A reader asked this question:

I have a question about the usage of "break". What is the difference of "The TV set is broken." and "The TV set broke." I've been unclear on that for a long time.

"The TV set is broken" is a statement about the situation of the TV right now. It doesn't work.

"The TV set broke" is about something that happened in the past. It used to work, but the it "broke" and stopeed working.

There are many situations in which you can use either one. For example, if you have a TV that's broken now, you can tell someone "It's broken" or "It broke." 

But there are other situations in which you can only use one. For example:

• if you buy a new TV and it doesn't work when you buy it, you can say "It's broken." But you don't know when it stopped working; maybe it never worked since it was made. So you wouldn't say "It broke."
• If your TV broke but then you fixed it, you can say "It broke" but not "It's broken."

People often ask me what variety of English they should learn. Here's my honest answer:

It doesn't matter.

Here's why:

Accents are hard to change.

It's really, really hard to pick up a native-sounding accent if you learn English as an adult. Children pick up accents very quickly, but adults don't. Even after speaking English every day for twenty or thirty years, you'll probably keep a bit of a foreign accent.

I've met many English learners who've lived abroad for several years in an English-speaking country. For the most part, I can't tell what country they've lived in unless they tell me.

Since it's so hard to learn an accent,

English speakers are used to different accents.

Even if you are able to gain an American or British accent, it won't make much difference. That's because English speakers are used to hearing a variety of different accents. Americans hear British accents on TV and movies, and vice versa. And we all hear accents from other countries: Russian accents, Korean accents, French accents, and so on.

If your accent matches the people around you, you'll fit in with them. If it doesn't, people will think that you sound interesting and exotic. Generally, British people like the way that Americans sound, and Americans like the way that British people sound. So you're OK either way.

Grammar is

Go with what's easiest

Just pick whatever language is most convenient for you. If you like the PhraseMix method of teaching, you should probably learn American English. If you have British friends or coworkers, maybe it's better to learn British English.

It's probably easiest to stick with just one variety. However, there's nothing wrong with mixing a bit of British and American English together. It won't hurt you!

A lot of English learners have trouble knowing when to use a simple verb ("it works") and when to use a progressive verb ("it's working"). For example, one PhraseMix reader asked, "Is there any difference between 'it's not working' and 'it doesn't work'?"

It's not working

If something "is not working", it's broken or ineffective right now. But that might be a temporary situation. Use this in a situation like one of the following:

• Your fitness instructor gave you a suggestion for your diet, but you haven't lost any weight in the last month.
• You're trying to start a fire while camping. The wood is wet, so it's not lighting up. After trying it for 15 minutes, you say "It's not working."

It doesn't work

"It doesn't work" means that something is permanently broken, or is never effective. Here are some example situations:

• Your television is broken. A friend comes to visit and tries to turn it on. You tell her "It doesn't work."
• Your friend is looking for a job. He hasn't been able to find one, so he says that he's going to pay an agency to find a job for him. You've heard that this isn't a good way to find a job, so you say "That doesn't work."

If you're completely sure that something is completely broken, say "It doesn't work." If you're unsure and think that you might have made a mistake,say "It's not working."