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A2 adverb, preposition, adjective, verb, noun #16 le plus courant 11 min de lecture

down

Top 16

Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces down en 30 secondes

Explication down in your Level:

At the A1 level, the word 'down' is primarily used to describe basic physical movement and direction. Students learn it as the opposite of 'up.' It is most commonly found in simple commands and descriptions of everyday actions. For example, 'Sit down' is one of the first phrases a beginner learns. It is also used to describe moving from a higher place to a lower one, such as 'walking down the stairs.' At this stage, the focus is on the literal, spatial meaning. Learners should practice using it with common verbs like 'go,' 'sit,' 'put,' and 'look.' It is a fundamental building block for describing the physical world around them. Understanding 'down' at this level involves recognizing it as a marker of vertical descent. Simple sentences like 'The book is down there' or 'Look down' are typical. The goal is to associate the sound and spelling of 'down' with the physical act of lowering or being in a lower position. Teachers often use gestures to reinforce this, pointing toward the floor. It is important for A1 learners to realize that 'down' doesn't always need a noun after it, unlike 'under.' You can just say 'Sit down,' but you cannot just say 'Sit under.' This distinction helps build a foundation for more complex grammar later on.

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At the A2 level, learners begin to see 'down' used in more varied contexts, particularly in basic phrasal verbs and to describe simple states. While the spatial meaning remains dominant, students are introduced to phrases like 'lie down,' 'write down,' and 'turn down' (the volume). They also start to understand 'down' as an adjective to describe something that is not working, such as 'The internet is down.' This level also introduces the use of 'down' to describe a path, like 'He is walking down the street.' A2 learners should be able to distinguish between 'down' as a direction and 'down' as a state. They might also encounter 'down' in the context of price or temperature, such as 'Prices are down.' The emotional use, 'feeling down,' might be introduced in the context of talking about feelings. At A2, the learner is moving from purely literal interpretations to seeing how 'down' adds specific meaning to verbs. It is a key word for giving and following directions. For example, 'Go down this road and turn left.' The learner's vocabulary is expanding to include these common collocations, making their speech sound more natural and less like a direct translation from their native language.

By the B1 level, students should be comfortable with 'down' in a wide range of phrasal verbs and idiomatic expressions. They understand that 'down' can change the meaning of a verb significantly. Phrases like 'break down' (a car stopping or an analysis), 'calm down,' 'cut down on' (reducing consumption), and 'settle down' become part of their active vocabulary. B1 learners also use 'down' to describe more complex emotional states and social situations. They might say, 'I'm down for that' to mean they agree to a plan, or 'Don't let him bring you down' to mean don't let him make you sad. The use of 'down' in professional or academic contexts also begins to appear, such as 'writing down' notes during a lecture or 'narrowing down' choices. At this level, the learner is expected to use 'down' more flexibly and accurately. They should understand the difference between 'down' and 'below' in more nuanced sentences. They also start to recognize 'down' as a verb, as in 'to down a drink.' The focus at B1 is on fluency and the ability to use 'down' in natural, conversational ways that go beyond simple physical movement. They are beginning to grasp the 'completeness' that 'down' can add to an action, such as 'cleaning down' a surface versus just 'cleaning' it.

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At the B2 level, the learner's use of 'down' becomes much more sophisticated, incorporating technical, metaphorical, and stylistic nuances. They are familiar with a vast array of phrasal verbs, including more obscure ones like 'back down,' 'climb down' (in an argument), and 'wear down.' B2 students can use 'down' to describe trends in data, such as 'The market is trending down,' and understand its use in specialized fields like technology ('server down') or sports ('first down'). They are also more aware of the register, knowing that 'downing a drink' is informal while 'descending' is formal. The B2 learner can use 'down' to add emphasis or specific shades of meaning to their writing and speaking. They understand idioms like 'down to earth,' 'down the drain,' and 'down to the wire.' Their understanding of 'down' as a preposition of path is also more refined, using it to describe movement through a space in a way that implies familiarity or a specific trajectory. At this stage, the learner should rarely make mistakes with 'down' and should be able to explain its various meanings to others. They are also beginning to appreciate how 'down' functions in different dialects of English, such as its use in British English to refer to rolling hills (the Downs).

