happen to be v. is

[hhtt21]

1.In German there is a very little difference either, except in one vital case: when the object happens to be a der word.

Above structure, happens to be, seems strange to me. Is it identical with is?

Can we say as 2. "In German there is a very little difference either, except in one vital case: when the object a der word."

 

[GoesStation]

Happens to be means "is, by chance". I find it inappropriate in the quoted sentence but I'm not surprised to see it; happens to be happens to be a very overused turn of phrase.

 

[andrewg927]

Not a teacher

You could say "when the object is a der word."

 

[hhtt21]

Not a teacher

You could say "when the object is a der word."

Then what would be different than the original, happen to be?

Thank you.

 

[GoesStation]

Not a teacher

You could say "when the object is a der word."

Then what would be different than the original, happen to be?

In the quoted sentence, is is direct. Happens to be uses four times as many syllables to say the same thing without adding any useful content.

Use "to happen to be" to express an accidental or coincidental occurrence: Our old friend happened to be in the museum the day we visited it. What a surprise to bump into someone we knew from 2500 miles away!

 

[hhtt21]

In the quoted sentence, is is direct. Happens to be uses four times as many syllables to say the same thing without adding any useful content.

Use "to happen to be" to express an accidental or coincidental occurrence: Our old friend happened to be in the museum the day we visited it. What a surprise to bump into someone we knew from 2500 miles away!

Is happen to be an idiom or fixed phrase or can happen be used in this accidental or coincidental sense with other verbs other than be as happen to go, happen to survive which might mean survived by chance?

Thank you.

 

[jutfrank]

Is happen to be an idiom or fixed phrase or can happen be used in this accidental or coincidental sense with other verbs other than be as happen to go, happen to survive which might mean survived by chance?

Yes, it is also used with verbs other than be.

 

[hhtt21]

Yes, it is also used with verbs other than be.

Would you please give some simple related examples?

Thank you.

 

[GoesStation]

We happened to bump into our friends from Ohio at the museum in Los Angeles.

The girls happened to put on the same style of shirt that day.

The car happened to backfire just as the music started.

 

[hhtt21]

I was going to respond to post 8, but GS happened to get there first.

But this example seem as an overuse of happen to me because I cannot see any chance-dependent or accidental situation here.

Thank you.

 

[jutfrank]

I happen to slightly disagree with GoesStation on this. Although happen to very often does carry meaning of coincidence, it does not always mean this.

Very generally, it is a way of emphasising that a state-of-affairs is the case.

In the example I've used in this post, there is no element of chance - it simply states the way things are. In my opinion, this is not an instance of overuse, but just a way of making a subtle emphasis.

 

[hhtt21]

I happen to slightly disagree with GoesStation on this. Although happen to very often does carry meaning of coincidence, it does not always mean this.

Very generally, it is a way of emphasising that a state-of-affairs is the case.

In the example I've used in this post, there is no element of chance - it simply states the way things are. In my opinion, this is not an instance of overuse, but just a way of making a subtle emphasis.

Yes, this example makes me feel that there is an emphasis. This idea can be expressed by simple present without happen. The original seems stronger. But unfortunately I don't know how this situation can be translated into my language, Turkish.

Thank you.