| Former-Teacher | Date: Tuesday, 11.01.2011, 10:15 | Message # 1 |
 Dean
Group: Admins
Messages: 504
Status: Offline
| Dear Netters!
When we want to say that something occurred and affected somebody, we usually use the verb 'to happen' with the preposition 'to'.
E.g.: 'I feel ill at ease. I think something awful has happened to him.'
The problem is that Russian learners often misuse this rule and put 'with' after the verb.
It occurs due to the interference of the Russian verb pattern 'случаться с ...'
'Happen with' is most likely creeping in like so much of the "lazy" usage, coming from not having learned the language properly.
Moreover, this is a problem in the US and UK. It is apparently so judging by various posts and news stories on both sides of the Atlantic.
I might add that 'with' is a sign of the colloquial, low-standard usage.
'Happen' implies some action, and 'to' shows to whom it happens.
Read the sentences below, add a few more using the same pattern and the same human situation.
- If anything bad happens to you, let me know!
- If anything good happens to you, give me a call!
- If anything strange happens to you, send me a sms!
- If anything unforgettable happens to you, run to me as fast as you can!
- Unforgettable things should happen to everybody!
Hope this helps you all to use this pattern correctly.
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