When it comes to the past tense of the verb “fall,” many non-native English speakers may find themselves confused between “fallen” and “falled.” This confusion is understandable since the English language is replete with irregular verbs and exceptions, but fear not! I am here to shed light on the correct usage and explain why “fallen” is the right choice.
Firstly, let’s talk about the rules that govern regular verb conjugation in English. For the majority of verbs, including regular ones like “walk,” “talk,” or “play,” the past tense is formed by adding “-ed” to the base form. For example, “walk” becomes “walked,” “talk” becomes “talked,” and “play” becomes “played.” However, irregular verbs don’t always follow this pattern, and “fall” is one of them.
The past participle form of “fall,” which is used in conjunction with auxiliary verbs like “have” or “has,” is “fallen.” This means that “fallen” is the correct past tense form for sentences like “I have fallen,” “She has fallen,” or “They have fallen.”
Let’s see some examples to further illustrate this point:
Correct usage of “fallen”:
1. “After slipping on the icy road, John has fallen and hurt his knee.”
2. “She has fallen in love with her classmate.”
3. “The tree has fallen during the storm.”
Now, you might be wondering why “falled” is not the correct form. Well, the verb “fall” doesn’t follow the regular pattern of adding “-ed” to form its past tense. If we were to say “I falled,” it would sound quite strange to native English speakers, as they are accustomed to hearing “fallen” in this context.
To understand why “falled” is incorrect, let’s consider some more examples and compare them to the correct usage:
Incorrect usage of “falled”:
1. “I falled off my bike and scraped my knee.”
2. “They falled into the trap set by the enemy.”
3. “She falled asleep during the movie.”
Do you see how peculiar these sentences sound? They lack the natural flow and rhythm of English speech, making it clear that “falled” is not the proper past tense form for “fall.”
In conclusion, it is crucial to use the correct form of the verb “fall” to ensure effective communication in English. Remember, the past tense of “fall” is “fallen,” and while “falled” might seem tempting, it is incorrect. So the next time you chat with your English-speaking friends or prepare for your IELTS exam, confidently use the word “fallen,” and you will leave everyone impressed with your impeccable grammar skills!