Tenses for the Verb - To break

Click on the timeline to see how this irregular verb changes with each tense

 

The Past

Past Continuous - You wouldn't really use this verb in this context. You could say "I was skiing down the slope, when I fell and broke my leg."

Past Simple - "I broke my leg on holiday."

Past Perfect Simple - "By the time the ambulance came I realised I had broken my leg."

Past Perfect Continuous - You wouldn't really use this verb in this context. You could say "I had only been skiing for 10 minutes, when I fell and broke my leg."

The Present

Present Continuous - You wouldn't really use this verb in this context. You could say "I am skiing, I'll try not to break a leg."

Present Simple - "I usually break something when I go skiing."

Present Perfect Simple - "I have broken both legs and my left arm since I took up skiing."

Present Perfect Continuous - You wouldn't really use this verb in this context. You could say "I have only been skiing for ten minutes and look what's happened!"

The Future

Future Continuous - You wouldn't really say "I am breaking something next week." You could say "I am skiing next week. I'll try not to break a leg."

Future Simple - "I'm afraid I'll break my leg if I go skiing again."

Future Perfect Simple - "I'm sure I will have broken my leg before the end of the holiday."

Future Perfect Continuous - You wouldn't really use this verb in this context. You could say "This time next week I'll have been skiing for two weeks, but I'll still try not to break a leg."

 

 

English Grammar