Phrasal verb: break down

 

  1. break down
    Intransitive
    Meaning: stop functioning
    Example: His car broke down on the way to California.

Jack Johnson is one of my favorite musicians.  Listen to his song, “Breakdown.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4O7ufx9D_s

     2. break down
         Intransitive
         Meaning: get upset (intransitive)
         Example: She broke down when she heard the terrible news.

     3. break something down
         Transitive, Separable
         Meaning: divide into smaller parts
         Example: The test is broken down into a speaking, listening and reading portion.   (This sentence is in passive voice).  The teacher broke down the test into three parts.

 

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