Which sentence uses 'come across' correctly?

I came across an old photo while cleaning the attic

I came across the street to meet you

I came across an old photo while cleaning the attic

The bridge came across the river

Which sentence uses 'come across' correctly?

She comes across as very confident in interviews

He came across the finish line first

Which sentence uses 'come by' correctly?

Good jobs are hard to come by these days

The bus will come by this route

Good jobs are hard to come by these days

I come by the office every morning at 8

Which sentence uses 'come by' correctly?

Can you come by my house later for coffee?

The train came by the station too fast

She comes by the grocery store home

Which sentence uses 'come out' correctly?

The new iPhone will come out next month

I need to come out from the house now

The new iPhone will come out next month

Which sentence uses 'come out' correctly?

The truth finally came out after the investigation

The students came out to the classroom

Understanding 'Fall Behind': Use, History & Mistakes

"When one's steps falter and they fall behind, the wisdom lies in observing the journey, not merely the destination."

📖 Definition

To fall behind means to be unable to keep up with a schedule, target, or group, often resulting in delay or lowered performance compared to others.

Examples in context

Despite repeated warnings, the employee fell behind in submitting reports on time.
During the marathon, it was easy to fall behind without proper pacing.
Technological advancements cause industries to fall behind if not embraced swiftly.

📖 Definition

To fall behind means to be unable to keep up with a schedule, target, or group, often resulting in delay or lowered performance compared to others.

📝 Grammar Info

Separable

The verb and particle cannot be split by an object.

Neutral

Used in both spoken and written contexts without formality constraints.

Transitive

Does not require a direct object to convey meaning.

📊 Conjugation Table

Tense	Form	Example
Present Simple	fall behind	Students often fall behind if they miss classes.
Past Simple	fell behind	He fell behind his classmates last semester.
Present Continuous	falling behind	She is falling behind in her project deadlines.
Present Perfect	have fallen behind	They have fallen behind on rent payments.

💡 When to Use

In academic settings

Use it when someone is lagging in studies compared to peers or a syllabus.

Example: "If you don't study regularly, you'll fall behind in class."

In work projects

Use it when deadlines or tasks are not being met on schedule.

Example: "With the team shorthanded, they are falling behind on the project."

In personal goals

Use it when personal targets, like fitness or savings, aren't progressing as planned.

Example: "Missing workouts caused her to fall behind in her fitness goals."

⚠️ Common Mistakes

Using a direct object

❌ Wrong: He fell behind the project.

✅ Correct: He fell behind in the project.

💡 Tip: Remember it doesn't need a direct object; use 'in' with contexts.

Incorrect tense

❌ Wrong: She has fall behind on work.

✅ Correct: She has fallen behind on work.

💡 Tip: Use 'fallen' for perfect tense situations.

Misplacing the particle

❌ Wrong: Fall behind they in skills.

✅ Correct: They fall behind in skills.

💡 Tip: Keep 'in' after 'fall behind' for clarity.

Practice

FALL BEHIND - IN PRACTICE

Study Method Proposal

Listen and repeat the audio as many times as needed to improve your pronunciation
Use the audio as a dictation exercise, trying to write what you hear and understand
Create a new sentence following the structure of the example sentences

Examples in Context

1
Listen to example

Despite repeated warnings, the employee fell behind in submitting reports on time.
Voices Across Distance
2
Listen to example

During the marathon, it was easy to fall behind without proper pacing.
Voices Across Distance
3
Listen to example

Technological advancements cause industries to fall behind if not embraced swiftly.
Voices Across Distance

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

lag behind trail

Antonyms

catch up

Quick Check

Complete the sentence with the correct phrasal verb:

"She tends to ___ behind when not motivated."

fell

fall behind

falls

fell down

❓ Frequently Asked Questions about Fall Behind

What is the origin of fall behind?

The phrase 'fall behind' emerged in the late 17th century, originating from the literal sense of physically not keeping pace, later evolving into broader metaphoric uses.

Can fall behind be used in formal and informal contexts?

'Fall behind' is inherently versatile, suitable for both formal documents and informal conversations, such as discussions involving deadlines, progress, and personal achievements.

What is the difference between fall behind and lag behind?

While both terms denote a lack of progress, 'fall behind' often implies a gradual process, whereas 'lag behind' may suggest a more persistent or consistent delay.

Browse All Voices Across Distance Phrasal Verbs

About the Author

Alessandra Nóbrega

History teacher who fell in love with English! This passion led me to specialize in languages and work on bilingual education projects. With 37 years in education, I believe learning should be meaningful – not just memorization.

Learn more about my journey

📖 Definition

📖 Definition

📝 Grammar Info

📊 Conjugation Table

💡 When to Use

⚠️ Common Mistakes

FALL BEHIND - IN PRACTICE

Study Method Proposal

Examples in Context

Synonyms & Antonyms

Quick Check

❓ Frequently Asked Questions about Fall Behind

Related Phrasal Verbs

Alessandra Nóbrega