happen
/ˈhæpən/verb
उच्चारण हैपन
होना, घटित होना
Basic word
- 1
- 2
[I] ~ to do sth
to do or be something by chance
संयोग से होना
- I happened to meet her at the station.
- Do you happen to know his phone number?
- I happened to be in Jaipur on the day of the festival.
+ 1 more example
- She happened to overhear their conversation.
Synonyms chance be lucky enough
§Structures (grammar patterns) 4
happen (no object, no passive)
Happen is an intransitive verb: things happen, but they are not 'happened by' anyone, and it has no passive form. Use it for events.
Happen intransitive verb है: घटनाएँ 'happen' होती हैं, पर इसका passive रूप नहीं बनता। इसका प्रयोग घटनाओं के लिए होता है।
- The accident happened near the railway crossing.
- Nothing interesting happens in this village.
happen to + sb / sth
Use happen to to say what has affected a person or thing. Often used in questions like 'What happened to him?'
किसी व्यक्ति या वस्तु पर क्या बीता, यह बताने के लिए 'happen to' आता है। प्रश्न में अक्सर: 'What happened to him?'
- What happened to your phone?
- Something terrible happened to the old house.
happen to + infinitive
This pattern shows chance: do something by luck, without planning.
यह pattern संयोग बताता है: बिना योजना के, भाग्य से कुछ हो जाना।
- I happened to meet Radhika at the station.
- Do you happen to know his address?
it so happens that / as it happens
Use these when a surprising fact turns out to be true by chance.
जब कोई आश्चर्यजनक तथ्य संयोग से सही निकले, तब इनका प्रयोग होता है।
- As it happens, I live next door to the teacher.
+Collocations 4
adverb + happen
suddenlyoftenrarelyexactlyluckily
- It all happened so suddenly that nobody could react.
happen + preposition
toonatinduring
- The meeting happened during the lunch break.
noun + happen
accidentmiraclechangemistakeincident
- Such an incident rarely happens in our town.
fixed phrases
happen to knowwhatever happensas it happensaccidents will happencome what may
- Whatever happens, I will attend the interview.
“More examples 6
- Tell me exactly what happened at the station yesterday.
मुझे ठीक-ठीक बताओ कि कल स्टेशन पर क्या हुआ।
- I happened to see the notice on the board during the break.
मैंने अवकाश के दौरान संयोग से notice board पर सूचना देख ली।
- Radhika wondered what would happen if the power went off during the test.
राधिका सोच रही थी कि यदि परीक्षा के दौरान बिजली चली गई तो क्या होगा।
- Whatever happens, never give up your studies.
चाहे जो हो जाए, अपनी पढ़ाई कभी मत छोड़ो।
- It happens to the best of us; do not be upset about one mistake.
यह सबसे अच्छे लोगों के साथ भी होता है; एक गलती के लिए दुखी मत हो।
- When did the earthquake happen?
भूकंप कब आया था?
!Common mistakes 2
✗ The accident was happened yesterday.
✓ The accident happened yesterday.
Happen is intransitive and has no passive form.
Happen intransitive है और इसका passive नहीं बनता।
✗ What is happening with him yesterday?
✓ What happened to him yesterday?
A past time word needs the simple past, and happen takes to for the affected person.
Past time word के साथ simple past आता है, और प्रभावित व्यक्ति के लिए 'happen to' प्रयोग होता है।
≠Thesaurus: which synonym when
These verbs all say that something takes place, but they differ in tone and use.
ये क्रियाएँ बताती हैं कि कुछ घटित होता है, पर इनके स्वर और प्रयोग में अंतर है।
The ordinary word for events, often unplanned.
घटनाओं के लिए सामान्य शब्द, प्रायः अनियोजित।
- What happened after the match?
More formal; used for events and also for thoughts that come to the mind.
अधिक औपचारिक; घटनाओं के लिए और मन में आने वाले विचारों के लिए भी।
- The idea did not occur to me.
take place
Used for planned or scheduled events like meetings, exams and ceremonies.
बैठकों, परीक्षाओं और समारोहों जैसे नियोजित या निर्धारित कार्यक्रमों के लिए।
- The exam will take place on Sunday.
¶Idioms 3
as it happens / happened
used when you say sth surprising or add a new fact
संयोग से, इत्तफ़ाक़ से
- As it happens, I was going to call you just now.
- As it happened, the train was late too, so I didn't miss it.
these things happen
used to tell sb not to worry about a mistake or an accident
ऐसा तो होता ही रहता है, चिंता मत करो
- Don't worry about the broken glass — these things happen.
- 'I'm sorry I forgot.' 'Never mind, these things happen.'
it (just) so happens that…
by chance
संयोग से ऐसा हुआ कि…
- It just so happens that I know the principal.
- It so happened that Radhika was in Delhi on the same day.
→Phrasal verbs 1
happen on/upon sb/sth
to find sb or sth by chance
(किसी को या किसी चीज़ को) संयोग से पा जाना
- We happened on a lovely little café in the old town.
- She happened upon an old letter while cleaning the cupboard.
◇Word family
?Which word?
Keep apart happen (occur by chance) and take place (happen, especially when planned: 'The exam takes place in March').
Happen (संयोग से होना) और take place (होना, विशेषकर योजनाबद्ध: 'The exam takes place in March') को अलग रखिए।
§Grammar and usage
Happen is intransitive and is never used in the passive ('The accident happened', not 'was happened'); likewise occur, take place and arise.
यह बहुत पूछा जाता है: happen intransitive है और passive में कभी नहीं आता ('The accident happened', 'was happened' नहीं); इसी तरह occur, take place और arise।
Happen to sb ('What happened to him?').
'Happen to sb' ('What happened to him?')।
“Collocations, idioms and sayings
As it happens (by chance), accidents happen.
Collocations: as it happens (संयोग से), accidents happen।