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Thread: to topple (over)

  1. #1
    dilodi83 is offline Senior Member
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    Default to topple (over)

    I cannot understant the exact meaning of the verb TO TOPPLE.
    Does it mean TO FALL? TO KNOCK OVER? TO TRIP (OVER)?

    For example:
    1) I avoided toppling over.
    2) I toppled over a vase full of water.
    3) They toppled over the statue of the President.
    4) The building was toppled over last month.
    5) I toppled over my bike.

    Could you help me with this verb?

  2. #2
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    bhaisahab is offline Moderator
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    Default Re: to topple (over)

    Quote Originally Posted by dilodi83 View Post
    I cannot understant the exact meaning of the verb TO TOPPLE.
    Does it mean TO FALL? TO KNOCK OVER? TO TRIP (OVER)?

    For example:
    1) I avoided toppling over.
    2) I toppled over a vase full of water.
    3) They toppled over the statue of the President.
    4) The building was toppled over last month.
    5) I toppled over my bike.

    Could you help me with this verb?
    It could mean all three depending on context.
    dilodi83 and 5jj like this.

  3. #3
    dilodi83 is offline Senior Member
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    Threadstarter / Original Poster

    Default Re: to topple (over)

    Quote Originally Posted by bhaisahab View Post
    It could mean all three depending on context.
    what about the five sentences I have written?

  4. #4
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    5jj
    5jj is online now Moderator
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    Default Re: to topple (over)

    Quote Originally Posted by dilodi83 View Post
    what about the five sentences I have written?
    What do you think it means in each?
    bhaisahab likes this.

  5. #5
    dilodi83 is offline Senior Member
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    Threadstarter / Original Poster

    Default Re: to topple (over)

    1) I avoided toppling over.
    2) I toppled over a vase full of water.
    3) They toppled over the statue of the President.
    4) The building was toppled over last month.
    5) I toppled over my bike.

    Well:
    1) to avoid falling off something or tripping over somenthing
    2) to knock over a vace
    3) to tear down, to pull down, to knock down...
    4) to demolish, to destroy, to pull down
    5) to fall off, to trip over something while I was cycling

    Are they correct? Did I write correct synonyms?

  6. #6
    dilodi83 is offline Senior Member
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    Threadstarter / Original Poster

    Default Re: to topple (over)

    1) I avoided toppling over.
    2) I toppled over a vase full of water.
    3) They toppled over the statue of the President.
    4) The building was toppled over last month.
    5) I toppled over my bike.

    Well:
    1) to avoid falling off something or tripping over somenthing
    2) to knock over a vace
    3) to tear down, to pull down, to knock down...
    4) to demolish, to destroy, to pull down
    5) to fall off, to trip over something while I was cycling

    Are they correct? Did I write correct synonyms?

  7. #7
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    Default Re: to topple (over)

    Only #2 is suspect.
    If you topple something, using it as a transitive verb, don't use "over."

    If it falls down by itself (or accidentally after someone joustled it) then it can topple over.

    I just brushed it with my elbow and it toppled over. I felt terrible.
    dilodi83 and bhaisahab like this.
    I'm not a teacher, but I write for a living. Please don't ask me about 2nd conditionals, but I'm a safe bet for what reads well in (American) English.

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