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At the C1 level, 'down' is used with high precision and an awareness of its subtle impact on tone and meaning. The learner is adept at using 'down' in complex phrasal verbs that have multiple meanings, such as 'put down' (which can mean to write, to insult, to suppress, or to euthanize). They can navigate the metaphorical landscape of 'down' with ease, using it in phrases like 'downplay,' 'downsize,' and 'downfall.' C1 learners also understand the rhythmic and stylistic uses of 'down' in literature and rhetoric. They can use it to create specific effects, such as using 'down' as a prefix in 'downcast' or 'downright.' Their vocabulary includes advanced idioms like 'down in the mouth,' 'down and out,' and 'to the smallest detail' (down to the last detail). At this level, the learner is also sensitive to the use of 'down' in different regional varieties of English and can identify its use as a filler word in rapid, natural speech. They can use 'down' to express complex ideas about hierarchy, reduction, and completion. The C1 learner's mastery of 'down' allows them to speak and write with the nuance and flexibility of a highly educated native speaker, choosing the word for its specific connotations in any given context.

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By the C2 level, the learner has a complete, near-native command of 'down' in all its forms and functions. They can use it in the most obscure and idiomatic ways, such as 'down-and-dirty' or 'down-at-heel.' They are comfortable with the word's use in specialized jargon across various fields, from finance to physics. The C2 learner understands the historical and etymological roots of 'down' and how these have shaped its modern usage. They can use 'down' with a high degree of stylistic flair, employing it in creative writing to evoke specific moods or images. Their understanding extends to the most subtle differences in meaning, such as the distinction between 'down' as an intensifier and 'down' as a directional marker in identical-looking phrases. They can also use 'down' as a noun (e.g., 'the ups and downs of life') or a verb with total confidence. At C2, 'down' is no longer just a word; it is a versatile tool that the learner uses to navigate the complexities of English with absolute ease. They are aware of its use in puns, wordplay, and cultural references, and can use it to convey humor, irony, or gravitas. Their mastery is such that they can even invent new, understandable uses of the word based on its established patterns, much like a native speaker would.

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Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces

down en 30 secondes

Primarily indicates movement or position from a higher to a lower point, such as walking down stairs or putting something down.
Commonly used as an adjective to describe a person's sad emotional state or a technical system that is currently non-functional.
Functions as a key component in numerous phrasal verbs like 'break down,' 'calm down,' and 'write down,' often changing the verb's meaning.
Can act as a verb meaning to consume something quickly or to knock something down, and as a noun referring to low points.

The word down is one of the most versatile and frequently used terms in the English language, functioning as an adverb, preposition, adjective, verb, and even a noun. At its most fundamental level, it describes a movement or position from a higher point to a lower point. However, its utility extends far beyond simple physics. In everyday conversation, we use it to describe our emotional state, the status of technology, the consumption of food or drink, and even the recording of information. Understanding the word requires looking at the context in which it is placed, as it often acts as a building block for complex phrasal verbs that change the meaning of the primary action entirely.

Spatial and Directional Movement: This is the most common use, indicating a descent. Whether you are walking down a hill, putting an object down on a table, or looking down from a balcony, the core concept remains a transition from a superior to an inferior vertical position. It implies a gravitational pull or a deliberate choice to lower something.

Please put the heavy box down on the floor before you hurt your back.

Emotional and Psychological State: Metaphorically, 'down' is used to represent sadness, depression, or a lack of energy. When someone says they are 'feeling down,' they are comparing their low mood to a low physical position. This usage is deeply ingrained in the English-speaking psyche, linking height with happiness and depth with sorrow.

Functional and Technical Status: In the world of technology and infrastructure, 'down' indicates that a system, website, or machine is not functioning. If a server is 'down,' it is offline. This stems from the idea of a machine stopping its internal movement or 'falling' out of service.

The entire banking website went down for maintenance at midnight.

