Feel vs. Fell

Attribute	Feel	Fell
Present tense	feel	fell
Past tense	felt	fell
Definition	to perceive or experience something	to drop down or descend
Usage	commonly used in expressing emotions or physical sensations	commonly used in describing a physical action or movement
Irregular verb	yes	yes

Definition

Feel and fell are two words that are often confused due to their similar spellings and pronunciations. However, they have very different meanings and uses in the English language.

Feel is a verb that refers to the act of experiencing a sensation or emotion. It can also mean to touch or handle something in order to perceive its qualities.

Fell, on the other hand, is a verb that means to cut down a tree or to knock someone or something down. It can also be used as an adjective to describe something that is cruel or fierce.

Usage

Feel is commonly used in everyday language to describe emotions or physical sensations. For example, "I feel happy today" or "I can feel the warmth of the sun on my skin."

Fell, on the other hand, is less commonly used in everyday language. It is often found in more formal or literary contexts. For example, "The lumberjack felled the tree with one swift stroke" or "He was felled by a sudden illness."

Conjugation

Feel is a regular verb, which means it follows the standard conjugation patterns in English. The past tense of feel is felt, and the past participle is also felt. For example, "Yesterday, I felt sad" or "I have never felt so alive."

Fell, on the other hand, is an irregular verb, which means it does not follow the standard conjugation patterns. The past tense of fell is fell, and the past participle is fallen. For example, "He fell from the tree" or "The empire has fallen."

Common Phrases

• Feel free: This phrase is used to give someone permission to do something without feeling obligated or pressured.
• Feel the love: This phrase is used to describe the sensation of being loved or appreciated by others.
• Fell swoop: This phrase is used to describe a sudden and decisive action that accomplishes something all at once.
• Fell on deaf ears: This phrase is used to describe when someone's words or actions are ignored or disregarded.

Etymology

The word feel has its origins in Old English, where it was spelled as "felan." It has evolved over time to its current form in Modern English.

The word fell also has its origins in Old English, where it was spelled as "fellan." It has retained its original spelling and meaning throughout the centuries.

Examples in Literature

Feel and fell are both commonly used in literature to convey different meanings and emotions. For example, in Shakespeare's play Macbeth, Lady Macbeth says, "I feel now the future in the instant." This line conveys her sense of foreboding and anticipation.

In J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, the character Gandalf says, "A fell voice is on the air." This line conveys a sense of danger and malevolence.

Conclusion

In conclusion, feel and fell are two words that may sound similar but have distinct meanings and uses in the English language. Feel is used to describe emotions and physical sensations, while fell is used to describe cutting down trees or knocking something down. Understanding the differences between these two words can help improve your writing and communication skills.