Past tense: “happen to have” or “happened to have”?
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Alice: "The earth is flat, and the sky is green."
Bob: "The earth is round, and the sky is blue."
Alice: "Can you provide indisputable proof of these claims?"
Bob: "No. It's just something that I happen to have observed."
Bob: "No. It's just something that I happened to have observed."
grammar tenses past-tense is-it-a-rule fast-speech-rules
asked Apr 15 '17 at 7:08
tjt263
304211
|
show 1 more comment
up vote
2
down vote
favorite
Alice: "The earth is flat, and the sky is green."
Bob: "The earth is round, and the sky is blue."
Alice: "Can you provide indisputable proof of these claims?"
Bob: "No. It's just something that I happen to have observed."
Bob: "No. It's just something that I happened to have observed."
grammar tenses past-tense is-it-a-rule fast-speech-rules
asked Apr 15 '17 at 7:08
tjt263
304211
2
If you had used the plain infinitive to observe, you would need to use past tense happened. But because you're using the perfect infinitive to have observed, you should use present tense.
– Peter Shor
Apr 15 '17 at 12:26
Thanks, that's what I thought. But what is a plain/perfect infinitive?
– tjt263
Apr 15 '17 at 13:15
2
to have observed is a perfect infinitive, because of the have. And I should have called to observe the simple infinitive, which is the standard terminology. The perfect infinitive also encompasses the past, so I happened to have observed would generally be used if you were talking about two past times – one time in the past that is the focus of the conversation, and earlier times in the past when you observed it.
– Peter Shor
Apr 15 '17 at 13:26
1
Although note that in speech, I happened to have observed is nearly indistinguishable from I happen to have observed.
– Peter Shor
Apr 15 '17 at 13:32
1
Either one is grammatically correct.
– Knotell
Jul 15 '17 at 3:43
|
show 1 more comment
up vote
2
down vote
favorite
up vote
2
down vote
favorite
Alice: "The earth is flat, and the sky is green."
Bob: "The earth is round, and the sky is blue."
Alice: "Can you provide indisputable proof of these claims?"
Bob: "No. It's just something that I happen to have observed."
Bob: "No. It's just something that I happened to have observed."
grammar tenses past-tense is-it-a-rule fast-speech-rules
asked Apr 15 '17 at 7:08
tjt263
304211
Alice: "The earth is flat, and the sky is green."
Bob: "The earth is round, and the sky is blue."
Alice: "Can you provide indisputable proof of these claims?"
Bob: "No. It's just something that I happen to have observed."
Bob: "No. It's just something that I happened to have observed."
grammar tenses past-tense is-it-a-rule fast-speech-rules
grammar tenses past-tense is-it-a-rule fast-speech-rules
asked Apr 15 '17 at 7:08
tjt263
304211
asked Apr 15 '17 at 7:08
tjt263
304211
asked Apr 15 '17 at 7:08
tjt263
304211
asked Apr 15 '17 at 7:08
tjt263
304211
asked Apr 15 '17 at 7:08
tjt263
304211
304211
2
If you had used the plain infinitive to observe, you would need to use past tense happened. But because you're using the perfect infinitive to have observed, you should use present tense.
– Peter Shor
Apr 15 '17 at 12:26
Thanks, that's what I thought. But what is a plain/perfect infinitive?
– tjt263
Apr 15 '17 at 13:15
2
to have observed is a perfect infinitive, because of the have. And I should have called to observe the simple infinitive, which is the standard terminology. The perfect infinitive also encompasses the past, so I happened to have observed would generally be used if you were talking about two past times – one time in the past that is the focus of the conversation, and earlier times in the past when you observed it.
– Peter Shor
Apr 15 '17 at 13:26
1
Although note that in speech, I happened to have observed is nearly indistinguishable from I happen to have observed.
– Peter Shor
Apr 15 '17 at 13:32
1
Either one is grammatically correct.
– Knotell
Jul 15 '17 at 3:43
|
show 1 more comment
2
If you had used the plain infinitive to observe, you would need to use past tense happened. But because you're using the perfect infinitive to have observed, you should use present tense.
– Peter Shor
Apr 15 '17 at 12:26
Thanks, that's what I thought. But what is a plain/perfect infinitive?
