| Kenneth G. Wilson (1923–). The Columbia Guide to Standard American English. 1993. |
| |
| broke, broken (adjs.) |
| |
| |
| Broke is past tense, broken, past participle of the verb break. Broken is Standard as participial adjective: She has a broken arm. In the sense “out of order,” broke as participial adjective is Substandard, Vulgar, and a shibboleth, as in My watch is broke. Broke as participial adjective meaning “without funds,” however, is Standard Conversational language, and it occurs in some Semiformal Edited English as well: She was broke and hungry until her father’s check arrived. | 1 |
| |
| | | The Columbia Guide to Standard American English. Copyright © 1993 Columbia University Press. |
|
|
