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Anonymous Posted 21 years ago
Grammar

happen to/with

Hello,

My dictionary says only "to" should be used with the word "happen". In real life, I hear "happen with" all the time. What say you?
  

Top answer

Hello Anon If "happen" is followed by another verb, you need "to" between them: 1. Did you happen to see MrQ, while you were in the bar? g.

— MrPedantic

  • Hello Anon If "happen" is followed by another verb, you need "to" between them: 1.
  • Did you happen to see MrQ, while you were in the bar?
  • g.
  • (from Google): 2.
  • How to make big things happen with small teams.
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4 Answers
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Hello Anon

If "happen" is followed by another verb, you need "to" between them:

1. Did you happen to see MrQ, while you were in the bar?

But a prepositional phrase may also follow "happen", e.g. (from Google):

2. How to make big things happen with small teams.

MrP

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I would interpret the remark in the dictionary to mean: "with" should not be used as a substitute for "to" after "happen".

"What ever happened to Baby Jane?" should not be expressed as "Whatever happened with Baby Jane?", but as Mr. Pendantic has already shown, the mere occurence of "happen" followed by "with" is not wrong in itself.

CJ
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I guess I did not word my question properly. Sorry about that. I meant to ask :

  1. Is it standard English to use with after happen? I guess the answer is Yes.

  2. When should I choose "with", and when should I use "to"
Thank you.
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Hello Anon

Can you give us an example of a "with" usage you hear all the time?

MrP
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