could happen

USAGE SUMMARY

'could happen' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to suggest something that may or may not happen in the future. For example, "If we don't act soon, many negative consequences could happen."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This could happen, that could happen".

The New York Times

What could happen?

The New Yorker

"Anything could happen".

The New York Times

"That could happen.

The New York Times - Sports

That could happen, eventually.

The New York Times - Sports

"Something could happen tomorrow".

The New York Times

And it could happen.

The Economist

But it could happen.

The New York Times

"Literally anything could happen.

The New York Times

"Something good could happen.

The New York Times

Outside, anything could happen.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "could happen" to express a possibility without implying certainty. It's suitable for discussing potential outcomes or scenarios in various contexts.

Common error

While versatile, relying too heavily on "could happen" can weaken the impact of your writing. In formal contexts, consider stronger alternatives like "is likely" or "will occur" to convey greater confidence or probability when appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "could happen" functions as a modal verb phrase indicating possibility or potentiality. It softens a statement, suggesting that an event is not certain but is within the realm of possibility. As shown in Ludwig, it's used across various domains to express uncertainty about future outcomes.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

18%

Science

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "could happen" is a versatile modal verb phrase used to express possibility and potentiality. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread use across various contexts, primarily in news and media, formal business settings, and scientific discussions. While alternatives like "might occur" or "is possible" exist, "could happen" offers a balanced tone suitable for expressing uncertainty without being overly formal or casual. Remember to avoid overuse in highly formal writing for maximum impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

might occur

Replaces "could" with "might", indicating a similar degree of possibility.

may take place

Substitutes "happen" with "take place", offering a more formal alternative.

is possible

Uses a more direct expression of possibility, replacing the modal verb construction.

is conceivable

Emphasizes the ability to imagine or conceive of the event occurring.

can come to pass

Offers a slightly more formal and emphatic way of saying something might happen.

is liable to occur

Indicates a higher probability compared to "could happen", suggesting a tendency for the event to occur.

chances are

It introduces the possibility of something with some degree of likelihood.

it is on the cards

This idiom suggests that something is likely or probable to happen.

it is within the realms of possibility

Emphasizes the event is not impossible, though it might not be highly probable.

it is not out of the question

Indicates that something is possible, although perhaps unlikely.

FAQs

How can I use "could happen" in a sentence?

"Could happen" is used to express a possibility or potential outcome. For instance, "If we don't address climate change, severe weather events "could happen" more frequently."

What are some alternatives to "could happen"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "might occur", "is possible", or "may take place" instead of "could happen".

Which is more appropriate, "could happen" or "will happen"?

"Could happen" suggests a possibility, while "will happen" indicates certainty. Choose based on the degree of confidence you want to convey about the event.

What does "it could happen" mean?

"It could happen" means that something is possible but not definite. It suggests a scenario that might unfold, but there's no guarantee.