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Moon7296 Posted 16 years ago
Vocabulary

Verb "break"

I've always used a verb "break" like 'The motorbike was broken.

I've found usage of break in my dictionary "If you break a part of your body such as your leg, your arm, or your nose, or if a bone breaks"

eg) She broke a leg in a skiing accident

So, according to the definition, we can say 'Her leg broke in a skiing accident' and She broke a leg in a skiing accidet' ?

But, to me, 'She broke a leg in a skiing accident' is awkward because it sounds like she deliberately broke her leg (to take a sick leave from her company, etc)

Is it or ?
  

Top answer

"She broke a leg in a skiing accident" is fine, though it's probably more usual to say "broke her leg". There is no awkwardness or implication that she did it deliberately. In this example, the word "accident" makes this doubly clear, but "She broke her leg" by itself carries no such implication either.

— Mr Wordy

  • "She broke a leg in a skiing accident" is fine, though it's probably more usual to say "broke her leg".
  • There is no awkwardness or implication that she did it deliberately.
  • In this example, the word "accident" makes this doubly clear, but "She broke her leg" by itself carries no such implication either.
  • It's always understood to be accidental (except in very unusual contexts, I suppose).
  • "Her leg broke in a skiing accident" is grammatically possible but feels a bit odd.
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5 Answers
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"She broke a leg in a skiing accident" is fine, though it's probably more usual to say "broke her leg". There is no awkwardness or implication that she did it deliberately. In this example, the word "accident" makes this doubly clear, but "She broke her leg" by itself carries no such implication either. It's always understood to be accidental (except in very unusual contexts, I suppose).
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Hi,



A small further comment.

I've always used a verb "break" like 'The motorbike was broken.

We don't usually say this. More natural is

eg The motorcycle is not working.

eg The TV is not working.

eg My computer is not working.



'Broken' sounds more like 'It was in one part, but now it is in two or more parts'.
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CliveWe don't usually say this. More natural is
eg The motorcycle is not working.
eg The TV is not working.
eg My computer is not working.
I wonder if this is a difference in usage between the U. S. and Canada?

I have no problem with My motorcycle's broken/ MyTV's broken.

Computer for sure. It''s My computer crashed
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Hi,



Hmmm. Would you also say 'My car's broken'?



Clive
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CliveHi,

Hmmm. Would you also say 'My car's broken'?

Clive
Yeah, I would. I ran it by the old man, who's a car guy. He said that people say it, but that he prefers My car's not running or My (part)'s broken. Maybe it's a guy/girl thing.

TL
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