Break Down, Break Up, Break Into
Explore three useful phrasal verbs through everyday stories, from car trouble to starting a new career.
Preview
Questions with solutions-
1. Fyll inn det tomme feltet.
Our car broke ___ on the highway. The engine stopped, and we couldn't drive any farther.
- down
- up
- into
The car was no longer working.
Show solution
Our car broke down on the highway. The engine stopped, and we couldn't drive any farther.
For a machine that stops working, use 'break down.' The past tense is 'broke down.'
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2. Velg riktig svar.
What happened to Maya and Chris?
Maya and Chris broke up last month. They aren't a couple anymore, but they're still friends.
- They stopped being friends.
- They ended their romantic relationship.
- They started dating.
Their friendship and their romantic relationship are different things.
Show solution
- They ended their romantic relationship.
You can say 'break up with someone' when you name the person: 'Maya broke up with Chris.'
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3. Fyll inn det tomme feltet.
Someone broke ___ the locked store last night and stole several phones.
- up
- down
- into
Someone entered a place without permission.
Show solution
Someone broke into the locked store last night and stole several phones.
For entering a place by force, 'break into' is followed by the place: a store, house, or office.
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4. Velg riktig svar.
What did the cook do to the chocolate?
The cook broke up the chocolate before melting it.
- Made it into smaller pieces.
- Heated it until it became liquid.
- Mixed it with another ingredient.
This happened before the chocolate was heated.
Show solution
- Made it into smaller pieces.
Smaller pieces melt more quickly. Here, 'break up' describes changing something into pieces.
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5. Velg riktig svar.
What does 'broke down' describe here?
Nora tried to stay calm while sharing the sad news, but she broke down and cried.
- She forgot the news.
- She became too tired to stand.
- She could no longer control her feelings.
Focus on the change from staying calm to crying.
Show solution
- She could no longer control her feelings.
'Break down' can describe a person losing control of their feelings, not just a machine stopping.
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6. Fyll inn det tomme feltet.
The room was silent until a puppy stole the speaker's shoe. Everyone broke ___ laughter.
- down
- into
- up
The laughter started suddenly.
Show solution
The room was silent until a puppy stole the speaker's shoe. Everyone broke into laughter.
'Break into' can introduce a sudden action. Another common expression is 'break into song.'
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7. Fyll inn det tomme feltet.
A teacher stepped between the two students to break ___ the fight before anyone got hurt.
- into
- up
- down
The teacher wanted the fighting to stop.
Show solution
A teacher stepped between the two students to break up the fight before anyone got hurt.
You may hear 'Break it up!' when someone tells people to stop fighting.
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8. Velg riktig svar.
What problem is the listener reporting?
"You're breaking up. I can hear a few words, but then your voice disappears. Can you call me again?"
- The phone connection keeps losing parts of the sound.
- The speaker is talking too quickly.
- The speaker is becoming upset.
Some words arrive clearly, but others do not arrive at all.
Show solution
- The phone connection keeps losing parts of the sound.
On a call, 'You're breaking up' usually points to a connection problem, not a problem with the speaker's voice.
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9. Velg riktig svar.
How will the manager make the project easier?
"The whole project looks difficult," said Leo. "Let's break it down into small steps," his manager replied.
- By canceling the most difficult work.
- By asking a different team to do it.
- By dividing the work into simpler parts.
The project stays the same, but the way they approach it changes.
Show solution
- By dividing the work into simpler parts.
'Break it down' is also useful when you want someone to explain a difficult idea more simply.
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10. Velg riktig svar.
What happened at midnight?
The party broke up at midnight, and the guests headed home.
- The guests started arguing.
- The party ended and people left.
- The guests moved into another room.
Notice where the guests went afterward.
Show solution
- The party ended and people left.
A gathering can 'break up' peacefully. The expression does not always suggest an argument.
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11. Velg riktig svar.
What does 'breaks down' mean in this sentence?
Your body breaks down food so it can get energy from it.
- Changes food into substances it can use.
- Keeps food unchanged for later.
- Moves food out of the body without using it.
Think about how the body gets something useful from food.
Show solution
- Changes food into substances it can use.
In digestion, 'break down' involves changing food, not just chewing it into smaller pieces.
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12. Velg riktig svar.
How do the short walks change the trip?
We break up long drives with short stops to walk around and stretch.
- They make the travelers continue in separate cars.
- They bring the whole trip to an early end.
- They add rests between periods of driving.
The travelers continue driving after each stop.
Show solution
- They add rests between periods of driving.
'Break up' can describe a useful pause in an activity, not only its final end.
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13. Fyll inn det tomme feltet.
"Every studio says I need experience. How can I break ___ the movie business if nobody will give me my first job?"
- up
- into
- down
The speaker wants a chance to begin working in this industry.
Show solution
"Every studio says I need experience. How can I break into the movie business if nobody will give me my first job?"
'Break into' an industry means getting a start in it, not physically entering a building.
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14. Velg riktig svar.
What did the games help the students do?
Shared games helped break down barriers between the new students. Soon they felt comfortable talking to one another.
- Feel less separate and more comfortable together.
- Divide themselves into smaller groups.
- Enter a classroom that had been locked.
The barriers were about relationships, not buildings.
Show solution
- Feel less separate and more comfortable together.
'Barriers' can be social: shyness or fear can make it harder for people to connect.
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15. Velg riktig svar.
What did the speaker have to do?
"I wanted to leave my savings untouched, but the repair bill was too high. I had to break into my savings."
- Divide the money between several accounts.
- Stop putting money aside every month.
- Use money they had been keeping for later.
The repair cost more than the speaker could pay with their other money.
Show solution
- Use money they had been keeping for later.
'Break into savings' suggests using money you had hoped to keep, often because of an unexpected expense.