Fall or fall down?
We can use fall as a noun or a verb. It means ‘suddenly go down onto the ground or towards the ground unintentionally or accidentally’. It can also mean ‘come down from a higher position’. As a verb, it is irregular. Its past form is fell and its -ed form is fallen. Fall does not need an object: Mrs McGrath had a terrible fall yesterday. She’s in hospital now. (noun)
Four trees fell in the storm. (verb)
Oil prices have fallen recently.
Fall down is a phrasal verb. We use it when something falls to the ground from its normal position: The picture keeps falling down. (from the wall to the ground)
He slipped and fell down.
Warning:
We use fall, not fall down, when trees drop their leaves during the autumn: As autumn came and the leaves fell from the trees, she began to feel sad.
Not: … the leaves fell down …
We can’t use fall down to mean ‘come down from a higher position’: House prices have fallen a lot this year.
Not: House prices have fallen down a lot …
See also:
Verbs
Fell or felt?
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