It sounds like somebody falling downstairs.

[diamondcutter]

It sounds like somebody falling downstairs.

I wonder if I could rewrite this sentence as follows without changing its meaning.

It sounds like somebody is falling downstairs.

 

[emsr2d2]

Did you write the original sentence as well as the reworded one?

In BrE, it's more natural to say "someone falling down the stairs". The two sentences have different meanings. The first could be said if, for example, someone played you a recording of a sound and asked you to guess what it was. The second would be said at the same time as hearing an actual sound, in person.

Bob: Listen to this and guess what it is.
Helen: Hmm, I'm not sure but it sounds like someone falling down the stairs.

Bob: What the hell is that noise?
Helen: Oh my god. It sounds like someone is falling down the stairs. We'd better go and check.
Bob: I'll grab my phone in case we have to call an ambulance.

 

[GoesStation]

Note that emsr2d2 changed "downstairs" to down the stairs.

Downstairs: on a floor below the one we're on.

Down the stairs: on the stairs, in a downward direction.

 

[diamondcutter]

Thanks, Emsr2d2 and GoesStation.

View attachment 02 ?? 2_1.MP3_1.MP3
1. The sentence is from this recording, which goes with an English textbook for children named Kid’s Box 5, by CUP.

To my ears, the sentence sounds like that in #1.
What about you?

2. I read the definition of ‘downstairs’ in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary as follows.

down the stairs; on or to a floor of a house or building lower than the one you are on, especially the one at ground level
[url]https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/downstairs_1?q=downstairs[/URL]

From the definition, ‘downstairs’ can mean ‘down the stairs’, so I wonder if it’s still necessary to rewrite ‘downstairs’ in the original sentences in #1 as ‘down the stairs’.

 

[GoesStation]

1. The sentence is from this recording, which goes with an English textbook for children named Kid’s Box 5, by CUP.

To my ears, the sentence sounds like that in #1.
What about you?

I agree. I wouldn't say it that way.

2. I read the definition of ‘downstairs’ in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary as follows.

down the stairs; on or to a floor of a house or building lower than the one you are on, especially the one at ground level

From the definition, ‘downstairs’ can mean ‘down the stairs’, so I wonder if it’s still necessary to rewrite ‘downstairs’ in the original sentences in #1 as ‘down the stairs’.

The definition is poorly written. You can't generally replace downstairs with "down the stairs".