to happen
to happen
'Happen' is a regular verb (happen – happened – happened) and normally takes an event or a thing as its subject; with people it appears mainly in the idiom 'happen to (do something)' = 'to do something by chance'. It is rarely used in the continuous or imperative.
These things happen.
These things happen.
Indicative
Present Simple
I happen to know her sister.
I happen to know her sister.
Do you happen to have a pen?
Do you happen to have a pen?
It happens to everyone eventually.
It happens to everyone eventually.
We happen to be free tonight.
We happen to be free tonight.
You happen to know the way.
You happen to know the way.
Strange things happen in this house.
Strange things happen in this house.
Past Simple
I happened to see him at the station.
I happened to see him at the station.
You happened to be there at the right moment.
You happened to be there at the right moment.
The accident happened late at night.
The accident happened late at night.
We happened to meet an old friend downtown.
We happened to meet an old friend downtown.
You happened to arrive just before the storm.
You happened to arrive just before the storm.
Several odd things happened that summer.
Several odd things happened that summer.
Present Perfect
I have happened to meet her a few times before.
I have happened to meet her a few times before.
You have happened to be right every single time.
You have happened to be right every single time.
Something strange has happened to the car.
Something strange has happened to the car.
We have happened to visit that town twice.
We have happened to visit that town twice.
You have happened to catch the same train as us.
You have happened to catch the same train as us.
A lot of changes have happened since then.
A lot of changes have happened since then.
Past Perfect
I had happened to read the book before the exam.
I had happened to read the book before the exam.
You had happened to notice the mistake first.
You had happened to notice the mistake first.
By the time we arrived, the accident had already happened.
By the time we arrived, the accident had already happened.
We had happened to stay in that hotel once before.
We had happened to stay in that hotel once before.
You had happened to leave just before the rain started.
You had happened to leave just before the rain started.
Nobody knew what had happened during the night.
Nobody knew what had happened during the night.
Future Simple
I will happen to pass your office tomorrow.
I will happen to pass your office tomorrow.
You will happen to need this sooner or later.
You will happen to need this sooner or later.
Nobody knows what will happen next.
Nobody knows what will happen next.
We will happen to be in the area next week.
We will happen to be in the area next week.
You will happen to see the parade from your window.
You will happen to see the parade from your window.
Great things will happen if we keep trying.
Great things will happen if we keep trying.
Conditional
Conditional
I would happen to be there if you invited me.
I would happen to be there if you invited me.
You would happen to know the answer, of course.
You would happen to know the answer, of course.
Nothing bad would happen if you were more careful.
Nothing bad would happen if you were more careful.
We would happen to meet by chance every summer.
We would happen to meet by chance every summer.
You would happen to arrive late every single time.
You would happen to arrive late every single time.
Such mistakes would happen far less with a checklist.
Such mistakes would happen far less with a checklist.
