were broke down

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were broke down" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct form would be "were broken down." Example: "The car were broke down on the side of the road."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

"People were breaking down into tears".

The New Yorker

"People were breaking down, crying and shouting.

The New York Times - Sports

Meanwhile, the walls between advertising and editorial were breaking down.

The Economist

Some guys were breaking down.

Huffington Post

"The resistance is breaking down".

The New York Times

Order is breaking down somewhat.

The New York Times

Discipline was breaking down.

The Guardian

Hierarchy is breaking down.

The New York Times

That's breaking down.

The Guardian

Taboos are breaking down.

The New Yorker

"I'm breaking down".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "were broke down". The correct phrasing is "were broken down" or "had broken down".

Common error

Be mindful of using the correct past participle form of the verb "break down". The past participle is "broken", not "broke". Use "were broken down" or "had broken down" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were broke down" is an incorrect passive construction. The correct form uses the past participle "broken" instead of "broke". This type of error affects the grammatical accuracy of the sentence, according to Ludwig.

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

The phrase "were broke down" is identified by Ludwig as grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "were broken down". This correction is essential for maintaining grammatical accuracy in both written and spoken English. Ludwig AI confirms that the initial phrase does not align with standard English grammar. When communicating that something was not functioning properly, using accurate grammar ensures clarity and professionalism. The best practice is to use "were broken down" or alternative phrases like "had broken down" to convey the intended meaning effectively.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had broken down

Uses the correct past perfect tense of the phrasal verb "break down."

were not working

A general way to say something isn't functioning as expected.

were not functioning

Similar to "were not working", but slightly more formal.

were out of order

Focuses on the temporary inability to function, often due to a mechanical issue.

were malfunctioning

Indicates that something is not working correctly.

were non-operational

A more formal way of saying something is not working.

were inoperative

Similar to "non-operational" but slightly less common.

had ceased functioning

Emphasizes the cessation of operation.

were defective

Focuses on a flaw or fault that prevents proper operation.

were disabled

Implies that the ability to function has been intentionally or unintentionally removed.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say something was not working?

The grammatically correct ways to express that something was not working are "were broken down", "had broken down", or "were not working".

Is "were broke down" grammatically correct?

No, "were broke down" is not grammatically correct. The correct form is "were broken down".

What's the difference between "were broke down" and "were broken down"?

"Were broke down" is an incorrect usage. "Were broken down" is the correct passive voice construction, indicating something was disassembled or stopped functioning.

Can I use "were broke down" in informal conversation?

While some might understand your meaning in informal speech, it's best to use the correct form, "were broken down", to avoid grammatical errors.