Phrasal Verb – Break down

• Phrasal Verb – Break down.
• Meaning 1 – To stop working. If a machine or vehicle breaks down, it stops working because of a fault or problem.
  • This phrasal verb is not separable.
  • “You should get a better car! Your Fiat looks nice but it is always breaking down!”
• Meaning 2 – To loose control of your feelings and start crying. This phrasal verb is often used to refer to someone who starts crying in public.
  • This phrasal verb is not separable.
  • “He broke down in tears when she broke up with him. ”
• Meaning 3 – To fail. When a discussion or a relationship breaks down, it fails.
  • This phrasal verb is not separable.
  • “Talks between Britain and the EU have broken down again.”
• Meaning 4 – To remove a barrier or obstacle. This phrasal verb can be used when someone hits something very hard and it falls down.
  • This phrasal verb is separable.
  • “The police will break the door down if you don’t open it!”

What is a phrasal verb?

A phrasal verb is a verb combined with 1 or 2 small words. These small words are particles. A particle can be a preposition or adverb. The phrasal verb has a different meaning from the verb alone because the particle changes the meaning of the verb.

Some phrasal verbs can be separated. When we change the tense of the phrasal verb we only modify the verb part. The particle remains the same.