got broken

USAGE SUMMARY

"got broken" is a correct and usable part of written English.
You can use it when you want to express that something has been damaged, ruined, or rendered unusable. Example: The vase got broken when it fell off the shelf.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

And got broken.

The Guardian

Nothing got broken.

The New York Times

"I wonder how this got broken".

The New Yorker

"A long time ago, things got broken here.

The New York Times - Magazine

In the ensuing melee a girl's nose got broken.

The Guardian - Music

"Nothing got broken, nothing got damaged," says van der Walt.

The Guardian

Djokovic did break Federer the next time he served, but he got broken right back.

The New Yorker

"Just got broken," Byrd wrote in an e-mail during the third set.

The New York Times - Sports

I got broken three times in the second set, which isn't good enough.

Independent

As soon as the final shot was taken the whole thing got broken down.

The New York Times

"You know, I got broken three times in the second set, which isn't good enough".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "got broken" when you want to emphasize the process or event that led to the breakage, rather than just the state of being broken.

Common error

Avoid using "got broken" when "was broken" is more appropriate to describe a static state. "Got broken" implies an action or event led to the breakage, while "was broken" simply describes the current condition.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "got broken" functions as a passive construction, indicating that something received the action of being broken. As evidenced by Ludwig, it's a common way to express that an object or system has been damaged or rendered unusable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Wiki

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "got broken" is a grammatically correct and frequently used passive construction indicating that something has been damaged. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and usability. It's most common in neutral contexts such as news and media, and while versatile, it's important to differentiate its meaning from "was broken", which describes a state rather than an event. For more formal settings, alternatives like "was damaged" or "became fractured" may be more suitable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was damaged

Replaces "got" with "was", emphasizing the state of being damaged.

was shattered

Implies a violent breakage into many pieces.

became fractured

Substitutes "broken" with "fractured", suggesting a more specific type of breakage.

was breached

Replaces "broken" with "breached", implying a violation or rupture.

was ruptured

Similar to breached, but specifically suggesting a sudden burst or tear.

became non-functional

More formal, indicating that something stopped working.

was impaired

Implies a reduction in functionality rather than a complete breakage.

ceased to operate

Formal alternative to "stopped working", indicating complete failure.

was terminated

Indicates an end or cessation, particularly of a process or agreement.

fell apart

Suggests a gradual disintegration rather than a single event of breakage.

FAQs

How can I use "got broken" in a sentence?

You can use "got broken" to indicate that something became damaged or inoperable as a result of an action or event. For example, "The window got broken during the storm."

What's a more formal alternative to "got broken"?

For a more formal tone, consider using alternatives like "was damaged" or "became fractured" depending on the specific type of breakage.

Is there a difference between "got broken" and "was broken"?

"Got broken" emphasizes the action or event that caused the breakage, while "was broken" describes the resulting state. For instance, "The toy got broken when he threw it" focuses on the throwing action, while "The toy was broken" simply states its condition.

What can I say instead of "got broken" to imply a violation?

If you want to emphasize that something was breached or violated, you could use "was breached" or "was ruptured", depending on the specific context.