Beyond these, 'down' appears in countless phrasal verbs. To 'write down' something is to record it; to 'calm down' is to reduce excitement; to 'break down' can mean a car stopping or a person crying. It is also used in sports, particularly American football, to mark a specific unit of play. In geography, 'down' often refers to a southward direction (e.g., 'going down to Florida'). The word is so pervasive that it often functions as a 'filler' or intensifier in speech, adding a sense of completion to an action, such as 'cleaning down the counters' versus just 'cleaning' them.

He managed to down the entire glass of water in one gulp.

The boxer was down for the count after the third round.

She felt a bit down after receiving the news.

Using the word 'down' correctly requires an understanding of its grammatical role in a sentence. Because it can be so many different parts of speech, its position varies significantly. As an adverb, it typically follows a verb of motion. As a preposition, it precedes a noun or pronoun that indicates the path or location. As an adjective, it follows a linking verb like 'be' or 'feel.' As a verb, it takes a direct object. Mastering these patterns allows for more natural and fluid English communication.

Adverbial Usage: When 'down' is an adverb, it modifies the verb by showing direction. For example, 'Sit down' or 'The sun went down.' In these cases, it does not need a following noun. It tells us *where* the action is directed.

The temperature is going down as the storm approaches.

Prepositional Usage: As a preposition, 'down' links a noun to the rest of the sentence, usually indicating movement along a path. 'He ran down the street' or 'The water flowed down the pipe.' Here, 'the street' and 'the pipe' are the objects of the preposition.

Adjectival Usage: When describing a state, 'down' acts as an adjective. 'The computer is down' or 'I am feeling down.' It describes the subject's condition. Note that it usually appears after the verb, not before the noun (we rarely say 'a down computer').

Is the internet down again, or is it just my laptop?

One of the most complex areas is the use of 'down' in phrasal verbs. These are combinations like 'look down on' (to feel superior to), 'get down to' (to begin work), or 'put down' (to insult or to kill an animal humanely). In these instances, the meaning of 'down' is idiomatic. For example, 'breaking down' a complex topic means simplifying it, which has nothing to do with physical height. Learners should focus on these as single units of meaning rather than trying to analyze the word 'down' in isolation.

Let's get down to business and finish this report.

She had to turn down the job offer because the salary was too low.

The rain didn't let up; it just kept coming down in sheets.

In the real world, 'down' is ubiquitous. You will hear it in the office, in the kitchen, on the news, and in your favorite songs. Its meaning shifts based on the environment. In a professional setting, it often relates to data, systems, or specific tasks. In a social setting, it frequently relates to emotions or plans. In technical fields, it is a critical status indicator. Understanding these contextual nuances is key to sounding like a native speaker.

In the Workplace: Colleagues might ask you to 'jot down' some notes or 'drill down' into the details of a spreadsheet. If the company is struggling, you might hear talk of 'downsizing.' If you are ready to start a project, you might say, 'I'm down for that,' meaning you agree or are willing to participate.

We need to narrow down our options before the meeting ends.

In Technology and Media: News anchors report on the stock market being 'down' (meaning prices have fallen). Tech support will ask if the system is 'down' for everyone. In social media, you 'scroll down' to see more content. The word is synonymous with a decrease in value or a cessation of service.

In Sports and Physical Activity: In American football, a 'down' is a specific attempt to move the ball. In boxing, a fighter is 'down' if they are on the canvas. In general fitness, you might do 'sit-downs' or 'push-downs.' It always relates to the physical relationship with the ground.

The team is down by ten points with only two minutes left.

Musically, 'down' is a staple in lyrics, often used to convey heartbreak or a deep, soulful feeling (e.g., 'down in the dumps'). It is also used in rhythmic descriptions, like the 'downbeat' of a song. In travel, people often refer to going 'down' to a place that is south of them, or simply 'down' to the shops, even if there is no actual change in elevation. This 'directional down' is a very common colloquialism in many English dialects.

I'm going down to the basement to check the fuse box.

He's been down with a cold all week.

The sun is finally going down after a long day.

