Simple Past Tense: Fell
The word “fell” is the simple past tense of the verb “fall.” It is used to describe an action of falling in the past. For example, “He fell off his bike yesterday.” In this sentence, “fell” indicates that the person fell off their bike at a specific time in the past.
It is important to note that “fell” does not require any additional grammar or auxiliary verbs.
Perfect Tense with Auxiliary Verb: Fallen
On the other hand, “fallen” is used in the perfect tense when accompanied by an auxiliary verb, such as “have” or “had” before it. For instance, “She has fallen down the stairs twice this week.” Here, “fallen” describes an action that has taken place and continues to happen.
The use of the auxiliary verb “has” helps to indicate that the falling down the stairs occurred at some point before the present moment.
Continued Action: Fallen
As mentioned earlier, “fallen” is used to describe an action that has taken place and is ongoing. It conveys the idea that the falling has not ceased or concluded.
For example, “It has been raining since morning, and the temperature has fallen significantly.” In this sentence, the use of “fallen” suggests that the temperature continues to decrease as a result of the ongoing rain.
Action in the Past: Fell
While “fallen” emphasizes the ongoing nature of a past action, “fell” specifically denotes an action of falling in the past without any sense of continuity. It is used to describe a one-time event that occurred and concluded.
For instance, “She fell down the stairs and broke her arm.” In this case, “fell” indicates that the person fell down the stairs once and as a result, broke their arm.
Alternative Meanings of Fell
Apart from being the simple past tense of “fall,” the word “fell” has multiple alternative meanings. Firstly, it can refer to the act of chopping down a tree.
For example, “He fell the tree with a single swing of his axe.” Additionally, “fell” can be used as an adjective to describe someone of a strong and cruel nature. For instance, “The dictator ruled with a fell hand, suppressing any opposition.” Furthermore, “fell” can be used as an adverb to mean sharply or fiercely.
For example, “The rain fell incessantly, drenching everything in its path.”
Fallen as a Noun
In certain contexts, the word “fallen” can also be used as a noun. It can refer to the casualties or deaths resulting from a battle or war.
For example, “The memorial honors the fallen of World War II.” In this case, “fallen” is used to honor the soldiers who lost their lives in the war.
Fell as a Noun
In addition to its verb form and alternative meanings, “fell” can also function as a noun. Firstly, it can refer to a specific portion of a kilt, where the pleats are stitched down.
Secondly, “fell” can indicate an animal skin with the fur intact. Lastly, “fell” can describe a rocky ridge or chain of mountains.
For example, “They hiked through the rugged fells of the Scottish Highlands.”
Fell as an Adverb
Lastly, “fell” can be used as an adverb to mean sharply or fiercely. This usage is less common, but it can be found in certain contexts.
For example, “The wind blew fell and sent hats flying in every direction.”
In conclusion, the words “fell” and “fallen” have distinct grammatical uses that convey different aspects of falling in the past. While “fell” is the simple past tense, “fallen” is used in the perfect tense with auxiliary verbs.
“Fallen” can also denote a continued action, whereas “fell” describes an action in the past without continuity. Both words have alternative meanings and can be used as nouns in specific contexts.
By understanding the nuances of these terms, we can better comprehend and express actions related to falling.
