Learn English – the difference between ” fell over” and ” fell on” in nuance

grammar

There are two sentences below.

  1. I fell over the stone on my way over.
  2. I fell on the stone on my way over.

What is the difference between 'fell over' and 'fell on' in the two sentences?

Best Answer

The different is not a nuance. These are two different verbs.

  1. to fall (intransitive) - This is the verb with the most general meaning. It means that the subject descends under the action of gravity.

  2. to fall over (intransitive) - This indicates that the subject starts in a metastable state (e.g. standing up) and topples whilst in contact with the ground. It ends in a more stable state (e.g. lying on its side)

  3. to fall over (transitive) - This refers to a moving subject that collides with an object and topples as a result. The final positions of subject and object are undefined.

Note that to fall on is not a phrasal verb. It is an example of meaning 1. The subject falls and comes to rest on top of the object.

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