Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[learner12]

Hello, teachers!!

(1) Something has gone wrong with the motorcycle.

(2) Something has broken up with the motorcycle.

(3) Something has been broken up with the motorcycle.

(4) Something has been dead with the motorcycle.

I know that (1) is right, how about (2), (3), and (4)? Can you say (2), (3), (4)?

Thank you in advance.

[pugachevV]

2) Something has broken up with the motorcycle.
You can't really say that.
You can say, Something has broken on the motorcycle

(3) Something has been broken up with the motorcycle.
If you "break something up" it means you break it into several pieces, so you could have a situation where you break something up with a motorcycle. e.g. John broke up the store window with his motorcycle.

(4) Something has been dead with the motorcycle.

This doesn't work as it stands.
He has been killed by the motorcycle, obviously means something different than your original statement #1.

Something is dead on the motorcycle, can mean that a part of the motorcycle is not working. Usually, when we say dead, we mean an electrical part.

(It could also mean (literally) that there is a dead creature on it.)

[learner12]

Dear pugachevV:

Thank you so much for expounding upon my e-mail.

Take care and have a nice day!!