– tjt263
Apr 15 '17 at 13:15
2
to have observed is a perfect infinitive, because of the have. And I should have called to observe the simple infinitive, which is the standard terminology. The perfect infinitive also encompasses the past, so I happened to have observed would generally be used if you were talking about two past times – one time in the past that is the focus of the conversation, and earlier times in the past when you observed it.
– Peter Shor
Apr 15 '17 at 13:26
1
Although note that in speech, I happened to have observed is nearly indistinguishable from I happen to have observed.
– Peter Shor
Apr 15 '17 at 13:32
1
Either one is grammatically correct.
– Knotell
Jul 15 '17 at 3:43
2
2
If you had used the plain infinitive to observe, you would need to use past tense happened. But because you're using the perfect infinitive to have observed, you should use present tense.
– Peter Shor
Apr 15 '17 at 12:26
If you had used the plain infinitive to observe, you would need to use past tense happened. But because you're using the perfect infinitive to have observed, you should use present tense.
– Peter Shor
Apr 15 '17 at 12:26
Thanks, that's what I thought. But what is a plain/perfect infinitive?
– tjt263
Apr 15 '17 at 13:15
Thanks, that's what I thought. But what is a plain/perfect infinitive?
– tjt263
Apr 15 '17 at 13:15
2
2
to have observed is a perfect infinitive, because of the have. And I should have called to observe the simple infinitive, which is the standard terminology. The perfect infinitive also encompasses the past, so I happened to have observed would generally be used if you were talking about two past times – one time in the past that is the focus of the conversation, and earlier times in the past when you observed it.
– Peter Shor
Apr 15 '17 at 13:26
to have observed is a perfect infinitive, because of the have. And I should have called to observe the simple infinitive, which is the standard terminology. The perfect infinitive also encompasses the past, so I happened to have observed would generally be used if you were talking about two past times – one time in the past that is the focus of the conversation, and earlier times in the past when you observed it.
– Peter Shor
Apr 15 '17 at 13:26
1
1
Although note that in speech, I happened to have observed is nearly indistinguishable from I happen to have observed.
– Peter Shor
Apr 15 '17 at 13:32
Although note that in speech, I happened to have observed is nearly indistinguishable from I happen to have observed.
– Peter Shor
Apr 15 '17 at 13:32
1
1
Either one is grammatically correct.
– Knotell
Jul 15 '17 at 3:43
Either one is grammatically correct.
– Knotell
Jul 15 '17 at 3:43
|
show 1 more comment
2 Answers
2
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0
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From the corpus of the Longman Dictionary, it seems the general past tense form is ‘happened to do’. Although I think ‘happen to have observed’ sounds better in your example, as it is not really describing a past case.
(A search led me here because of the title, so I do not think my answer is completely irrelevant.)
answered 39 mins ago
Yongwei Wu
1011
add a comment |
up vote
-1
down vote
As Peter Shor has written, only I happen to have observed is correct. Whereas have observed is perfect, it describes knowledge due to a past experience—similar to the Present Perfect tense. The verb happen, acting as stative verb, tells that the speaker is referring to his present knowledge.
Compare:
I happen to know your father.
(I know your father.)I happen to have known your father.
(I used to know your father.)
happen here emphasizes the random nature of this circumstance and the irrelevance of its causes to the conscious efforts of the three persons involved.
answered Jul 14 '17 at 21:33
Ant_222
29514
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
0
down vote
From the corpus of the Longman Dictionary, it seems the general past tense form is ‘happened to do’. Although I think ‘happen to have observed’ sounds better in your example, as it is not really describing a past case.
(A search led me here because of the title, so I do not think my answer is completely irrelevant.)
answered 39 mins ago
Yongwei Wu
1011
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
From the corpus of the Longman Dictionary, it seems the general past tense form is ‘happened to do’. Although I think ‘happen to have observed’ sounds better in your example, as it is not really describing a past case.
(A search led me here because of the title, so I do not think my answer is completely irrelevant.)
answered 39 mins ago
Yongwei Wu
1011
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
up vote
0
down vote
From the corpus of the Longman Dictionary, it seems the general past tense form is ‘happened to do’. Although I think ‘happen to have observed’ sounds better in your example, as it is not really describing a past case.
