broken a leg VS broken my leg

[hirashin]

Hello, native English speakers,
I need your help.

Which would be used?
a) I have broken my leg.
b) I have broken a leg.

If both are possible, is there a difference in meaning between them?

Thanks in advance.

Hirashin from Kyoto , Japan

 

[WonkoTheSane]

"I broke my leg" sounds more natural to my American ears, though grammatically less accurate.

I think a and b are virtually identical as long as one is speaking about oneself.

 

[letianchen]

Both make sense but I highly ever doubt people will say A. It sounds extremely weird when I say it out loud, both are acceptable usages though.

 

[hashy]

First one states you have broken your own leg. The second one not so much. It doesn't specify whether you broke your own leg or someone else's leg, it just states that you have broken a leg.

 

[Kronsell]

First one states you have broken your own leg. The second one not so much. It doesn't specify whether you broke your own leg or someone else's leg, it just states that you have broken a leg.

B could sound sinister, 'I have broken somebody elses leg'
On topic: I might say 'I have a broken leg'.

 

[hirashin]

Thanks for the help, Kronsell.

How about 'I've got a broken leg'?

Hirashin

 

[Kronsell]

I'd say that also. Not that I frequently break my legs.

 

[ledojaeger]

To echo WonkotheSane above, I would find myself saying 'I broke my leg'.
If you say, 'I've got a broken leg', then you must have a broken leg right now. But you could say 'I broke my leg' if it was 3 years ago or now.

 

[hirashin]

Thanks for your further help, Kronsell and ledojaeger.

If you say, 'I've got a broken leg', then you must have a broken leg right now. But you could say 'I broke my leg' if it was 3 years ago or now.

Kronsell, do you agree with this? There may be a little difference, I guess.