What happened to you what does this word mean

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  • #1

«What happened TO you» means what affected you, what event had impact on you.
A: You’re really late. And you’re limping. What happened to you?
B: I fell on my way here and sprained my ankle. But, I wouldn’t let that stop me from meeting you. I came anyway, late or not.

«What happened WITH you» means what’s going on with you, what’s up with you.
A: You were really ugly at the meeting today. What happened with you?
B: Ugly? I guess I’m just tired of having all the work dropped on me. One of these days, I’m just going to quit.

Can you rephrase the difference between the two: happened to and happened with?
I’m not clear about the difference between «what affected you» and «what’s going on with you.»
The only difference I can tell is the first indicates something already happened and the latter means it’s still going on.

source: https://thegrammarexchange.infopop.cc/topic/happen-to-or-happen-with

  • bennymix


    • #2

    «What happened TO you» means what affected you, what event had impact on you.
    A[1]: You’re really late. And you’re limping. What happened to you?
    B: I fell on my way here and sprained my ankle. But, I wouldn’t let that stop me from meeting you. I came anyway, late or not.

    «What happened WITH you» means what’s going on with you, what’s up with you.
    A[2]: You were really ugly at the meeting today. What happened with you?
    B: Ugly? I guess I’m just tired of having all the work dropped on me. One of these days, I’m just going to quit.

    Can you rephrase the difference between the two: happened to and happened with?
    I’m not clear about the difference between «what affected you» and «what’s going on with you.»
    The only difference I can tell is the first indicates something already happened and the latter means it’s still going on.

    source: «Happen to» or «happen with»

    There is a nuance in theory: A1 [first example]: sounds like a specific ‘happening’ or event is relevant, and its impact.
    A2 [second example]: is more open ended and wide ranging.

    I disagree that [Nagomi:]»the latter [A2—second example] means it’s still going on». I see no difference.

    IF one wanted to stress present continuation, one would say, «What is happening with you?» or «What’s been happening with you?»

    In practice there may not be much difference: Both examples, A1 and A2, ask «What’s going on with you?»

    • #3

    There is a nuance in theory: A1 [first example]: sounds like a specific ‘happening’ or event is relevant, and its impact.
    A2 [second example]: is more open ended and wide ranging.

    I disagree that [Nagomi:]»the latter [A2—second example] means it’s still going on». I see no difference.

    IF one wanted to stress present continuation, one would say, «What is happening with you?» or «What’s been happening with you?»

    In practice there may not be much difference: Both examples, A1 and A2, ask «What’s going on with you?»

    That sounds quite subtle to me, and I don’t really see a clear difference. I take it that you’re saying «to» suggests something happened and done with an impact in place, but «with» implies an event is still possibly going on, and it’s not necessarily that the person who’s asked «what happened with you» may not be the object of the impact. Am I on the right path?

    bennymix


    • #4

    Yes, you’re getting it. :)

    I just want to know which of these four sentences is more: a) adequate, b) grammatically correct, c) used in England and America:
    1.- What happened to you?
    2.- What it happened to you?
    3.- What did happen to you?
    4.- What did it happen to you?
    Thanks so much!!!

    1) is correct in all those ways (a,b,c) and very commonly said.

    2) is incorrect grammar

    3) is correct but but much less common. You can use it in contexts of contrast and emphasis.

    eg I don’t want to know what didn’t happen to you. I want to know what did happen to you.

    4) is incorrect grammar..

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    “What happened (to my father)?”

    This is a subject question because “what” (the question word) is the subject of the verb “happened”. The subject questions don’t take auxiliary verbs

    Below are subject questions. The verb and its subject are bolded and italicized. The speaker is expecting the answer to be the subject of the sentence:

    What killed him? – A croc. (A crocodile killed him.)

    Who killed him? – A burglar. (A burglar killed him).

    Who ate the last piece of cake? – He did. (He ate the last cake.)

    Who wants to go to the cinema? – I do. (I want to go to the cinema.)

    What kept you so late? – My work. (My work kept me late.)

    What happened to my father? – Nothing. (Nothing happened to your father.)

    “When did (it) happen?”

    This is an object question because “when” is NOT the subject of the verb happened. In a strange way, this kind of makes “when” as the object while “it” is the subject of the verb.

    For example, “What did he write?” – This is an object question. Although “he” is the subject of the question itself, the object of the verb write is actually “an essay” – in the answer (represented by “what”). When a question is about the object, we use an auxiliary verb and an infinitive.

    What did he write? – He wrote an essay.

    Below are object questions. The verb and its subject are bolded and italicizied. Objects are underlined. We use the normal interrogative structure with two verbs (infinitive + auxiliary):

    What did he do?

    Where does he live?

    When will we arrive?

    Where did it happen?

    Why did it happen?

    When did it happen?

    How did it happen?

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