Which sentence uses 'come across' correctly?

I came across an old photo while cleaning the attic

I came across the street to meet you

I came across an old photo while cleaning the attic

The bridge came across the river

Which sentence uses 'come across' correctly?

She comes across as very confident in interviews

He came across the finish line first

Which sentence uses 'come by' correctly?

Good jobs are hard to come by these days

The bus will come by this route

Good jobs are hard to come by these days

I come by the office every morning at 8

Which sentence uses 'come by' correctly?

Can you come by my house later for coffee?

The train came by the station too fast

She comes by the grocery store home

Which sentence uses 'come out' correctly?

The new iPhone will come out next month

I need to come out from the house now

The new iPhone will come out next month

Which sentence uses 'come out' correctly?

The truth finally came out after the investigation

The students came out to the classroom

Break Up: Definition, Usage, and History

“In life, relationships break up to unveil new paths, teaching us resilience and enriching our journey with both scars and wisdom.”

📖 Definition

The phrasal verb ‘break up’ means to come to an end or to separate into parts or groups, often used to describe relationships or gatherings.

📝 Grammar Info

Separable

Yes

You can separate it: 'break up the meeting'.

Neutral

Used across formal and informal contexts.

Transitive

Yes

It requires an object: 'break up the team'.

📊 Conjugation Table

Tense	Form	Example
Present Simple	break up	They break up the fight quickly.
Past Simple	broke up	The band broke up after the tour.
Present Continuous	breaking up	She is breaking up with her partner.
Present Perfect	have broken up	They have broken up several times before.

💡 When to Use

Ending relationships

Use when discussing the end of romantic relationships or friendships, indicating separation or division.

Example: “They decided to break up after four years together.”

Disbanding groups

Use when a group or organization ends its activities or existence, often due to internal disagreements.

Example: “The committee decided to break up after completing its mission.”

Interrupting events

Use when a gathering or meeting is intentionally stopped or separated into smaller parts.

Example: “The police had to break up the large crowd.”

⚠️ Common Mistakes

Incorrect tense

❌ Wrong: They breaked up last year.

✅ Correct: They broke up last year.

💡 Tip: Remember: The past of 'break' is 'broke'.

Wrong object use

❌ Wrong: We will break up the dinner.

✅ Correct: We will break up the gathering.

💡 Tip: Use objects that align with ending or disrupting.

Misplacing particles

❌ Wrong: Break up her the call.

✅ Correct: Break the call up.

💡 Tip: Maintaining correct word order is crucial in separable phrasal verbs.

Practice

BREAK UP – IN PRACTICE

Study Method Proposal

Listen and repeat the audio as many times as needed to improve your pronunciation
Use the audio as a dictation exercise, trying to write what you hear and understand
Create a new sentence following the structure of the example sentences

Examples in Context

1
Listen to example

They broke up the partnership after determining their goals no longer aligned.
How National Parks Came to Be
2
Listen to example

The teacher had to break up the kids during recess when they started arguing.
How to Become a Hiker
3
Listen to example

During the concert, security needed to break up several unruly groups.
Bringing Animals Back to Life

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

disband split

Antonyms

unite

Quick Check

Complete the sentence with the correct phrasal verb:

“The club decided to ___ up after losing its funding.”

brake

break up

breakout

breakdown

❓ Frequently Asked Questions about Break Up

What is the origin of break up?

The phrasal verb 'break up' originates from maritime language, where it described a ship disintegrating due to damage, gradually evolving into broader use.

Can break up be used in formal and informal contexts?

Yes, 'break up' can be used in both contexts. In formal settings, it might describe diplomatic or organizational separations, while informally, it deals with relationships.

What is the difference between break up and disband?

'Break up' is often used for romantic relationships and social gatherings, while 'disband' is more related to formally ending organized groups.

Browse All National Parks Phrasal Verbs

About the Author

Alessandra Nóbrega

History teacher who fell in love with English! This passion led me to specialize in languages and work on bilingual education projects. With 37 years in education, I believe learning should be meaningful – not just memorization.

Learn more about my journey