Phrasal verb with fall: Common meanings, example sentences and how to use them correctly

A phrasal verb with fall combines fall with a particle such as apart, behind, out or through, and many of these phrases describe more than physical falling. Fall apart can describe a broken object or a failed plan, fall for can mean to fall in love or to be tricked, and fall through means that an arrangement did not happen. Because the particle changes the meaning, learners benefit from studying each phrase with an example.

This article explains the common phrasal verbs with fall, their meanings and example sentences, the grammar rules for forms and objects, the difference between similar verbs such as fall over and fall off, and common mistakes, followed by exercises with answers.

What phrasal verb with fall are and how the particle changes the meaning

The basic meaning of fall when it is used on its own

On its own, fall means to move downward, usually without control, as in Leaves fall in autumn. It also describes decreases (Prices fell) and changes of state (She fell asleep).

How a phrasal verb with fall is formed

A phrasal verb with fall is made of fall plus a particle. The particle may keep part of the idea of falling, but many phrases have a figurative meaning.

Examples: fall + apart = break into pieces or fail. fall + out = argue. fall + through = fail to happen.

The forms of fall: Fell and fallen in sentences

Fall is an irregular verb: fall, fell, fallen. Use fell for the simple past and fallen with have or be.

Examples: Their plans fell through. The deal has fallen through. Do not write “falled” or “has fell.”

Common phrasal verb with fall: A quick reference table

Fall apart: Breaking, failing and losing control

Fall apart meaning to break into pieces

Examples: The old sofa started to fall apart. The book fell apart in my hands.

Fall apart meaning to fail or collapse

Examples: The negotiations fell apart after a week. Their marriage fell apart.

Fall apart meaning to lose emotional control

Example: He fell apart when he heard the bad news. This use is informal and describes strong emotional distress.

Fall behind, fall back on and fall away: Keeping pace, relying on others and decreasing

Fall behind: Failing to keep pace with others

Fall behind describes a person who is slower than others or who is late with work or payments. In British English, fall behind with is common, and in American English, fall behind on is also used.

Examples: She fell behind her classmates after a long illness. We fell behind with the rent.

Fall back on: Relying on something when other options fail

Fall back on is a three-part phrasal verb. The thing you rely on follows on.

Examples: If the job doesn’t work out, you can fall back on your savings. He had no plan to fall back on.

Fall away: Decreasing or disappearing gradually

Examples: Their support fell away as the project grew more difficult. Her fear gradually fell away.

Fall for, fall out and fall through: Feelings, arguments and plans

Fall for: Falling in love or being tricked

Fall for has two common meanings. The first is informal and means to start loving someone, and the second means to believe something false.

Examples: He fell for his best friend’s sister. Don’t fall for that old trick.

Fall out: Arguing, or something detaching

Examples: The two brothers fell out over money. A tooth fell out. Her earring fell out. In the first meaning, you can also use the noun falling-out: They had a falling-out last year.

Fall through: Failing to happen as planned or arranged

Examples: The sale fell through at the last minute. Our plans fell through because of the weather.

Fall down, fall over and fall off compared: Which phrasal verb to choose

These three phrasal verbs are often confused when they describe a physical fall.

Fall down and fall over are often similar in meaning, but fall down can also describe buildings or structures that collapse, and fall over is common for people and objects that lose balance. Use fall off when you mention what the person or object dropped from.

Fall into and fall on: Starting habits and taking responsibility

Fall into: Starting a habit, a state or a category

Examples: After a few weeks, we fell into a routine. The plants fall into three groups.

Fall on: Becoming someone’s responsibility or matching a date

Example: The cost of repairs fell on the owner. Fall on is also used with dates, as in Christmas falls on a Friday this year.

Grammar notes: Objects, particles and prepositions with phrasal verb with fall

Phrasal verbs with fall are normally not separable in everyday use

Common phrasal verbs with fall are either intransitive, so there is no object (fall apart, fall down, fall out, fall through), or they work like a verb with a preposition and a following noun (fall for him, fall behind her, fall back on savings). For this reason, you cannot put an object between fall and the particle.

