broken(out of order) vs broken(into pieces)?

[keannu]

Maybe only context can tell either "out of order" or "broken into pieces", so when you hear the following, you may not know which one it is. What do you think?

ex)My cellphone is broken.
After this,
1)I have to have it fixed (out or order)
2)I was hurt by one of the pieces.(into pieces)

 

[CarloSsS]

NOT A TEACHER

If my cell was in pieces, I'd say that it is smashed. If it had, say a malfunctioning display, I'd say it's broken.

 

[keannu]

If you hear something is broken, does it always make you think it's malfunctioning?

 

[tzfujimino]

If you hear something is broken, does it always make you think it's malfunctioning?

Hi! :-D
Just saying "My cellphone is broken." is quite a vague way of describing the situation, as you say.
So...as CarloSsS suggests, we should choose the most suitable word(s) on every occasion or give further explanation (of 'how' it is broken : broken into pieces, broken apart, smashed, shattered...or you could even explain, "I think my cellphone is broken. It smells like fish.").:-D
I'm not a native speaker.(Please wait for some native speakers to respond.)

 

[Barb_D]

The VAST majority of the time, if you refer to a piece of equipment and say "it's broken," I will assume you mean is it malfunctioning or not working at all.

If you refer to something that doesn't "work" (like a vase, a dish, a pencil, a chair, etc.) and say "it's broken" I will assume you mean it came apart in some way.

We live in a real world. Things don't happen without some context. You will not suddenly appear next to me on the street, utter the phrase "it's broken" and leave me with no context to guess whether you mean "non-functioning" or "in pieces."

Use your knowledge of the real world to draw likely conclusions.

 

[Winwin2011]

The VAST majority of the time, if you refer to a piece of equipment and say "it's broken," I will assume you mean is it malfunctioning or not working at all.

Can we use "broken down" to refer to the above?

Thanks a lot.

 

[Barb_D]

"Broken down" is for larger pieces of machinery. A car, for example.

 

[Winwin2011]

"Broken down" is for larger pieces of machinery. A car, for example.

Thanks a lot,Barb_D.

'Broken' can be defined 1: separated into parts or pieces by being hit, damaged, etc.
2: not workingproperly. Other than 'broken, can we use "out of order " to refer to malfunctioning or not working of a piece of smaller equipment such as flashlight or can opener?

Thanks again

 

[CarloSsS]

NOT A TEACHER

"Out of order" is used for non-working equipment in public places, such as elevators, restrooms or public phones. Thus you wouldn't use "out of order" for a flashlight or a can opener.

 

[Winwin2011]

Thanks a lot, CarloSsS.

"Broken" can be meant 1: separated into parts or pieces by being hit, damaged, etc. or 2: not working properly.

A: Do you have any flashlight?
B: The flashlight is broken. (I do not know whether it is in def. 1 separated into.... or def 2. not working properly.

Thanks

 

[tzfujimino]

"Broken" can be meant 1: separated into parts or pieces by being hit, damaged, etc. or 2: not working properly.

A: Do you have any flashlight?
B: The flashlight is broken. (I do not whether it is in def. 1 separated into.... or def 2. not working properly.

Thanks

Hi, Winwin.:-D

In this case, I guess we should "use our knowledge of the real world to draw likely conclusions, " as Barb said.
:-D

 

[emsr2d2]

A: Do you have any flashlight? This is incorrect. See below.

You can use either:

Do you have a flashlight?
Do you have any flashlights?