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"happens to be" vs "happened to be"

Both "happens to be" and "happened to be" are correct, but they are used in different contexts. "Happens to be" is used in the present tense to describe something that is currently the case, while "happened to be" is used in the past tense to describe something that was the case at a specific point in the past.

Last Updated: March 12, 2024

happens to be

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to describe something that is currently the case.

Use "happens to be" in the present tense to describe something that is true or exists at the current moment.

Examples:

  • He happens to be a great singer.
  • She happens to be my best friend.
  • It happens to be the largest building in the city.

Alternatives:

  • is
  • turns out to be
  • seems to be
  • appears to be
  • proves to be

happened to be

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to describe something that was the case at a specific point in the past.

Use "happened to be" in the past tense to describe something that was true or existed at a specific point in the past.

Examples:

  • He happened to be a great singer when he was younger.
  • She happened to be my neighbor last year.
  • It happened to be the largest building in the city until recently.

Alternatives:

  • was
  • used to be
  • was once
  • was actually
  • was in fact

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