Examples: She fell for him. (not “She fell him for.”) They fell back on their savings. (not “They fell their savings back on.”)

Prepositions that often follow the particle

• fall out with a person: He fell out with his boss.
• fall out over a subject: They fell out over money.
• fall behind with or on a task or payment: She fell behind with her work.
• fall for a person or a trick: He fell for her.

Common mistakes with phrasal verb with fall and how to fix them

• Using the wrong past form. Writing The plan falled through or The plan has fell through instead of The plan fell through and The plan has fallen through.
• Using fall down for a decrease. Writing Prices fell down sharply instead of Prices fell sharply.
• Choosing the wrong particle for an argument. Writing He fell off with his brother instead of He fell out with his brother.
• Using fall down for an arrangement that fails. Writing The deal fell down instead of The deal fell through.
• Adding an unnecessary preposition. Writing She fell behind of her classmates instead of She fell behind her classmates.
• Trying to separate an inseparable verb. Writing She fell him for instead of She fell for him.

Exercises with phrasal verb with fall and answers

Exercise 1: Complete each sentence with the correct phrasal verb with fall

Use: fall apart, fall behind, fall through, fall for, fall out, fall back on, fall over. Change the form where necessary.

1. Their plans for a holiday ______ because of the strike.
2. She ______ in the class after missing two weeks of lessons.
3. He ______ the scammer’s story and lost his savings.
4. The two friends ______ over money and have not spoken since.
5. If this job does not work out, you can always ______ your savings.
6. The old shed started to ______ in the storm.
7. The toddler tried to run, but he ______ and cried.

Sample answers: 1. fell through – 2. fell behind – 3. fell for – 4. fell out – 5. fall back on – 6. fall apart – 7. fell over

Exercise 2: Choose the correct phrasal verb

1. He lost his balance and ______ the ladder. (fell off / fell over)
2. The child tripped on a toy and ______. (fell over / fell through)
3. Sales have ______ in the last quarter. (fallen off / fallen over)

Sample answers: 1. fell off – 2. fell over – 3. fallen off

Exercise 3: Find and correct the error in each sentence

1. The deal fell down last week. → correct to The deal fell through last week.
2. They falled out over the money. → correct to They fell out over the money.
3. She has fell behind with her homework. → correct to She has fallen behind with her homework.
4. He fell off with his brother. → correct to He fell out with his brother.
5. Prices fell down sharply. → correct to Prices fell sharply.

Tips for learning phrasal verb with fall

• Learn the meanings in groups. Study fall out, fall through and fall apart together, because all three can describe things that go wrong.
• Practice the irregular forms. Say fall, fell, fallen together until the forms feel natural.
• Learn the prepositions that follow. Remember fall out with a person and fall back on something.
• Compare similar verbs. Write one sentence each for fall down, fall over and fall off.
• Use your own examples. A real situation from your own life makes each phrasal verb easier to remember.

A phrasal verb with fall can describe physical falling, failing plans, arguments, falling in love, being tricked, keeping pace and relying on something else. The particle decides the meaning, so learn each phrase with an example and remember the irregular forms fell and fallen. Because phrasal verbs with fall are normally not separable, keep the verb and particle together and place any object after them.

See also: Phrasal verbs with hold: Common meanings, example sentences and how to use them correctly

Frequently asked questions about phrasal verb with fall

What does fall for mean in everyday English?

Fall for has two common meanings. It can mean to fall in love with someone, as in “He fell for her immediately,” or to be tricked by something, as in “I fell for the trick.”

What is the difference between fall out and fall through?

Fall out means to argue with someone, or for something to drop from its place, as in “They fell out over money.” Fall through means that a plan or arrangement did not happen, as in “Our holiday plans fell through.”

Can I separate a phrasal verb with fall?

Usually not. Phrasal verbs with fall are usually intransitive, like fall apart, or they take an object after the particle, like fall for him and fall back on savings. Keep the verb and particle together.

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