Find the part of the sentence that contains an error:
She broke down (1) / the complicated topic down (2) / in simple terms (3) / for the students(4).
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
Explanation
Correct Answer
the complicated topic down (2)
Explanation
The error is in part (2) because the phrasal verb “broke down” already includes the idea of separation or simplification, so using “down” again after “topic” is incorrect and redundant.
The correct sentence should be:
“She broke the complicated topic down in simple terms for the students.”
Key Points
Error: Redundant use of “down” in the object phrase
Correct structure: break down + object
Correct usage: broke the complicated topic down