Cụm động từ Break

Justin and Sarah broke up after 5 years together

Phrasal verbs are one of the most difficult things to learn in English, because changing the preposition can completely change the meaning of the verb.

Here are 7 break phrasal verbs:

Break up - to finish/ end a relationship. "Justin and Sarah broke up after 5 years together."
Break out of - to escape from somewhere using force. "Ten prisoners broke out of jail last night."
Break out in - to develop a skin problem. "I broke out in a rash after touching those plants."
Break down - stop working "My car's broken down, so I caught the bus to work."
Break through - to pass a barrier. "The protesters broke through the police line."
Break into - to enter a building unlawfully. "Someone broke in and stole my TV!"
Break off - to break a piece from something. "He broke me off a bit of his sandwich."

Here's a test to check your understanding.

Do you know any more break phrasal verbs?

• 1. She ___ with her boyfriend last week so I'm going to go and take her some ice cream.
  
  Broke in
  Broke up
  Broke out of
  
  
• 2. I've locked myself out! But I can't ___ my own house!
  
  Break down
  Break up
  Break into
  
  
• 3. I get so nervous when I talk in public that my skin ___ hives.
  
  Breaks out in
  Breaks through
  Breaks down
  
  
• 4. He was driving the car so fast that he ___ the barrier of the car park. He just wasn't paying attention.
  
  Broke through
  Broke up
  Broke out of
  
  
• 5. Please can you ___ a square of chocolate for me?
  
  Break into
  Break out
  Break off
  
  
• 6. They ___ prison by digging a tunnel out of the cell.
  
  Broke out of
  Broke into
  Broke up