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it had to happen vs it had to happened

The correct phrase is 'it had to happen.' 'Happen' is the base form of the verb that should be used after 'had to.' 'Happened' is the past participle form and is not appropriate in this context.
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Explained by Jennifer
Editor at TextRanch

Last updated: March 27, 2025 • 5134 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"it had to happen"

This phrase is used to express that something was inevitable or bound to occur. 'Happen' is the correct base form of the verb to use after 'had to.'

Examples:

  • I knew it had to happen eventually.
  • It had to happen sooner or later.
  • They said it had to happen for the project to succeed.
  • Sometimes things just had to happen.
  • It had to happen that way.
  • For that to come true, it had to happen while she was in Somalia.
  • I hate that this is happening, but it had to happen.
  • I know this has been quite an ordeal for you, but it had to happen.
  • I guess it had to happen sooner or later.
  • I prayed that if it had to happen, it happened to someone else.
  • There was nothing we could do about it, it had to happen.
  • Look, it had to happen at some point.
  • If it had to happen, one way or another, it would've.
  • Look, if it had to happen, It's good that it happened like this, okay?
  • If it had to happen to one of us, why did it have to be you?
  • It had to happen one day.
  • It had to happen, we're in love.
  • It had to happen sooner or later.
  • It had to happen like this, for you to be confused with others, for people to think you can't distinguish dream from reality.
  • On the one hand, I was sure that... that it had to happen and that I wanted to die.
  • Guess it had to happen sometime.
  • It is unfortunate that it had to happen with everything gone so well.
  • I mean, it had to happen eventually.
  • I'm sorry it had to happen like this, Lindsay.
  • Shane, it had to happen like that.

This phrase is incorrect. 'Happened' is the past participle form of the verb and should not be used after 'had to.'

"it had to happened"

  • If J.R. And Marta did business, it had to have happened there.
  • Osterman. Almost as if it had to him happened to you.
  • Kind of wish it had happened to me.
  • If it had happened to them instead of their brother...
  • - Suppose it had happened to Teresa.
  • If it had happened to you, you would've done exactly what I did.
  • If it had happened to someone else, I wouldn't have understood it.
  • But, as it had happened to our village for so many centuries we rebuilt our lives.
  • If it hadn't happened to me, I would find it hard to accept.
  • I saw him on Michael's ship, but I did not realize it had happened to so many.
  • I prayed that if it had to happen, it happened to someone else.
  • It had to have happened before New Year's, after that night it was only you.
  • If it hadn't happened to me, I wouldn't believe it either.
  • But if it had happened to you, you know how awful you'd feel.
  • but everyone in the trade said that it had happened to them the result would have been the same because a front waiter has only one point of honor.
  • About the biggest thing to happened in Glenwood Bay.
  • Things're... when everybody's ready for that to happened.
  • Everything that happened at Briarcliff happened under your authority.
  • What happened was just something that happened.
  • So whatever happened happened at that party.

Related Comparisons

"want it to happen" vs "want it happen" "it began to ring" vs "it has began to ring" "it has had to happened" vs "it has had to happen" "to make this happen" vs "to have made this happen" "it may happen" vs "it may happens" "when did this happen" vs "when did it happen"

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