“My notebook computer was broken,” my student told me.
This is another problem rooted in direct translation. 壊れた is in past passive tense so Japanese assume that it must be the same in English, but it’s not.
“My laptop was broken” actually means the opposite. It was broken, but is okay now, that is no longer broken.
❌ Something was broken.
⭕️ Something is broken.
⭕️ Something broke.
⭕️ Something doesn’t work.
⭕️ Something is out of order.
こわれる 【壊れる】 〖破壊される〗【ばらばらになる】break*, be broken ; 【部分的に壊れる】be damaged ; 【完全に壊れる】be destroyed ; 【めちゃくちゃになる】be wrecked （⇨壊す）; 【ぼろぼろに崩れる】collapse, fall* apart ; 【機械などの調子が狂う】get* out of order ; 【故障する】break (down). ▸ 壊れたおもちゃ a broken toy.▸ 壊れ(やすい)物 （⇨壊れ物）▸ 花びんが床に落ちて壊れた The vase fell on the floor and broke (into [to] pieces). (!into [to] pieces では「粉々に」の意が出る) / The vase fell on the floor and smashed to pieces. (!前の言い方より強意的) ▸ 衝突で電車がめちゃめちゃに壊れたIn the collision the train was badly damaged [wascompletely wrecked]. (!後の方はまったく修理不可能なことを含意) ▸ この電話[コンピューター]は壊れている This telephone [PC] is out of order [is broken, doesn't work].▸ この洗濯機はまた壊れたThis washing machine has broken down again.▸ 縁談がこわれた The match [Their engagement] was broken (off).▸ 最後のところで商談がこわれた The deal collapsed [fell through] at the last moment.