Overturn/ turn over/upset/topple/knock over?

[sambistapt]

Hello amigos!

I laid a vase on the table and it´s smashed to pieces on the floor, Who overturned it/ turned it over/ topple it/ knock it over/upset it?

I´ve got two queries about this case, Which one suits better in the case? and , When I cause something to rotate 180° or 360°, Must I use different verbs?

Thanks in advance,

Sam

[proof.beh]

Originally Posted by sambistapt

Hello amigos!

I laid a vase on the table and it´s smashed to pieces on the floor, Who overturned it/ turned it over/ topple it/ knock it over/upset it?

I´ve got two queries about this case, Which one suits better in the case? and , When I cause something to rotate 180° or 360°, Must I use different verbs?

Thanks in advance,

Sam

turned it over: Rotating 180° and the thing is smashed up! = knocked it over
Overturned it: Rotating 90° and the thing is smashed up! = upset
toppled it: Both rotations can be figured up when saying that and the thing is smashed up!

But the suitable one is 'turned it over' as an imperative action by someone who did it!

Not a teacher!

Cheers,
P

[Neillythere]

As a Brit and mentor, but not a teacher, I would advise as follows:

I laid a vase on the table and it´s smashed to pieces on the floor.
Who knocked it over?
This suggests to me that someone accidentally knocked it over.

To me:
"Who overturned it/ turned it over?"
suggests they intentionally turned it over, as in "Who shut the door?".

"Who toppled it?"
similarly suggests that someone deliberately pushed it over

"Who upset it?"
suggests that is still on the table, but on its side and all the water is spilt.

Hope this helps