How to use “Broken – Broke”

Broken

“Broken” is an adjective that means “shattered” or “damaged.”

(An adjective describes a person, place, or thing.)

Examples:

• The toy is broken.
• He has a broken toy.
• The bone is broken.
• I have a broken bone.

Broke

“Broke” can be used in two ways:

1. “Broke” can be an adjective that means “without money.”

Examples:

• I lost my job. Now I am broke. (I do not have any money.)
• He cannot pay for dinner because he is broke. (He does not have any money.)
• The broke company lost their business. (The company does not have any money.)

2. “Broke” can be the past tense form of the verb “break.”

Examples:

• The toy broke yesterday.
• He broke a bone when he fell out of the tree last week.
• The cat broke the vase last night.

Review

To review, let’s use this sentence as an example:

“I break a mirror.”

“Break” is a verb.

The past tense form of “break” is “broke.”

“I broke a mirror yesterday.”

In this sentence, “broke” is a verb in the past tense.

I cannot say, “The mirror is broke.”

That is incorrect. “The mirror is broke” would mean that the mirror does not have any money!

I should say, “The mirror is broken.”

Remember, when “broke” is used as an adjective, it means you are penniless or without money.