While 'down' seems simple, it is a frequent source of errors for English learners. These mistakes usually fall into three categories: confusing 'down' with similar prepositions like 'under' or 'below,' misusing it in phrasal verbs, and failing to recognize when it is acting as a verb versus an adverb. Precision in these areas will significantly improve your clarity.

Down vs. Under vs. Below: 'Down' implies movement or a path. 'Under' and 'below' usually describe a static position. You walk *down* the stairs to find something *under* the table. A common mistake is saying 'I am going under the stairs' when you mean 'I am going down the stairs.'

Incorrect: He fell below the stairs. Correct: He fell down the stairs.

Phrasal Verb Over-Literalization: Learners often try to interpret 'down' literally in phrasal verbs. For instance, 'calm down' doesn't mean moving physically lower; it means reducing intensity. Similarly, 'breaking down' a car has nothing to do with gravity. Don't look for the 'lower' meaning in every phrasal verb.

The 'Feel Down' Confusion: Many learners say 'I feel downly' or 'I feel downwards.' These are incorrect. When describing your mood, 'down' is the adjective itself. You simply 'feel down.' Also, avoid using 'down' to mean 'low' in all contexts; you have a 'low' salary, not a 'down' salary.

I've been feeling a bit down lately because of the grey weather.

Another common error involves the verb form. While you can 'down a drink,' you cannot 'down a person' in the sense of making them sad. You 'bring someone down' or 'make someone feel down.' Using 'down' as a transitive verb is mostly limited to consuming things or physically tackling someone in sports. Finally, be careful with 'downstairs.' It is a single word; saying 'down the stairs' refers to the action of descending, while 'downstairs' refers to the floor below.

She ran down the hallway to catch the elevator.

The computer system has been down since four o'clock.

Please sit down and make yourself comfortable.

Because 'down' is so versatile, there are many words that can replace it depending on the specific meaning you want to convey. Using these alternatives can make your English sound more precise and sophisticated. Whether you are describing movement, a state of being, or a technical failure, choosing the right synonym is essential for clear communication.

For Movement: Descend vs. Drop: 'Descend' is a formal alternative to 'go down.' You might descend a mountain or descend the stairs in a grand hotel. 'Drop' implies a sudden or accidental movement downward. 'The temperature dropped' is more dramatic than 'the temperature went down.'

The hikers began to descend the trail before sunset.

For Mood: Sad vs. Depressed vs. Blue: If you want to be more specific than 'feeling down,' you can use 'unhappy,' 'gloomy,' or 'dejected.' 'Blue' is a common idiomatic synonym (e.g., 'feeling blue'). 'Depressed' is a stronger, often clinical term, while 'down' is more casual and temporary.

For Status: Offline vs. Out of Order: When a website is 'down,' it is 'offline.' When a physical machine like a vending machine is 'down,' it is 'out of order' or 'malfunctioning.' Using these terms provides more clarity about what kind of thing is not working.

The printer is out of order, so please use the one in the other room.

In phrasal verbs, alternatives are often single-word verbs. Instead of 'write down,' you can use 'record' or 'note.' Instead of 'turn down,' you can use 'reject' or 'refuse.' Instead of 'break down,' you can use 'analyze' (for ideas) or 'fail' (for machines). While 'down' is very natural in speech, these single-word alternatives are often preferred in formal writing and academic contexts. Knowing both allows you to adjust your register according to your audience.

The company decided to reject the proposal after careful consideration.

The cat is hiding underneath the sofa.

The sun sank below the horizon in a blaze of color.

How Formal Is It?

Le savais-tu ?

The word 'down' meaning soft feathers comes from a completely different Old Norse root ('dúnn'), even though they are spelled the same today.

Guide de prononciation

UK /daʊn/

US /daʊn/

Single syllable, so the stress is on the entire word.

Rime avec

Town Brown Crown Frown Gown Clown Noun Renown

Erreurs fréquentes

Pronouncing it like 'dawn' (/dɔːn/).
Not fully sounding the final 'n'.
Confusing the 'ow' sound with 'oh'.
Making the 'd' sound too soft, like a 't'.
Stretching the vowel too long in some dialects.

Niveau de difficulté

Lecture 1/5

Very easy to recognize in text as a basic direction.

