Fell or Fallen? Know the Difference Today!
Quick Answer
The past tense of fall is fell. With “have” or “has,” use fallen.
Every day: The leaves fall from the tree.
Yesterday: The leaves fell from the tree.
Many times: The leaves have fallen from the tree.
Fall, Fell, Fallen — See the Pattern
Read these sentences. Look at how the verb changes:
- She falls asleep on the sofa every night. (now — every day)
- She fell asleep on the sofa last night. (past — it is finished)
- She has fallen asleep on the sofa again. (past with “has”)
Did you see the pattern? There are three forms:
| When? | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Now / every day | fall | I fall asleep quickly. |
| In the past | fell | I fell asleep quickly. |
| With have / has / had | fallen | I have fallen asleep twice today. |
When to Use Fell and When to Use Fallen
This is the part that confuses many learners. Here is the simple rule:
Use “fell” when you talk about the past — something that is finished:
- He fell off his bike yesterday.
- The temperature fell last night.
Use “fallen” when there is a helping word before it — have, has, or had:
- He has fallen off his bike many times.
- The temperature has fallen a lot this week.
- They had fallen behind in the race before they gave up.
Easy way to remember: If you see have, has, or had before it, use fallen. If not, use fell.
The Rule in One Line: have/has/had → fallen. No have → fell.
How to Use Fall in Everyday English
Here are examples you might use every day:
- The baby fell down but she did not cry. (past — it is finished)
- I fell asleep during the film. (past — it is finished)
- The price of food has fallen this month. (with “has” — use fallen)
- Snow has fallen all night. (with “has” — use fallen)
- They fell in love in Paris. (past — no “have”)
You are doing great. Now let’s look at the mistakes many learners make.
Three Mistakes to Avoid With Fall
These are the most common mistakes with “fall.” Even native speakers’ children make this mistake when they are learning to talk — so if you get confused, you are not alone.
Mistake 1: Saying “falled”
✗ He falled down the stairs.
✓ He fell down the stairs.
Mistake 2: Using “fell” with have/has/had
✗ The tree has fell in the storm.
✓ The tree has fallen in the storm.
Mistake 3: Using “fallen” without have/has/had
✗ She fallen asleep on the sofa.
✓ She fell asleep on the sofa.
How to remember: “Fell” stands on its own. “Fallen” always needs a friend — have, has, or had. Other verbs work the same way: break, broke, broken and take, took, taken.
Test Yourself: Fell or Fallen?
Choose the correct answer for each sentence. Click Check to see if you are right.
1. She _______ asleep during the lesson yesterday.
2. The snow has _______ all night long.
3. He _______ off his skateboard last weekend.
4. Many trees have _______ in the strong wind.
5. The price of petrol _______ last month.
Keep Going — You Are Building Something
You just learned fall, fell, fallen. That is one more irregular verb you will never get wrong again.
But English has many verbs like this. Did you know that break follows the same pattern? Break, broke, broken — the third form always needs a helping word, just like “fallen.” Do you know when to use broke and when to use broken?
Next lesson: Broke or Broken — Which One is Correct?
Source
fall (v.) — Online Etymology Dictionary
My name is Khamis Maiouf. I am the creator of the English Teacher Site, dedicated to providing valuable resources and insights for students around the world. With a passion for education and a commitment to helping students enhance their skills, I aim to make English teaching more effective and enjoyable for both educators and students.
