ENGLISH
REFERENCE

take place

idiom.
A2 Elementary Oxford

idiom. to happen or occur, especially when something is planned.

idiom. to occur or happen; specifically used for scheduled events, ceremonies, or organized activities rather than random accidents.


SIMPLE

The wedding will take place in June.

CONTEXTUAL

The Olympic Games take place every four years in a different host city.

COMPLEX

The negotiations are scheduled to take place behind closed doors to ensure the privacy of all parties involved.

Origin

A verb phrase, with place functioning as the direct object of the transitive verb take.

Usage

usually refers to planned events like meetings, festivals, or sports matches.

Teaching tip

contrast with 'happen'; we use 'take place' for things on a calendar and 'happen' for things that are unexpected, like a car crash.

Pitfall

The accident took place yesterday.The accident happened yesterday.while technically possible, 'take place' implies a level of planning or arrangement that an accident lacks.

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