[Vocabulary] Lawnmower broke or broke down

[naweewra]

Hello,

Can we use "break down" to describe a situation where a lawnmower is not working? Or should it be just "break"?

Since my lawnmower [broke/broke down], I have had to pay someone to cut the grass.

Thank you.

Nawee

 

[englishlisteningworld]

for conversational English which is in some ways more relaxed, either sentence is ok.

Since my lawnmower broke, I have had to pay someone to cut the grass.

Since my lawnmower broke down, I have had to pay someone to cut the grass.

But the second is a bit more polished sounding.

Sincerely,
-Les

 

[Rover_KE]

I'd say 'My lawnmower broke' if part of it fell off, and 'My lawnmower broke down' if the electric motor stopped working.

Rover

 

[SoothingDave]

"Broke down" is for more complex machinery or systems. A lawnmower qualifies as such in my opinion. I would probably say "broke down" in this case, but "broke" is not wrong.