Tenses are justified by their times of functions. Now, there will be a discussion on the functions of the word “happen’’ in different tenses.
We can use the word “happen’’ in all forms of the three tenses to show any action that takes place. The term provides us with the meanings of occur, appear, arise, crop up, come off, find or come about by chance.
Now, let us get to know some interesting related facts on the application of “happen’’ in the present tense, past tense, and future tense.
“Happen’’ in the present tense.
A present tense comprises of the verb that refers to display being, having, or doing any work. Let us explain how “happen” acts in the present tense.
We apply the word “happen’’ to display something that comes into being or becomes visible to reality.
When can we use “happen’’ in the present tense?
The verb “happen’’ is used in the present tense when we need to mention the action that occurs or is seen in course of events or by chance. We use happens or happening to frame sentences in the present tense.
Structure of sentence with the word “happen’’ in the present tense-
| Type of present tense | Sentence formation with “happen’’ in the present tense |
| 1. Present indefinite tense/ Simple present tense | a. The subject of the first person singular number/plural number, second-person singular number/plural number, third person plural number + happen + object + rest (assertive sentence) b. Subject of the third-person singular number + happens + object + rest (assertive sentence) |
| 2. Present continuous tense/ Present progressive tense | The subject of the first person singular number + am happening + object + rest of the sentence (assertive sentence)Subject of the first person plural number, second person singular/plural number, third person plural number + are happening + object + rest of the sentence (assertive sentence)The subject of the third person singular number + is happening + object + rest (assertive sentence) |
| 3. Present perfect tense | a. The subject of the first person singular number/plural number, second person singular/plural number, third person plural number + have happened(past participle form) + object + rest (assertive sentence) b. Subject of the third person singular number + has happened (past participle form) + object + rest (assertive sentence) |
| 4. Present perfect continuous tense/ Present perfect progressive tense | a. The subject of the first person singular number/plural number, second person singular number/plural number, third person plural number + have been happening + object + rest b. The subject of the third person singular number + has been happening + object + rest |
Examples and explanations of “happen’’ in the present tense-
| Forms of present tense | Example | Explanation |
| 1. Present indefinite tense/ Simple present tense | We happen to live in this village too, so don’t scatter the rubbish here. | Here the root form “happen’’ is used for the justification of its usage in the simple present tense. We find that we are very angry at the situation and are bound to live in this place. |
| 2. Present continuous tense/ Present progressive tense | What is happening now on the stage as a large number of people gather there? | The verb “happening’’ in the present participle form is applied to justify its function in a continuous action. We find here that a question is being asked what is going to take place on the stage before the large crowd? |
| 3. Present perfect tense | The clash between two friends has happened just now and it attracts the attention of the headmaster. | The verb “happened’’ shows its function in the present perfect tense where we see the clash between two friends has occurred just now but its action has been finished with the result remaining. |
| 4. Present perfect continuous tense/ Present perfect progressive tense | The chaos has been happening for two hours in our club. | The verb “happening’’ has been applied to indicate an action taking place that is in progress for some time. |
“Happen’’ in the past tense.
Any action that was completely accomplished before belongs to the category of past tense.
The verb “happened’’ is used in the past tense to display the events that were not preplanned or thought to be done.
When do we use “happen’’ in the past tense?
The verb “happen’’ is used in the past tense when we need to refer to the actions that uncertainly took place before. The events were not thought ago for their execution.