Écriture 3/5

Can be tricky to use correctly in complex phrasal verbs.

Expression orale 2/5

Common in daily speech, but requires natural intonation.

Écoute 2/5

Easily understood, though can be missed in fast speech.

Quoi apprendre ensuite

Prérequis

Up Go Sit Street Feel

Apprends ensuite

Below Under Beneath Downward Descend

Avancé

Downplay Downsize Downcast Downfall Downright

Grammaire à connaître

Phrasal Verbs with 'Down'

In 'turn down the music,' 'down' is a particle that modifies the verb 'turn'.

Prepositional Phrases

In 'down the hill,' 'down' is a preposition followed by the noun phrase 'the hill'.

Adjective Placement

When 'down' means sad or broken, it usually follows a linking verb: 'He is down.'

Separable Phrasal Verbs

You can say 'Write down the number' or 'Write the number down'.

Directional Adverbs

'Down' can stand alone after a verb of motion: 'He looked down.'

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Exemples par niveau

Please sit down on the chair.

Por favor, siéntate en la silla.

Adverb of direction following the verb 'sit'.

The sun is going down now.

El sol se está poniendo ahora.

Phrasal verb 'go down' meaning to set.

Look down at your shoes.

Mira hacia abajo a tus zapatos.

Adverb indicating direction.

Put the bag down here.

Pon la bolsa aquí abajo.

Adverb of place.

He is walking down the stairs.

Él está bajando las escaleras.

Preposition indicating movement along a path.

The cat jumped down from the table.

El gato saltó de la mesa.

Adverb of direction.

Lie down and rest for a while.

Acuéstate y descansa un rato.

Phrasal verb 'lie down'.

The ball rolled down the hill.

La pelota rodó colina abajo.

Preposition of direction.

The internet is down today.

El internet no funciona hoy.

Adjective meaning 'not operational'.

Can you turn the music down?

¿Puedes bajar el volumen de la música?

Phrasal verb 'turn down' meaning to reduce volume.

Write down your phone number.

Anota tu número de teléfono.

Phrasal verb 'write down' meaning to record.

I'm feeling a bit down today.

Me siento un poco triste hoy.

Adjective describing an emotional state.

Go down this street and turn left.

Ve por esta calle y gira a la izquierda.

Preposition indicating a path.

The prices are going down.

Los precios están bajando.

Adverb indicating a decrease.

He sat down to eat his lunch.

Se sentó a almorzar.

Phrasal verb 'sit down'.

She put her book down on the desk.

Ella puso su libro sobre el escritorio.

Adverb of place.

The car broke down on the highway.

El coche se averió en la autopista.

Phrasal verb 'break down' meaning to stop working.

You need to calm down before you speak.

Necesitas calmarte antes de hablar.

Phrasal verb 'calm down'.

I'm down for going to the movies tonight.

Me apunto a ir al cine esta noche.

Slang/Informal use meaning 'willing to participate'.

We should cut down on sugar.

Deberíamos reducir el consumo de azúcar.

Phrasal verb 'cut down on' meaning to reduce.

She decided to settle down in a small town.

Ella decidió establecerse en un pueblo pequeño.

Phrasal verb 'settle down' meaning to establish a permanent home.

Don't let the bad news bring you down.

No dejes que las malas noticias te depriman.

Phrasal verb 'bring someone down'.

He downed the entire bottle of water.

Se bebió toda la botella de agua de un trago.

Verb meaning to consume quickly.

Let's narrow down the list of candidates.

Reduzcamos la lista de candidatos.

Phrasal verb 'narrow down'.

The company is downsizing its workforce.

La empresa está reduciendo su plantilla.

Verb 'downsize' derived from 'down'.

The server has been down for three hours.

El servidor ha estado caído durante tres horas.

Adjective indicating technical failure.

He's very down-to-earth despite his fame.

Es muy sencillo a pesar de su fama.

Idiomatic adjective 'down-to-earth'.

The project went down the drain.

El proyecto se fue al traste.

Idiom meaning to be wasted or lost.

She refused to back down from the argument.

