<p>发生了什么事 more refers to an action/occurance which have/had happened. Finished doing/being smth
Like
我吃了一个苹果 (I ate the apple and now it doesnt exist)
While,
发生什么事了points that the situation is changed.
Like
他现在是一位老师了。he is a teacher now (before, he wasn't a teacher)
我不吃巧克力了。I don't eat chocolate (before, I used to eat, now, situation is changed, I don't eat chocolate)</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-04-09T19:41:51.813Z
2021-04-09T19:41:51.813Z
Arusyak Harutyunyan
<p>Actually no difference. You can use these two usages at will.
But I want to point out a small problem.
“我想知道他发生什么事了。” should be translated as “I wonder what has happened to him.”
&quot;他&quot; means &quot;he/him&quot; and “她” means &quot;she/her&quot;.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-04-09T11:47:36.440Z
2021-04-09T11:47:36.440Z
Ahhhhhhh
<blockquote>
  <p>发生了什么事 VS 发生什么事了</p>
</blockquote>

<p>There isn't essential difference between them. They mean the same and are interchangeable.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-01-01T00:11:21.460Z
2020-01-01T00:11:21.460Z
dan
<p>Compare the position of 了 in the following sentences:</p>

<pre><code>发生了什么事？
What happened?

我想知道他发生什么事了。
I wonder what has happened to her.
</code></pre>

<p>Can you explain what the difference is in the positions of the 了? </p>

<grammar>
Position of 了in 发生了什么事 vs 发生什么事了
# Position of 了in 发生了什么事 vs 发生什么事了

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-12-31)

Compare the position of 了 in the following sentences:

```
发生了什么事？
What happened?

我想知道他发生什么事了。
I wonder what has happened to her.

```

Can you explain what the difference is in the positions of the 了?

**Tags:** grammar


---

## 3 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2020-01-01. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

> 发生了什么事 VS 发生什么事了

There isn't essential difference between them. They mean the same and are interchangeable.


---

### Answer by username_1 on 2021-04-09. Score: 3

发生了什么事 more refers to an action/occurance which have/had happened. Finished doing/being smth
Like
我吃了一个苹果 (I ate the apple and now it doesnt exist)
While,
发生什么事了points that the situation is changed.
Like
他现在是一位老师了。he is a teacher now (before, he wasn't a teacher)
我不吃巧克力了。I don't eat chocolate (before, I used to eat, now, situation is changed, I don't eat chocolate)


---

### Answer by username_2 on 2021-04-09. Score: 0

Actually no difference. You can use these two usages at will.
But I want to point out a small problem.
“我想知道他发生什么事了。” should be translated as “I wonder what has happened to him.”
"他" means "he/him" and “她” means "she/her".


---

