meaning of "fall during"

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
1

Hello,

I just ran into this sentence:

Well, I’m afraid that joyous occasion fell during a time when I wasn’t actually a minister

Does “fall during” mean “occur during”?
Also, I thought that “to fall on some date” was a normal phrase. Is “fall during” a normal phrase too?

Thanks!

2

“To fall” means “to happen.” It can be used with many prepositions.

3

Hello Mordant,

Many thanks for your reply.
There’s one small point I’m not entirely clear on: can we use “to fall” with continuous groups of tenses? As in:

  1. I descended to the cellar to see what was falling there (happening)
  2. What’s falling with you? (happening)

Or maybe “to fall” can be used with words such as “occasion”? As in

  1. The family function fell during that day.
4

Hi Tort,

'Fall + ing isn’t used when fall is defined as to occur or to happen, so your first examples are incorrect.

‘The family function fell on/during that day’ is fine.

Incidentally, do you know the word ‘befall’? It is also linked to this meaning, and indicates something bad happening.
‘A terrible fate befell the couple.’

5

Hi OTS,

Your use of ‘fall/falling’ in these sentences sounds very wonky:

simply because it takes your mind to the first meaning of ‘fall’ suggesting ‘drop down’. It’s really only functions that fall or are falling and have the sense of ‘taking place’ as in: They didn’t like the idea of the celebration falling on the same day as the funeral.

Alan

6

Hello Alan and Bev,

Thank you for your advice!