What does "happen" mean here, please

Question

Sentence:-Now then, do any of you happen to have learnt that already? Could someone please explain to me what "happen" has been used for there? Is it always followed by a "to - infinitive" in this meaning?Thank you!

AlpheccaStars · Accepted Answer

LaboriousCould someone please explain to me what "happen" has been used for there?

-Now then, do have any of you happened to have learnt that already?

See entry #4

https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/happen

LaboriousIs it always followed by a "to - infinitive" in this meaning?

No.

I happened upon this wonderful Youtube video yesterday.
I happened to hear him speak at a conference.

CalifJim · Answer

Laboriousexplain ... "happen"

The verb "happen" in this usage can be replaced with "by chance", meaning that something happened without being planned, that it was just a matter of random events that it happened. Along with this replacement you'll have to restructure the sentence, of course.

Do any of you happen to have learnt that already?
~ Have any of you by chance learnt that already?

Examples found online:

I happen to know where you can get tickets to that show.
(By chance I heard this information somewhere.)
If you happen to be vacationing in Las Vegas, this guide will help you.
(If it ever comes about by chance that you are in Las Vegas on vacation, ...)
According to Wikipedia, "Big Handsome Man" ("BHM") refers to a physically or sexually attractive fat man. Some are men who just happen to be large, while others attempt to become fatter.
(Some are just large by chance, while ...)

LaboriousIs it always followed by a "to - infinitive" in this meaning?

In this exact meaning, I'd say yes, but there are some related meanings where other grammatical structures are used (to happen upon (sth) ~ to come across (sth) without having planned it). See A.S.'s example.

CJ

What does "happen" mean here, please

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