ENGLISH
REFERENCE

happen to sb/sth

phr. v..
A2 Elementary Oxford

phr. v.. Describes an event that affects a person or thing, often without them planning it.

phr. v.. An intransitive verb followed by the preposition 'to', indicating the recipient or affected entity of an event or action.


SIMPLE

What happened to my keys?

CONTEXTUAL

She looked worried, so I asked her what had happened to her.

COMPLEX

The most profound changes often happen to us when we are least prepared, forcing a re-evaluation of our most cherished beliefs.

Particles
to
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
happen + to + object
Usage

Often used to ask about someone's well-being or the location of a missing object.

Teaching tip

Contrast 'What happened?' (asking about a general event) with 'What happened to [person]?' (asking about the specific effect on that person).

Pitfall

What happened you?What happened to you?The preposition 'to' is required to connect the event ('happen') with the person or thing it affected.

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