Take place means to happen or to be held. It is usually used for an event planned in advance: a meeting, an exam, a wedding. It is also used to say where the story of a film or book is set.
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event + take place + in/at/on + place/time; took place (past)
- The final exam will take place in the main hall on 12 June.
- The meeting took place online because half the team was travelling.
- Most of the film takes place in a small town in Scotland.
What changed
First versionThe conference was taken place in Berlin last year.
RevisionThe conference took place in Berlin last year.
Was taken place mixes take place with passive forms like was held. But take place has no form with was taken: an event simply takes place. So in the past you need plain took place.
Happen is more often used for things that occur without a plan: A strange thing happened on my way home. Take place suits scheduled events: The ceremony will take place at noon. For an unexpected accident, happen sounds more natural.
Your turn
The charity race will ___ on Sunday morning in the city park.
Show the answer
take place — The race itself will be held on Sunday, so you need take place. Take part means to participate, and then the sentence needs a participant and the preposition in: runners take part in the race.
Write about an event that will soon take place at your work, university or in your town. Say where and when it will take place.
Our team's annual planning meeting will take place at a hotel near the office next Thursday.
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