0
Moivile Posted 10 years ago
Grammar

A victim is a person that had something bad happen to them.

Is the following statement correct?
A victim is a person that had something bad happen to them.
What does the structure ‘something bad happen’ (noun + infinitive without to) mean here after had?
  

Top answer

"have something bad happen to one" = suffer something bad I prefer this: A victim is a person who has had something bad happen to them. The "problem" of singular "them" remains. This is widely tolerated, but in careful formal writing I would try to avoid it.

  • "have something bad happen to one" = suffer something bad I prefer this: A victim is a person who has had something bad happen to them.
  • The "problem" of singular "them" remains.
  • This is widely tolerated, but in careful formal writing I would try to avoid it.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

1 Answers
0
"have something bad happen to one" = suffer something bad

I prefer this:

A victim is a person who has had something bad happen to them.

The "problem" of singular "them" remains. This is widely tolerated, but in careful formal writing I would try to avoid it.

Related Questions