Ella se negó a retractarse de la discusión.

Phrasal verb 'back down'.

The rain came down in torrents all night.

La lluvia cayó a cántaros toda la noche.

Adverbial use with 'come down'.

The boxer was down for the count.

El boxeador estaba fuera de combate.

Idiom from sports.

Let's get down to the nitty-gritty details.

Vayamos a los detalles prácticos.

Idiom 'get down to'.

The government tried to downplay the crisis.

El gobierno intentó restarle importancia a la crisis.

Verb 'downplay' meaning to make something seem less important.

His downfall was caused by his own arrogance.

Su ruina fue causada por su propia arrogancia.

Noun 'downfall' meaning a loss of power or status.

She was feeling quite downcast after the meeting.

Se sentía bastante desanimada después de la reunión.

Adjective 'downcast' meaning sad or discouraged.

The decision was a downright lie.

La decisión fue una mentira total.

Adverb/Adjective 'downright' meaning complete or total.

We need to drill down into the data to find the cause.

Necesitamos profundizar en los datos para encontrar la causa.

Phrasal verb 'drill down' meaning to investigate thoroughly.

He's been down in the mouth since his cat died.

Ha estado cabizbajo desde que murió su gato.

Idiom 'down in the mouth' meaning sad.

The negotiation went down to the wire.

La negociación llegó al último momento.

Idiom 'down to the wire' meaning until the very end.

She had to put down the rebellion with force.

Tuvo que sofocar la rebelión por la fuerza.

Phrasal verb 'put down' meaning to suppress.

The investigation was a down-and-dirty look at corruption.

La investigación fue una mirada cruda y directa a la corrupción.

Idiomatic adjective 'down-and-dirty'.

He appeared somewhat down-at-heel in his old coat.

Parecía algo descuidado con su abrigo viejo.

Idiomatic adjective 'down-at-heel' meaning shabby.

The team was down and out after the third loss.

El equipo estaba acabado después de la tercera derrota.

Idiom 'down and out' meaning without hope or resources.

She followed the instructions down to the last letter.

Siguió las instrucciones al pie de la letra.

Idiomatic phrase 'down to the last letter'.

The policy was a top-down approach to management.

La política era un enfoque de gestión de arriba hacia abajo.

Compound adjective 'top-down'.

The news sent a shiver down my spine.

La noticia me dio un escalofrío por la espalda.

Idiomatic expression.

He was a down-home boy with simple values.

Era un chico sencillo con valores tradicionales.

Adjective 'down-home' meaning simple and unpretentious.

The company's down-market move surprised investors.

El movimiento de la empresa hacia un mercado más económico sorprendió a los inversores.

Adjective 'down-market'.

Collocations courantes

Sit down

Go down

Write down

Feel down

System down

Calm down

Break down

Turn down

Ups and downs

Down the street

Phrases Courantes

Down the road

— In the future or further along a path.

We will see what happens down the road.

Down to earth

— Practical, sensible, and friendly.

She is a very down-to-earth person.

Down the drain

— Wasted or lost completely.

All our hard work went down the drain.

Down to the wire

— Until the very last moment.

The race went down to the wire.

Down and out

— Having no money, job, or hope.

He was down and out before he found this job.

Down in the dumps

— Feeling very sad or depressed.

He's been down in the dumps all week.

Down for the count

— Defeated or unconscious.

After the long hike, I was down for the count.

Down the hatch

— A toast used before drinking something.

Down the hatch! It's a great wine.

Down to business

— Starting to focus on the important work.

Let's get down to business.

Down on one's luck

— Experiencing a period of bad luck.

He's been a bit down on his luck lately.

Souvent confondu avec

down vs Below

'Down' implies movement; 'below' implies a static position at a lower level.

down vs Under

'Under' means directly beneath something; 'down' is a general direction.

down vs Downstairs

'Downstairs' is a location; 'down the stairs' is the action of moving.

Expressions idiomatiques

"Down in the mouth"

— Looking unhappy or discouraged.

Why do you look so down in the mouth?

Informal

"Down the rabbit hole"

— Entering a bizarre or complex situation.

