BREAK DOWN

Mar 2, 2017

Study box. Read these sentences carefully.

1. Why are you late? Did the bus break down?
2. What a terrible journey! We broke down twice on the way home.
3. I’m nervous about using the washing machine in case it breaks down again.
Use the sentences in the study box to help you do these exercises.
- Break down means “to stop working because of a fault”. What of things can break down? Choose two of the following:
  - tools
  - machines
  - vehicles
- Which of these are grammatically possible?
  - We broke down.
  - We broke down the car.
  - The car broke down.
  - The car broke itself down.
Break or break down? Choose the best answer.
- Can I borrow your pen? Mine’s . . .
  broken
  .
  - broken
  - broken down
- If the air conditioning system . . .
  breaks down
  , call the engineer.
  - breaks
  - breaks down
- I tried to cut some very thick paper and the scissors . . .
  broke
  .
  - broke
  - broke down
- A: My new mobile phone’s . . .
  broken
  .
  B: Did you drop it again?
  - broken
  - broken down
- A: Why are you washing your clothes by hand?
  B: Because the washing machine has . . .
  broken down
  .
  - broken down
  - broken
- A: Is your car reliable?
  B: Yes, it never . . .
  breaks down
  .
  - breaks down
  - breaks