It was happy...

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Anonymous  #290500  Wed, 08 Nov 06 04:53 AM

A student learning English as a second language used this sentence construction:

It was lucky that we could see you.

to make this sentence:

It was happy that the man did not die.

Is that second sentence right or wrong. And, if it is wrong, why does this sentence work:

It was a happy event that the man did not die.

???

 

  
Clive  #290519  Wed, 08 Nov 06 06:27 AM

Hi,

A student learning English as a second language used this sentence construction:

It was lucky that we could see you.

to make this sentence:

It was happy that the man did not die.

Is that second sentence right or wrong. And, if it is wrong, why does this sentence work:

It was a happy event that the man did not die.

'It was lucky that . . .' is an idiomatic phrase. We say this because we like saying it. 'It was happy that . . ' is not an idiomatic phrase.

'It was a happy event' is just standard, common grammar.

Best wishes, Clive

  
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