 Re: simple past - past perfect continuous interrogativedifferences
The only correct form possible is hit, as it is an irregular verb and its three principal parts are all the same: hit-hit-hit.
As for 'broke' referring to a car, although some people say it, I think it would be (more) correct to say 'broken'. As far as I know, only people can be broke (= without any money).
In the sentence "My car is still broke(n)...", the use of still distances the recentness of the event, so I believe there should follow a past tense: "...because I hit it badly"; hitting the car is no news any more.
And yes, Americans do tend to use the past tense more often in cases where the British would normally use a present perfect. |