English Reference

Word

took place

Definition

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

idiom. to occur or happen; specifically used for events that are scheduled or situated in a particular location.

Examples

“The wedding took place in a beautiful garden.”

“The meeting took place yesterday afternoon in the main conference room.”

“The historic signing of the treaty took place in the grand hall, witnessed by leaders from across the globe.”

Examples

simple

“The wedding took place in a beautiful garden.”

contextual

“The meeting took place yesterday afternoon in the main conference room.”

complex

“The historic signing of the treaty took place in the grand hall, witnessed by leaders from across the globe.”

Usage

usually used for organized events like meetings, festivals, or ceremonies rather than accidental occurrences.

Teaching tip

contrast with 'happen'; while 'happen' is for any event, 'take place' often implies a planned event with a specific setting.

Pitfall

The accident took place at 5 PM.

The accident happened at 5 PM.

'Take place' is generally reserved for planned events, whereas 'happen' is better for accidents or random occurrences.

This entry

Level
B1 · Intermediate
Updated

Scan code

englishreference.com/q/took-place

English Reference