I went down the rabbit hole of internet research.

Neutral

"Down to a T"

— Perfectly or exactly.

That suit fits you down to a T.

Informal

"Hands down"

— Easily or without question.

She is hands down the best player on the team.

Informal

"Down to the last detail"

— Including every small part.

He planned the trip down to the last detail.

Neutral

"Keep your head down"

— To stay quiet and avoid trouble.

Just keep your head down and do your work.

Neutral

"Down in the weeds"

— Getting lost in small, unimportant details.

Let's not get too down in the weeds with this project.

Business

"Down the line"

— At a later stage or in the future.

This might cause problems down the line.

Neutral

"Down to one's last cent"

— Having almost no money left.

He was down to his last cent when he won the lottery.

Neutral

"Down with [something]"

— Suffering from an illness.

She's down with the flu.

Informal

Facile à confondre

down vs Below

Both refer to lower positions.

'Down' is often used for movement or along a path, while 'below' is used for comparing levels.

He went down to the basement, which is below the ground floor.

down vs Under

Both indicate being lower than something.

'Under' usually means something is covered or directly beneath. 'Down' is a direction.

The cat is under the bed, but it had to jump down to get there.

down vs Beneath

Both mean lower.

'Beneath' is more formal and often used for abstract things. 'Down' is common and literal.

It was beneath his dignity to sit down on the dirty floor.

down vs Lower

Both refer to a low position.

'Lower' is a comparative adjective or a verb. 'Down' is an adverb or preposition.

Please lower the blinds so the sun doesn't go down into my eyes.

down vs Bottom

Both refer to the lowest part.

'Bottom' is a noun referring to the base. 'Down' is the direction toward it.

He looked down and saw a coin at the bottom of the pool.

Structures de phrases

Subject + Verb + down.

She sat down.

Subject + Verb + down + the + Noun.

He ran down the street.

The + Noun + is + down.

The website is down.

Subject + feel + down.

I feel down.

Subject + Verb + Noun + down.

Turn the music down.

Subject + be + down + for + Noun/Gerund.

I'm down for a movie.

Subject + Verb + down + on + Noun.

Don't look down on them.

It + was + a + downright + Adjective.

It was a downright disaster.

Famille de mots

Noms

Downs (rolling hills)

Downfall

Downpour

Downside

Downturn

Verbes

Down (to consume or knock down)

Downsize

Downplay

Download

Downgrade

Adjectifs

Down

Downcast

Downhearted

Downright

Downward

Apparenté

Under

Below

Lower

Bottom

Beneath

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Comment l'utiliser

frequency

One of the top 100 most common words in English.

Erreurs courantes

I am going to down the stairs. → I am going down the stairs.
You don't need 'to' after 'going' when 'down' is acting as a preposition of direction.
The computer is not downing. → The computer is down.
'Down' is an adjective here, not a verb. You cannot use it in the continuous '-ing' form to mean 'not working.'
He fell below the hill. → He fell down the hill.
'Below' refers to a position; 'down' refers to the movement along the slope of the hill.
I feel downly today. → I feel down today.
'Down' is already an adjective when describing mood. You don't need to add '-ly'.
Please write it on down. → Please write it down.
The phrasal verb is 'write down.' Adding 'on' is unnecessary and incorrect.

Astuces

Phrasal Verb Placement

With many phrasal verbs like 'turn down,' you can put the object in the middle: 'Turn the music down' or 'Turn down the music.' Both are correct!

Use 'Down' as an Intensifier

Sometimes 'down' just adds emphasis. 'Clean the table' and 'Clean down the table' are similar, but 'down' implies a more thorough cleaning.

Sound Natural with Directions

Avoid Repetition

If you use 'down' too many times in a paragraph, try synonyms like 'descend,' 'lower,' or 'reduce' to keep your writing interesting.

Listen for 'Down' in Phrasal Verbs

In phrasal verbs, 'down' often changes the meaning completely. Don't just think about the direction; think about the whole phrase.

Are you down?

This is a great way to check if your friends want to join an activity. It's very common in American English.

