Break Down, Break Up, Break Into

by Vocafy Verifierat

Engelska (USA) B1 15 frågor Words & expressions

Explore three useful phrasal verbs through everyday stories, from car trouble to starting a new career.

1. 1. Fyll i luckan.

   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.'

2. 2. Välj rätt 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.'

3. 3. Fyll i luckan.

   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.

4. 4. Välj rätt 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.

5. 5. Välj rätt 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.

6. 6. Fyll i luckan.

   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.'

7. 7. Fyll i luckan.

   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.

8. 8. Välj rätt 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.

9. 9. Välj rätt 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.

10. 10. Välj rätt 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.

11. 11. Välj rätt 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.

12. 12. Välj rätt 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.

13. 13. Fyll i luckan.

    "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.

14. 14. Välj rätt 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.

15. 15. Välj rätt 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.