Cool MateWhat happened to vs What'd you do with
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
What happened to
Top 2,000 (common)
What'd you do with
InformalTop 2,000 (common)
Most formal: What happened to
| What happened to | What'd you do with | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //wɒt ˈhæp(ə)nd tuː//🇺🇸 //wɑt ˈhæpənd tu// | 🇬🇧 //wɒt dʒə duː wɪð//🇺🇸 //wɑt dʒə du wɪð// |
| Meaning | A way to ask about an event or situation. | A way to ask about someone's actions or possession. |
| Example | What happened to the old library? | What'd you do with my keys? |
| Register | Neutral | Informal |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| Collocations | wonder what happened to, ask what happened to, speculate what happened to | What'd you do with this, What'd you do with it, What'd you do with that |
| Common mistakes | Use 'What happened with' instead of 'What happened to'., Confuse with 'What has happened to' for past tense., Omit 'to' and say 'What happened' incorrectly. | Omitting 'what' and saying 'you do with' instead., Incorrectly using 'what'd' in formal contexts., Mispronouncing the contraction, making it unclear. |
| Usage notes | Commonly used in conversation to inquire about the outcome or changes related to a situation. Avoid using in formal writing. | Used in casual conversations. Avoid in formal writing or when addressing someone you don't know well. |
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Frequently asked questions: What happened to vs What'd you do with
What's the difference between What happened to and What'd you do with?
What happened to: A way to ask about an event or situation. What'd you do with: A way to ask about someone's actions or possession.
Which is more formal: What happened to and What'd you do with?
What happened to is the most formal of these.
Can you show an example of each?
What happened to: What happened to the old library? What'd you do with: What'd you do with my keys?
Can I use What happened to and What'd you do with interchangeably?
Not always. What happened to and What'd you do with are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.