to knock down - to run over - to hit

[dilodi83]

- An elderly man was knocked down by a drunken driver.
- An elderly man was run over by a drunken driver.
- An elderly man was hit by a drunken driver.

- She hit the kid because she was distracted.
- She ran over the kid because she was distracted.
- She knocked down a kid because she was distracted.

Are they all possible? Do they mean the same thing? Can I use them in the same context?

[Rover_KE]

- An elderly man was knocked down by a drunken driver.
- An elderly man was run over by a drunken driver.
- An elderly man was hit by a drunken driver.

1 and 3 mean the same. 2 means that the vehicle's wheels passed over part of the man's body.

- She hit the kid because she was distracted.
- She ran over the kid because she was distracted.
- She knocked down a kid because she was distracted.

It's not crystal clear whether she was driving at the time.

If she was then my previous remark applies.

Rover

[TheParser]

NOT A TEACHER


Teacher Rover has given us an excellent answer.

Just a gentle reminder that if you are writing for Americans, you may wish to

say "drunk driver." (Also, here in the States the crime is called "drunk driving."

I always chuckle when I read British online newspapers that refer to "drink driving.")