Cool MateWhat happened vs What'd you do
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
What happened
Top 2,000 (common)
What'd you do
InformalTop 2,000 (common)
Most formal: What happened
| What happened | What'd you do | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //wɒt ˈhæp.ənd//🇺🇸 //wɑt ˈhæpənd// | 🇬🇧 //wɒt dʒə du//🇺🇸 //wɑt dʒə du// |
| Meaning | Ask someone about an event or situation. | What did you do? |
| Example | Can you tell me what happened during the meeting? | After the weekend, I asked my friend, 'What'd you do?' |
| Register | Neutral | Informal |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| Collocations | what happened next, what happened then, can you tell me what happened | ask what'd you do, heard what'd you do, wonder what'd you do |
| Antonyms | What will happen, What is going to happen, What occurs next | - |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'what's happening?' which refers to current events., Using it to ask about an ongoing situation instead of a past event., Inappropriately using 'happened' in place of 'has happened' in some contexts. | Using it in a formal context., Not recognizing it's a contraction of 'What did you do?'., Confusing it with similar phrases like 'What are you doing?' |
| Usage notes | Use in conversations to inquire about past events. Suitable in both formal and informal settings. | Used in casual conversations, typically when asking someone about their recent actions or experiences. Not suitable for formal or professional contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: What happened vs What'd you do
What's the difference between What happened and What'd you do?
What happened: Ask someone about an event or situation. What'd you do: What did you do?
Which is more formal: What happened and What'd you do?
What happened is the most formal of these.
Can you show an example of each?
What happened: Can you tell me what happened during the meeting? What'd you do: After the weekend, I asked my friend, 'What'd you do?'
Can I use What happened and What'd you do interchangeably?
Not always. What happened and What'd you do 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.