(A search led me here because of the title, so I do not think my answer is completely irrelevant.)
answered 39 mins ago
Yongwei Wu
1011
From the corpus of the Longman Dictionary, it seems the general past tense form is ‘happened to do’. Although I think ‘happen to have observed’ sounds better in your example, as it is not really describing a past case.
(A search led me here because of the title, so I do not think my answer is completely irrelevant.)
answered 39 mins ago
Yongwei Wu
1011
answered 39 mins ago
Yongwei Wu
1011
answered 39 mins ago
Yongwei Wu
1011
answered 39 mins ago
Yongwei Wu
1011
1011
add a comment |
add a comment |
up vote
-1
down vote
As Peter Shor has written, only I happen to have observed is correct. Whereas have observed is perfect, it describes knowledge due to a past experience—similar to the Present Perfect tense. The verb happen, acting as stative verb, tells that the speaker is referring to his present knowledge.
Compare:
I happen to know your father.
(I know your father.)I happen to have known your father.
(I used to know your father.)
happen here emphasizes the random nature of this circumstance and the irrelevance of its causes to the conscious efforts of the three persons involved.
answered Jul 14 '17 at 21:33
Ant_222
29514
add a comment |
up vote
-1
down vote
As Peter Shor has written, only I happen to have observed is correct. Whereas have observed is perfect, it describes knowledge due to a past experience—similar to the Present Perfect tense. The verb happen, acting as stative verb, tells that the speaker is referring to his present knowledge.
Compare:
I happen to know your father.
(I know your father.)I happen to have known your father.
(I used to know your father.)
happen here emphasizes the random nature of this circumstance and the irrelevance of its causes to the conscious efforts of the three persons involved.
answered Jul 14 '17 at 21:33
Ant_222
29514
add a comment |
up vote
-1
down vote
up vote
-1
down vote
As Peter Shor has written, only I happen to have observed is correct. Whereas have observed is perfect, it describes knowledge due to a past experience—similar to the Present Perfect tense. The verb happen, acting as stative verb, tells that the speaker is referring to his present knowledge.
Compare:
I happen to know your father.
(I know your father.)I happen to have known your father.
(I used to know your father.)
happen here emphasizes the random nature of this circumstance and the irrelevance of its causes to the conscious efforts of the three persons involved.
answered Jul 14 '17 at 21:33
Ant_222
29514
As Peter Shor has written, only I happen to have observed is correct. Whereas have observed is perfect, it describes knowledge due to a past experience—similar to the Present Perfect tense. The verb happen, acting as stative verb, tells that the speaker is referring to his present knowledge.
Compare:
I happen to know your father.
(I know your father.)I happen to have known your father.
(I used to know your father.)
happen here emphasizes the random nature of this circumstance and the irrelevance of its causes to the conscious efforts of the three persons involved.
answered Jul 14 '17 at 21:33
Ant_222
29514
edited Jul 15 '17 at 11:33
answered Jul 14 '17 at 21:33
Ant_222
29514
answered Jul 14 '17 at 21:33
Ant_222
29514
answered Jul 14 '17 at 21:33
Ant_222
29514
29514
add a comment |
add a comment |
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If you had used the plain infinitive to observe, you would need to use past tense happened. But because you're using the perfect infinitive to have observed, you should use present tense.
– Peter Shor
Apr 15 '17 at 12:26
Thanks, that's what I thought. But what is a plain/perfect infinitive?
– tjt263
Apr 15 '17 at 13:15
2
to have observed is a perfect infinitive, because of the have. And I should have called to observe the simple infinitive, which is the standard terminology. The perfect infinitive also encompasses the past, so I happened to have observed would generally be used if you were talking about two past times – one time in the past that is the focus of the conversation, and earlier times in the past when you observed it.
– Peter Shor
Apr 15 '17 at 13:26
1
Although note that in speech, I happened to have observed is nearly indistinguishable from I happen to have observed.
– Peter Shor
Apr 15 '17 at 13:32
1
Either one is grammatically correct.
– Knotell
Jul 15 '17 at 3:43