if it happen

USAGE SUMMARY

This is not correct or usable in written English; it should be "if it happens." You can use "if it happens" when you are talking about something that might occur.
For example, "I'll call you tomorrow if it happens that I don't have too much work to do today."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

'If it happen there is only one person who is assisting … it will be difficult to remember to wrap the baby since she will be concentrating on helping the mother' [FGD mother 44 year old, 2 children, educated to standard 7].

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

If it happens.

Independent

If it happens, great.

The New York Times

If it happens, that is.

The Economist

So if it happens, it happens".

The New York Times - Sports

"If it happens, it happens," Mickelson said.

The New York Times - Sports

"If it happens, it's just happenstance".

The New Yorker

"If it happens, it does," Chandler said.

The New York Times

If it happens, the Russians will return".

The New York Times

Terrific if it happens, of course.

The Guardian - Business

"If it happens again I'll scream.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the grammatically correct form "if it happens" in formal and academic writing. The addition of the 's' on 'happens' is crucial for correct subject-verb agreement.

Common error

Don't omit the 's' from "happens" when using the phrase in the third-person singular. Using "if it happen" is a common error that undermines the credibility of your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "if it happen" functions as a subordinate conjunction introducing a conditional clause. However, it's grammatically incorrect; Ludwig AI states that the correct form is "if it happens". The correct phrase sets a condition for the main clause.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "if it happen" is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided in formal writing. The correct form is "if it happens". As highlighted by Ludwig, the addition of the 's' to 'happen' is essential for proper subject-verb agreement. While the corrected phrase serves to introduce a conditional clause, it's important to ensure that the verb conjugation aligns with standard grammatical rules. The phrase is most frequently used in news, media and science contexts, and there are many alternative phrases available to express similar conditional scenarios. Always opt for "if it happens" to maintain grammatical correctness and clarity in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

if it happens

Adds the third-person singular present tense conjugation to the verb, correcting the grammatical error.

should it happen

Emphasizes a more formal and hypothetical tone.

in the event that it happens

Introduces a formal condition for something to occur.

if it should come to pass

Implies a less likely or more significant occurrence.

assuming it happens

Highlights the assumption of the event taking place.

on the off chance it happens

Suggests a low probability of occurrence.

if the occasion arises

Refers to a specific opportunity or situation.

were it to happen

Presents a highly hypothetical and often unlikely situation.

supposing it happens

Similar to assuming, but with a slightly more questioning tone.

contingent on it happening

States that something else depends on this event occurring.

FAQs

What's the correct way to say "if it happen"?

The correct way to phrase it is "if it happens". The verb 'happen' needs the third-person singular 's' to agree with the subject 'it'.

When should I use "if it happens" in a sentence?

Use "if it happens" when discussing a possible future event. For example, "I will be surprised if it happens".

What can I say instead of "if it happens"?

You can use alternatives like "should it happen", "in the event that it occurs", or "assuming it happens" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "if it happen" or "if it happens"?

The grammatically correct phrase is "if it happens". The phrase "if it happen" is incorrect due to subject-verb disagreement.