A van that breaks down stops working; it does not have to fall into pieces. Breaking a task down means dividing it into manageable parts. The subject and object help you identify the meaning.

The idea

For failure, use the van broke down without an object. For division, use break down the task / break the task down, but break it down. Add into before the parts. The forms are break–broke–broken.

Examples

  • The van broke down on the way to the coast.
  • Our old printer has broken down again.
  • If the lift breaks down, please tell the receptionist.
  • Lea broke the task down into three steps.
  • Lea broke down the task into three steps.
  • Please break it down into smaller parts.

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Watch out

Do not use broken alone as the simple past: choose broke down. After has, choose has broken down. The verb is two words; the noun breakdown is one. Dividing a task need not mean damaging it.

Try it yourself

  1. Choose the correct option. The van ___ down yesterday. (broke / broken)

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    broke

    Yesterday calls for the simple past broke, without has.

  2. Choose the correct option. The printer has ___ down again. (broke / broken)

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    broken

    After has, use the past participle broken, not broke.

  3. Choose the correct option. This task is too big. Break ___. (it down / down it)

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    it down

    The object pronoun it goes between break and down; the task is being divided.

Use it today

Describe a machine that stopped working yesterday. Then explain how you divided a large task into three steps, replacing the task with it in a second sentence.