固定詞組take place，意為發生，舉行，多指舉行活動，發生某事(可指發生好事或不好的事)；happen多指發生意外事故，不幸的事。

　　(1)The opening of the play will take place tomorrow night. 首映將于明晚舉行。(take place不能用happen換)

　　(2)The accident took place only a block from my home. 事故發生地離我家只一個街區。(took place可用happened換)

　　動詞happen和take place只用作不及物，不能用被動語態。

　　(1)The car accident happened last week. 交通事故發生在上星期。

　　不能說：The car accident was happened last week.

　　(2) The war broke out in October. 戰爭于10月份爆發。

　　不能說：The war was broken out in October.

　　其他用法：

　　1. happen to do 意思是：碰巧

　　It happened to be a fine one that day.

　　那天碰巧天氣好。

　　2. It happens that...后接從句，意思也是碰巧。

　　It happens that his sister is a closed friend of mine.

　　碰巧她姐姐是我的一個好朋友。