was already broken

USAGE SUMMARY

"was already broken" is correct and usable in written English.
You could use it when you want to express that something was broken prior to a certain point in time. Example sentence: "The window was already broken when the police arrived."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

37 human-written examples

"It was already broken," Tikkanen said.

The New York Times - Sports

The old analog model was already broken.

The Guardian

"It was already broken, I just split it more".

The New York Times

But by then Kiefer's confidence was already broken.

The New York Times - Sports

The chain to the producers was already broken.

The New York Times - Magazine

I was already broken," he tells the Guardian.

The Guardian - Film

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

23 human-written examples

Fueling its optimism was a sense that the business was already breaking even.

Harvard Business Review

Mutiny was already breaking out in the Austrian forces, and on October 28 the Austrian high command ordered a general retreat.

Encyclopedia Britannica

A minute later, the sun was already breaking through, blazing a silver light over the edge of the moon.

The Washington Post

And by early 2010, the model was already breaking out.

TechCrunch

"You are buying Abby and Gianna right now," she said, escalating the argument that was already breaking out.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was already broken" when you need to emphasize that something was damaged before a specific event or time. This can help clarify the sequence of events and prevent misunderstandings.

Common error

Avoid using "is already broken" when referring to a past event. The past tense "was" correctly indicates that the broken state existed at a point in the past. Example: "The vase was already broken when I found it."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was already broken" functions as a passive voice construction in the past continuous tense. It indicates that a subject had previously undergone the action of being broken, prior to a specific time or event. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Academia

22%

Science

15%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "was already broken" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression that serves to describe a pre-existing state of damage. As Ludwig AI indicates, its usage is correct and versatile across numerous contexts. Predominantly found in News & Media, Academic, and Scientific sources, this expression clarifies timelines and provides crucial context. When writing, remember to keep the tense consistent and make sure your singular and plural nouns matches correctly. "Was already broken" is a clear and concise way to indicate that something was damaged prior to a specified time or event.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had already been damaged

Emphasizes the action of damaging something prior to a certain point.

was previously damaged

Highlights that the damage occurred at an earlier time.

was broken beforehand

Uses "beforehand" to specify the timing of the breakage.

had broken earlier

Uses a more concise structure to convey the same meaning.

was in a state of disrepair

Focuses on the state of being in disrepair rather than the act of breaking.

was already out of order

Implies that something was not functioning correctly before.

was non-functional from the start

Emphasizes that the item never worked correctly.

had ceased to function

Uses a more formal tone to express the lack of functionality.

was defective from the beginning

Highlights a pre-existing defect.

was compromised already

Indicates that the integrity was affected before a certain point.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "was already broken" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider alternatives like "had already been damaged" or "was previously damaged". These options offer a more elevated level of expression.

What does "was already broken" imply about timing?

The phrase "was already broken" indicates that something was in a broken state prior to a specific point in time or event. It establishes a sequence where the damage preceded a subsequent action or discovery.

Is it ever incorrect to use "was already broken"?

Yes, using "was already broken" would be incorrect if you are referring to a present state. In that case, you would use "is already broken". For example, "The toy is already broken." Also, ensure you are using "was" with singular nouns; use "were" for plural nouns (e.g., "The toys were already broken").

What's the difference between "was already broken" and "broke"?

"was already broken" describes a state of being broken at a past time, while "broke" is a simple past tense verb indicating the action of breaking. For example, "The window broke" describes the action, while "The window was already broken" describes the state of the window.