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Electrum Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
Happen, occur, take place
It seems that the subject of happen is almost always indefinite:
something, nothing, anything, much, little, a few things, an odd thing, something else, etc., happened
But as soon as the subject has the slightest semblance of definition, happen is changed to occur or take place:
an accident, a fire, a fight, a storm
You would not usually say an accident/fire/storm/etc. happened. You would say they occurred, took place, etc.
Yet happen and occur are given as definitions of each other.
I wonder why this is? Any idea?
something, nothing, anything, much, little, a few things, an odd thing, something else, etc., happened
But as soon as the subject has the slightest semblance of definition, happen is changed to occur or take place:
an accident, a fire, a fight, a storm
You would not usually say an accident/fire/storm/etc. happened. You would say they occurred, took place, etc.
Yet happen and occur are given as definitions of each other.
I wonder why this is? Any idea?
Top answer
Happen = to take place (usually without being planned) The accident happened at 3 pm. (there's nothing wrong with this construction) With "fire" we usually say "a/the fire broke out or took place" but "happened" is certainly not impossible. However, when connecting an event to a particular location "take place" seems much more likely.
- Happen = to take place (usually without being planned) The accident happened at 3 pm.
- (there's nothing wrong with this construction) With "fire" we usually say "a/the fire broke out or took place" but "happened" is certainly not impossible.
- However, when connecting an event to a particular location "take place" seems much more likely.
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1 Answers
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Happen = to take place (usually without being planned)
The accident happened at 3 pm. (there's nothing wrong with this construction)
With "fire" we usually say "a/the fire broke out or took place" but "happened" is certainly not impossible. However, when connecting an event to a particular location "take place" seems much more likely.
The accident happened at 3 pm. (there's nothing wrong with this construction)
With "fire" we usually say "a/the fire broke out or took place" but "happened" is certainly not impossible. However, when connecting an event to a particular location "take place" seems much more likely.
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