expect it happen

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "expect it happen" is not correct in English.
Did you mean "expect it to happen"? You can use the corrected phrase when anticipating or predicting that something will occur in the future. Example: "I expect it to happen soon, given the current circumstances."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

You can't just expect it happen.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

As you would expect, it happens to him all the time.

The Guardian - Sport

Believe it will happen, expect it to happen, and feel it happening.

WikiHow

defer.add img); As you go through each step, believe it will happen, expect it to happen, and feel it happening.

WikiHow

Transforming always takes place when I least expect it; it happens unnoticed.

Los Angeles Times

We can't just expect it to happen on its own.

Huffington Post

Hulu hasn't ruled out an authenticated model for part of its site, and analysts expect it will happen eventually.

The New York Times

To anticipate something is not merely to expect it to happen, but to take some action in that expectation.

Independent

South — don't expect it to happen.

The New York Times - Sports

But does he expect it to happen?

The New York Times - Sports

I expect it to happen again.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the correct infinitive form "to happen" after "expect" to ensure grammatical accuracy.

Common error

Avoid omitting the word "to" between "expect" and "happen". The correct form is "expect it to happen", not "expect it happen".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "expect it happen" functions as an incorrect attempt to express anticipation of an event. As Ludwig indicates, it omits the necessary infinitive marker "to" between "expect" and "happen".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Social Media

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "expect it happen" is grammatically incorrect, as pointed out by Ludwig. The correct form is "expect it "to happen"". Although the phrase appears in a few contexts, it's primarily used to illustrate incorrect grammar or in direct quotations. The main error is omitting the infinitive marker "to". Alternatives like "anticipate its occurrence" and "look forward to it happening" can be used depending on the desired level of formality and nuance. Therefore, always remember to include "to" for grammatical accuracy when expressing anticipation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

expect it to happen

Adds the infinitive "to" for grammatical correctness, indicating anticipation of an event.

anticipate its occurrence

Uses "anticipate" to imply expectation and replaces "happen" with the more formal "occurrence."

look forward to it happening

Expresses a positive expectation with the phrasal verb "look forward to".

foresee its unfolding

Implies a prediction of how something will develop or be revealed.

predict its realization

Uses "predict" to suggest an informed guess about something coming to fruition.

believe it will occur

Emphasizes a belief that something will take place.

count on it transpiring

Relies on the event taking place. "Transpiring" is more formal than "happen".

presume it will come about

Assumes that something will occur, using the more formal "come about".

assume it will materialize

Implies that something will become real or concrete.

envisage its taking place

Forms a mental image of something occurring, using the more formal "taking place".

FAQs

How do I correctly use "expect" in a sentence?

When using "expect" to express anticipation of an event, follow it with "to" and the base form of the verb. For instance, say "I expect it "to happen"" rather than "I expect it happen".

What's the difference between "expect it happen" and "expect it to happen"?

"Expect it happen" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "expect it "to happen"", where "to" introduces the infinitive form of the verb.

Which is correct, "expect it happen" or "expect that it will happen"?

"Expect that it will happen" is grammatically correct, but "expect it "to happen"" is more concise and commonly used. "Expect it happen" is incorrect.

What can I say instead of "expect it happen"?

Use grammatically correct alternatives such as "expect it "to happen"", "anticipate its occurrence", or "look forward to it happening" depending on the context.