dilodi83
Senior Member
- Joined
- Aug 27, 2006
- Member Type
- Interested in Language
- Native Language
- Italian
- Home Country
- Italy
- Current Location
- Italy
I'm trying to understant the difference between "to fall down" and "to fall over" and I came across two definitions, the following ones:
to fall down: when people or things fall to the ground from a higher position, they fall down.
Es. I slipped on the ice on the sidewalk and fell down.
Es. All the dishes on that shelf will fall down if there's another earthquake.
to fall over: when people or things fall over, they fall to the ground from an upright position.
Es. That tree has been dead for 30 years but it still hasn't fallen over.
Es. I almost fell over when I heard the terrible news.
According to you, aren't these definitions very similar in their meaning? It boils down to the fact that in the first we have the adjective "higher" and in the latter "upright".
How can I understant to use these two verbs correctly? Do they have the same use in AE and in BE?
to fall down: when people or things fall to the ground from a higher position, they fall down.
Es. I slipped on the ice on the sidewalk and fell down.
Es. All the dishes on that shelf will fall down if there's another earthquake.
to fall over: when people or things fall over, they fall to the ground from an upright position.
Es. That tree has been dead for 30 years but it still hasn't fallen over.
Es. I almost fell over when I heard the terrible news.
According to you, aren't these definitions very similar in their meaning? It boils down to the fact that in the first we have the adjective "higher" and in the latter "upright".
How can I understant to use these two verbs correctly? Do they have the same use in AE and in BE?