We can usefallas 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 isfelland its-edform isfallen. Falldoes not need an object:
Mrs McGrath had a terriblefallyesterday. She’s in hospital now.(noun)
Four treesfellin the storm.(verb)
Oil prices havefallenrecently.
Fall downis a phrasal verb. We use it when something falls to the ground from its normal position:
The picture keepsfalling down.(from the wall to the ground)
He slipped andfell down.
We usefall, notfall down, when trees drop their leaves during the autumn:
As autumn came and the leavesfellfrom the trees, she began to feel sad.
Not: …the leaves fell down…
We can’t usefall downto mean ‘come down from a higher position’:
House prices havefallena lot this year.
Not:House prices have fallen down a lot…
See also:
Verbs
Fellorfelt?