Meaning trap

break up

end a romantic relationship

When two people break up, they end their romantic relationship.

phrasal verbB1common

Don't mix these meanings

Same phrase, different job.

end a romantic relationship

When two people break up, they end their romantic relationship.

break up (separate into smaller pieces)

Another meaning of 'break up' is 'separate into smaller pieces'; compare the examples to keep the meanings separate.

Notice where the phrase sounds natural.

After dating for two years, they decided to break up.relationships
In my opinion, it's better to break up than to stay in an unhappy relationship.IELTS speaking

Pattern: break up (with someone)

WrongShe broke up her boyfriend last week.

RightShe broke up with her boyfriend last week.

You 'break up WITH' someone — don't drop 'with'.

Patternbreak up (with someone)

Choose the version that sounds natural in speech.

Stiff My partner and I have terminated our romantic relationship.

Natural My boyfriend and I broke up.

'Break up' is the everyday verb for a couple splitting; 'terminated our relationship' is bizarrely formal.

Words that usually travel with it.

Not the same as 'break down', which means to stop working or to become very emotional.

break up (separate into smaller pieces) — Another meaning of 'break up' is 'separate into smaller pieces'; compare the examples to keep the meanings separate.