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JF Posted 13 years ago
Grammar

verb befall

How to correctly use the verb "befall".

I have a sentence I need to translate from rus to eng.
And it sounds something like this:

So they would not be befallen with such fate. - Is it correct?
  

Top answer

I have never heard "befall" used intransitively like this. The subject is the undesired consequence... So that such fate would not befall them, ...

— AlpheccaStars

  • I have never heard "befall" used intransitively like this.
  • The subject is the undesired consequence...
  • So that such fate would not befall them, ...
  • You know that this verb is archaic, and used in old texts, or modern texts that are set long ago in history.
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7 Answers
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I have never heard "befall" used intransitively like this. The subject is the undesired consequence...

So that such fate would not befall them, ...

You know that this verb is archaic, and used in old texts, or modern texts that are set long ago in history.
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AlpheccaStarsYou know that this verb is archaic, and used in old texts, or modern texts that are set long ago in history.
That's exactly the case I have.But was my sentence correct grammatically?
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I don't think that you have used the verb "befall" correctly.
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AlpheccaStarsI don't think that you have used the verb "befall" correctly.
Can you tell me whats exactly wrong with it? [except what you've already said]
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I think Alphecca's suggestion is what I would say as well, "So that such a fate would not befall them..."

Befallen is a word, but it would not be used in the forward looking sentence you have crafted. You would not ever hear "be befallen" you could hear "has/have befallen." For example, "This same disastrous fate has befallen many over the years."
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JFCan you tell me whats exactly wrong with it? [except what you've already said]
You have used it in passive voice. This verb is not to be used in the passive voice.
Consider the following sentences, which have the same meaning:

He promised to protect her and that no harm would befall her.
He promised to protect her and that nothing bad woul
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JFSo they would not be befallen with such fate. - Is it correct?
No. As has been pointed out above, you've got the direction wrong.

A hardship [befalls / happens to] you. You [experience / suffer / undergo / are subjected to] a hardship.

(You are not befallen by a hardship.)

You probably need this: So that such a fate wo
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