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In the phrase “I am broke” – why broke, but not broken?
Good time for your visiting italki, can I ask a question? In the phrase “I am broke” (meaning without money) – why broke, but not broken? Is a participleII from break is broke in British?
Jan 9, 2015 8:38 PM
Answers · 6
4
There's no real grammar rule - we simply say "I am broke" to mean we have no money.
If we say "I am broken" (and yes, we can say this), it has an entirely different meaning: emotionally ruined, and unable to function as a human being.
January 9, 2015
3
'broke' in this context is an adjective, not a participle
January 9, 2015
2
"not broken"means his spirit is still strong and he still has a desire to go on living...to "be broken" may mean he no longer cares about anything,maybe even life itself.
January 9, 2015
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