he got broken

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "he got broken" is grammatically correct but may not be commonly used in standard English.
It can be used in contexts where someone is describing a situation where a person has been emotionally or physically harmed, often in a passive sense. Example: "After the traumatic event, he got broken and struggled to find his way back to happiness."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

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

The New Yorker

Djokovic did not seem to have a particular game plan, but awakened when he got broken midway through the second set.

The New York Times

When Andy broke serve for 2-1, you thought OK, now he's on top of Djokovic but he got broken back straight away and suddenly at 3-2, even though it was only on serve, you felt the momentum was very much with Djokovic.

The Guardian - Sport

In the next game, however, Nadal faced two break points, and on the second he got broken by sending a forehand long -- the first time he lost serve in 88 games.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

After that, though, there were not too many hiccups for Djokovic, although he did get broken at love by Goffin, evening the second set at 4-4.

The New York Times - Sports

"They want to keep him until he surrenders and gets broken," she said, wiping tears from her eyes.

The New York Times

"If this animal tried to grab hold of prey, the denticles would get broken," he says.

Science Magazine

"You could sit in your flat and hear other flats getting broken into," he remembers.

The Guardian

"I thought, 'What if the police just take him into custody, he gets better, breaks out and just goes nuts?'" he said.

Independent

He got a broken ankle while bolting to pay premium on his insurance.

The New Yorker

He got me breaking 80".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using stronger verbs or more descriptive adjectives to convey the extent and nature of the brokenness, such as "shattered", "devastated", or "traumatized", depending on the context.

Common error

Avoid using "he got broken" when a more direct, active voice construction would be more impactful and clear. For example, instead of "he got broken by the news", consider "the news broke him".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he got broken" functions as a passive construction, describing a state resulting from an external action or event. Ludwig AI examples show its use in news and media contexts, suggesting someone being emotionally or psychologically damaged. It emphasizes the resultant state rather than the actor.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "he got broken" is grammatically correct and used to describe someone's state after experiencing emotional or psychological damage. Ludwig AI identifies it as a passive construction commonly found in news and media contexts. While acceptable, more descriptive alternatives like "he was devastated" or "he was shattered" can offer greater impact. Remember to consider active voice constructions for clarity and impact. The sources using this phrase range from The New York Times to BBC, demonstrating its presence in reputable sources and establishing the phrase's validity. In conclusion, you can use this phrase with awareness of the potential for more impactful alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he was broken

Changes the verb tense to past simple, emphasizing a completed state of being broken.

he became broken

Replaces "got" with "became", indicating a process of becoming broken.

he was left shattered

Uses a more evocative word, "shattered", to describe the state of being broken.

he was devastated

Emphasizes the emotional impact, suggesting a state of extreme distress.

he suffered greatly

Shifts the focus to the suffering experienced as a result of being broken.

he was deeply affected

Indicates a profound impact, suggesting that the experience had a lasting effect.

he was emotionally scarred

Highlights the long-term emotional damage caused.

he was traumatized

Emphasizes the severity of the experience and its psychological impact.

he was left in pieces

Uses a more figurative expression to describe the state of being broken.

he never recovered

Focuses on the lasting consequences of the experience, suggesting an inability to heal.

FAQs

What does it mean when someone says "he got broken"?

When someone says "he got broken", it typically means that the person has experienced something that has caused them significant emotional or psychological distress. It suggests a state of being damaged or overwhelmed by events.

Is it better to say "he was broken" or "he got broken"?

Both "he was broken" and "he got broken" are grammatically acceptable, but "he was broken" is generally more common and might sound more natural. The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

What can I say instead of "he got broken" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "he was devastated", "he suffered greatly", or "he was deeply affected". These alternatives /s/he+was+devastated, /s/he+suffered+greatly, /s/he+was+deeply+affected convey a similar meaning with a higher degree of formality.

How is "he got broken" different from "he broke down"?

"He got broken" suggests an external force caused him to be in a damaged state, while "he broke down" /s/he+broke+down implies an internal collapse or emotional outburst. The former focuses on the result, and the latter on the process.