when you say" i happened to be a teacher( or anything)" does it mean you became a teacher as i happened? or you were a teacher at that time
2007-01-26 19:23:01 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Education & Reference ➔ Studying Abroad
That's a good question. It kind of makes sense if you say something like, "I happened to be in the pub when they came in." meaning the two things were coincidental, so "I happened to be a coal miner when they went on strike." But people also use it in the present tense "I happen to be teacher." I suppose then it would be to emphasis some kind of specialist knowledge so if you were talking about educational reforms for example. They didn't become a teacher in order to have something to say during that conversation but they happen to be one so they have a special insight. So I think that's it, it refers to something which is relevant to the fact but coincidental.
does that make sense or are you even more confused now.
2007-01-26 19:38:12 · answer #1 · answered by gerrifriend 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When u say "I happened to be a teacher" it means that sometime in the past u were a teacher and that at the present u are not a teacher but maybe doing somthing else or u may plain be resting.
2007-01-27 05:37:00 · answer #2 · answered by kittana 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
U Were a teacher
2007-01-27 04:05:46 · answer #3 · answered by q8abat 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It means, you were a teacher at that time. If it was said, "I happen to 'be' a teacher" then you're still a teacher at present.
2007-01-27 03:30:08 · answer #4 · answered by MissaSolemnis 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
"I happened to be a teacher" means without particularly planning to, I was a teacher at the time.
2007-01-27 03:31:04 · answer #5 · answered by Lilliana 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
a teacher at that time.
as in "it just so happens I'm an English instructor." (not really) it just made more sense.
2007-01-27 03:31:13 · answer #6 · answered by Billy FZ1 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