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Lacki Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

Has broken down vs broke down

He'd previously had a car but it has broken down / broke down several times last year.

can someone explain the correct answer? thank you.
  

Top answer

You use "broken down" right after the word have/has/had. For example, "The car has broken down," "The car had broken down," "I have broken down on the highway and I need a tow truck". You use "broke down" without have/has/had.

— Hmea1

  • You use "broken down" right after the word have/has/had.
  • For example, "The car has broken down," "The car had broken down," "I have broken down on the highway and I need a tow truck".
  • You use "broke down" without have/has/had.
  • For example, "My car broke down on the highway".
  • Just pay attention as to whether or not he word have/has/had is used or not and you should know which is the right form to use.
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4 Answers
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You use "broken down" right after the word have/has/had. For example, "The car has broken down," "The car had broken down," "I have broken down on the highway and I need a tow truck".

You use "broke down" without have/has/had. For example, "My car broke down on the highway".

Just pay attention as to whether or not he word have/has/had is used or not and you sho
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Hi,

He'd previously had a car but it has broken down / broke down several times last year.

can someone explain the correct answer?

He'd previously had a car but it broke down several times last year.

He previously had a car but it broke down several times last year.

He had previously had a car Pa
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lackiHe'd previously had a car but it has broken down / broke down several times last year.can someone explain the correct answer?
Just write:

He had a car, but it broke down several times.

has broken down doesn't go with last year. You can't mention a specific time with the present perfect tense.

CJ
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