happen有偶然發(fā)生，出現等含義。是不及物動詞,不能用于被動語態(tài)。泛指一切客觀事物或情況的發(fā)生，強調動作的偶然性。

1.表示“某地(某時)發(fā)生了什么事”,常用“sth.+ happen +地點/時間”這一結構來表達,此時主語應是事情.例如：

The story happened in 1998

.這個故事發(fā)生在1998年。

An accident happened in that street.

那條街上發(fā)生了一起事故。

2.表示“某人出了某事(常指不好的事)”,要用“sth.+ happen+to sb.”這一結構來表達.例如：

A car accident happened to her this morning.

今天上午她發(fā)生了交通事故。

What happened to you?你怎么啦?

3.表示“某人碰巧做某事”,要用“sb.+ happen+ to do sth.”這一結構來表達.例如：

I happened to meet a friend of mine in the street yesterday.

昨天我碰巧在街上遇到了我的一個朋友。

4.happen表示“碰巧或恰巧發(fā)生某事”時,還可用“It happens / happened that...”這一結構來表達。例如：

It happened that Brian and Peter were at home that day.

碰巧那天布萊恩和彼得在家了。

It happened that he had to take part in a meeting that afternoon.

碰巧那天下午他不得不參加一個會議。

注：that從句中的主語是人時,此種結構可以與“sb.+ happen + to do sth.”結構互換。例如：

It happened that Brian and Peter were at home that day.

= Brian and Peter happened to be athome that day.

5.happen為短暫性動詞，不能與表示一段時間的狀語連用。