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Prepositions after adjectives

Broken with particles and prepositions

Broken commonly appears with particles such as down and up, or with prepositions such as into. The meaning changes with each pattern.

Quick answer

How do we use broken with down, up, of, and into?

Broken down usually means not working or emotionally exhausted. Broken up means separated into parts or ended. Broken into refers to entering by force or dividing something. Broken in can describe training shoes or forced entry. Broken of appears in expressions like broken of a habit.

My car has broken down again.
The crowd was broken up by police.
The house was broken into last night.
These boots are finally broken in.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
broken down

Not functioning or exhausted

Broken down is common for machines, vehicles, and emotional collapse.

The washing machine is broken down.
2
broken up

Separated into parts or ended

Broken up can describe relationships, groups, or divisions.

The meeting was broken up into smaller sessions.
3
broken into + place/parts

Entering by force or dividing

Into introduces the place entered or the parts created.

Their office was broken into over the weekend.
4
broken in

Made comfortable through use

Broken in often describes shoes, equipment, or animals trained through use.

The leather gloves are well broken in now.
5
broken of + habit

Freed from a habit

Of appears in expressions about stopping a habit or behaviour.

He was finally broken of the habit of smoking indoors.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
broken down
Our bus broke down on the motorway.
Stopped working or collapsed emotionally.
broken in
These shoes are broken in now.
Softened or trained through use.
broken up
The old company was broken up.
Separated into pieces or ended.
broken of
The dog was broken of jumping on guests.
Freed from a behaviour or habit.
broken into
The warehouse was broken into.
Entered illegally or divided into parts.

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Confusing broken down and broken up

Broken down is about failure or collapse; broken up is about separation.

✕ My laptop is broken up. ✓ My laptop is broken down.

Using into without an object

Broken into normally needs a place or parts.

✕ The shop was broken into by thieves. ✓ The shop was broken into last night.

Using broken in for machines

Broken in is about use or training, not malfunction.

✕ The printer is broken in. ✓ The printer is broken down.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. Our car has ___ again.
2. The apartment was ___ while we were away.
3. These hiking boots are finally ___.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between broken down and broken up?

Broken down means failed or collapsed. Broken up means separated or ended.

Can broken into mean divided?

Yes. Something can be broken into smaller parts or sections.

Is broken of still used?

Yes, but mainly in expressions about habits or behaviour.

bad, for, bad, of baffling to, for, in, as or of? bankrupt in, by, for, as or with? "barefoot in" or "barefoot on"? "bare of", "bare with" or "bare in"? "basic of" or "basic to"? beautiful in, with, on, for or to? beholden to, for or on? "beloved by", "beloved to" or "beloved of"? "bemused by" or "bemused at"? "beneficial to" or "beneficial for"? bereft of, at, by, in or without?

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