System Status

When reporting a problem with a website, always say 'The site is down.' This is the standard term used by everyone in tech.

Describing Moods

Use 'feeling down' for temporary sadness. If it's more serious, you might use 'depressed,' but 'down' is perfect for everyday blues.

South is Down

Remember that on a map, south is at the bottom, so people often say 'going down to Florida' or 'going down to Australia.'

American Football

If you watch American football, a 'down' is a chance to move the ball. You get four downs to go ten yards!

Mémorise-le

Moyen mnémotechnique

Think of a 'D' for 'Down' and 'D' for 'Direction to the ground.' If you go down, you are closer to the dirt.

Association visuelle

Imagine an arrow pointing at your feet. That arrow represents the word 'down.'

Word Web

Up Floor Sad Broken South Write Calm Stairs

Défi

Try to use the word 'down' in three different ways (adverb, adjective, preposition) in a single paragraph about your day.

Origine du mot

Derived from the Old English word 'dūne,' which meant 'from the hill.' It was originally an aphetic form of 'adūne' (off the hill).

Sens originel : The word originally referred specifically to moving off or down from a hill or high place.

Germanic (Old English, Proto-Germanic *dūnō).

Contexte culturel

Be careful when using 'down' to describe people with Down syndrome; this is a proper noun named after Dr. Langdon Down and is unrelated to the direction.

Commonly used in casual greetings like 'What's down?' (though 'What's up?' is more common) or 'Are you down for this?'

The song 'Down Under' by Men at Work. The phrase 'Down the rabbit hole' from Alice in Wonderland. The movie 'Black Hawk Down'.

Pratique dans la vie réelle

Contextes réels

At Home

Sit down at the table.
Put the laundry down.
Go downstairs.
The TV is down.

At Work

Write down the notes.
The server is down.
Narrow down the options.
Get down to business.

In the City

Walk down the street.
Go down to the station.
Prices are down.
The building was torn down.

With Friends

Are you down for pizza?
Don't be so down.
Calm down, it's okay.
Let's go down to the park.

In Nature

The sun is going down.
Flow down the river.
Climb down the tree.
The rain came down.

Amorces de conversation

"Are you feeling down about anything lately, or is everything going well?"

"If the internet went down for a whole week, what would you do?"

"Are you down for trying a new restaurant this weekend?"

"When you need to calm down after a stressful day, what do you usually do?"

"Have you ever walked down a street and felt like you were in a movie?"

Sujets d'écriture

Write about a time when you felt down and how you managed to cheer yourself up.

Describe a situation where a piece of technology went down at the worst possible moment.

List three goals you want to achieve down the road in your career or personal life.

Reflect on the 'ups and downs' of your last year. What were the highlights and low points?

Imagine you are walking down a path in a beautiful forest. Describe what you see and feel.

Questions fréquentes

10 questions

It can be both! In 'He ran down the hill,' it is a preposition because it is followed by a noun. In 'He sat down,' it is an adverb because it modifies the verb without a following noun.

In casual English, 'I'm down' means 'I agree' or 'I want to do that.' For example, if someone asks 'Do you want to go to the park?', you can say 'I'm down!'

Yes, as a verb, 'down' means to drink or eat something very quickly, or to knock someone to the ground. Example: 'He downed his coffee in one gulp.'

'Down' is more common and can be many parts of speech. 'Downwards' is strictly an adverb and specifically emphasizes the direction of movement.

This is a metaphorical use where 'down' means 'not functioning' or 'offline,' as if the machine has fallen and cannot get up to work.

Usually, but not always in phrasal verbs. 'Slow down' and 'Speed up' are opposites, but 'Shut down' and 'Shut up' mean very different things!

It simply means 'further along the street.' It doesn't necessarily mean the street goes downhill; it's just a way to describe a path.

No, 'downly' is not a word. To describe your mood, you should just say 'I feel down.'

In the UK, 'downs' are areas of high, rolling grass-covered hills, like the North Downs or South Downs.

You can use it for systems being offline ('The server is down'), for reducing costs ('We need to cut down expenses'), or for starting work ('Let's get down to business').

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