structure for clear and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fell and broke

Changes the tense to past, correcting the grammatical structure.

tripped and broke

Replaces "fall" with "tripped", indicating a specific type of fall.

slipped and broke

Uses "slipped" to describe a different kind of loss of balance.

lost balance and broke

Expands the phrase to clarify the sequence of events.

stumbled and fractured

Substitutes "broke" with the more specific "fractured".

collapsed and shattered

Alters both verbs to emphasize a complete and forceful failure.

tumbled and snapped

Uses "tumbled" and "snapped" to suggest a rapid, forceful break.

went down and broke

Rephrases the action using the more descriptive "went down".

toppled over and broke

Uses "toppled over" to specify the way something fell.

crashed and broke

Changes "fall" to "crash" to imply a violent collision.

FAQs

What is the correct tense for "fall and broke"?

The correct tense is past tense. Use "fell and broke" to accurately describe an event that happened in the past.

Is "fall and broke" grammatically correct?

No, "fall and broke" is not grammatically correct. The correct form is "fell and broke", using the past tense of "fall".

How can I rephrase "fall and broke" for variety?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "tripped and broke", "slipped and broke", or "lost balance and broke".

What is the difference between "fall and broke" and "fell and broke"?

"Fall and broke" is grammatically incorrect due to the use of the base form of the verb "fall". "Fell and broke" is the correct past tense form, indicating a completed action.