Sentence structure of “happen’’ in the past tense-
| Type of past tense | How to form a sentence with “happen’’ in the past tense |
| 1. Past indefinite tense/ Simple past tense | a. The subject of all persons and numbers + happened (past form) + object + rest of the sentence (assertive sentence). b. Did + subject of all persons and numbers + happen + happen + object + rest of the sentence (interrogative sentence)? |
| 2. Past continuous tense/ Past progressive tense | a. (I) The subject of the first person singular number/ third person singular number + was happening + object + remaining part of the sentence (assertive sentence) (ii) Was + subject of the first person singular number/ third person singular number +happening+object + rest of the sentence (interrogative sentence)? b. (I) The subject of the first person plural number, second person singular number/plural number, third person plural number + were happening + object + remaining part of the sentence (assertive sentence) (ii) Were + subject of the first person singular number/ third person singular number +happening+object + rest of the sentence (interrogative sentence)? |
| 3. Past perfect tense | The subject of all persons and numbers + had happened (past participle form) + object + rest of the sentence(assertive sentence) |
| 4. Past perfect continuous tense/ past progressive tense | The subject of all persons and numbers + had been happening (present participle form) + object + rest of the sentence(assertive sentence) |
Examples and explanations of “happen’’ in the past tense-
| Type of past tense | Example | Explanation |
| 1. Past indefinite tense/ Simple past tense | Sourashree happened to meet her old friend at the book fair and was extremely glad. | Here the usage of “happened’’ shows that a girl suddenly met her friend at the book fair. |
| 2. Past continuous tense/ Past progressive tense | They seemed to be unaware of what was happening to them at the picnic. | We come to know that they did not come to know the action that was taking place for them. |
| 3. Past perfect tense | The actor had happened to come on the stage before the audience could realize it. | In this scenario, it is found that the verb “happened’’ in its 3rd form frames an action that had been done earlier before the people could understand it. |
| 4. Past perfect continuous tense/ Past perfect progressive tense | What had been happening last for an hour in your house? | The verb “happening’’ in the present participle form frames an action that was continuous for some time. It refers to us in the question format. |
“Happen’’ in the future tense.
A future tense is the form of the verb by which we express the actions that will come off in the future. Let us check how the verb “follow’’ plays its function in the future tense.
We use the word “happen’’ in the future tense to show the action that befalls someone or something in an uncertain way especially when they are not planned.
When do we use “happen’’ in the future tense?
The regular verb “happen’’ along with shall/will is used in the future tense when we need to refer to an action that will occur by chance. We also apply the term when we need to mention a future action that will start or change without a plan.
Sentence structure of “happen’’ in the future tense-
| Type of future tense | How to form a sentence with “happen’’ in the future tense |
| 1. Future indefinite tense/ Simple future tense | a. The subject of the first person singular number or plural number + shall happen + object + remaining part(assertive sentence) b. The subject of the second person singular number or plural number/ third singular or plural number + will happen + object + remaining part(assertive sentence) |
| 2. Future continuous tense/ Future progressive tense | a. The subject of the first person singular number or plural number + shall be happening + object + remaining part b. The subject of the second person singular number or plural number/ third person singular or plural number + will be happening + object + remaining part(assertive sentence) |
| 3. Present Future perfect tense | a. The subject of the first person singular number or plural number + shall have happened + object + remaining part b. The subject of the second person singular number or plural number/ third person singular or plural number + will have happened + object + remaining part(assertive sentence) |
| 4. Present Future perfect continuous tense/ Future perfect progressive tense | a. The subject of the first person singular number or plural number + shall have been happening + object + remaining part(assertive sentence) b. Subject of the second person singular number or plural number/ third person singular or plural number + will have been happening + object + remaining part(assertive sentence) |
Examples and explanations of “happen’’ in the future tense-
| Type of future tense | Example | Explanation |
| 1. Future indefinite tense/ Simple future tense | This discussion will not again happen in the next classes. | The verb “happen’’ along with will is applied to refer to an action taking place in the future. |
| 2. Future continuous tense/ Future progressive tense | The dance drama will be happening in the auditorium of our school by the next week. | Here the verb “happening’’ is in the usage to show that the drama will be coming off in the future in the stadium of our school. |
| 3. Future perfect tense | My friends will have happened to get together at the marriage ceremony the next Friday. | We see the verb “happened’’ is in the application to show an action in which the getting together of the friends will be taken place in a marriage ceremony. |
| 4. Future perfect continuous tense/ Future perfect progressive tense | Our English class will have been happening for the whole morning. | The verb “happening’’ is used to show the occurrence of the English class in a continuous way. Its usage has justified the right example of the future perfect progressive tense. |
Conclusion
In conclusion we sum up that we can use the verb as a noun in the form “happening’’ or “happenings’’. The idiom is framed like “as it so happens’’, and phrases like “as it happens’’, “whatever happens’’, or “happens to do something. We can frame the phrasal verbs like “happen on’’, and “happen to’’, “happen along’’, and so on.
Hi…. I am Goutam Datta. I have completed a double M. A. in English and B. Ed. I am a creative writer. Currently, I am a part of the LambdaGeeks.
