What’s Up? What Happened? What’s the Matter? What’s Going On?
QUESTION:
Raul from Mexico wants to know what the difference is among these phrases:
What happened? / What’s up? / What’s the matter? / What’s going on?
ANSWER:
“What’s up?” can be used in two ways. One common way is as an informal greeting to mean “hello” or “how are you?” We use this with friends or people we know well in daily situations.
Jeff: What’s up?
Lucy: Not much. How about you?
We also use “What’s up?” when we ask what the situation is at a specific time. We use “What’s going on?” for the same purpose. For example, if you return home and there are police cars in front of your neighbor’s house, you may ask your husband or wife, “What’s up?” or “What’s going on?” You want to get information about this specific situation.
“What’s the matter?” and “What happened?” are also used to ask for information about a specific situation. However, these two questions are normally used for a situation where something bad or negative has happened or may have happened. For example, when your 6-year-old daughter starts crying, you may ask her, “What’s the matter?” and/or “What happened?” If your co-worker walks into your office with an angry look on her face, you may ask, “What’s the matter?” and/or “What happened?”
You can also use “What happened?” to ask about the result of something. If you know your co-worker asked your boss for a raise (higher pay or salary) and you see your co-worker the next day, you may ask, “What happened?” to find out the result.
Thanks for the question, Raul, and I hope this is helpful.
~ Lucy
November 18th, 2008 at 8:38 am
Very clear explanation Lucy. Thanks
November 18th, 2008 at 8:42 am
Hi Dr.Lucy
Thank You very much for your good information about this topic and for everything that you and Jeff have done . it’s great .
thank you
javad from iran
November 18th, 2008 at 12:54 pm
I like English just because it has these accuracy meanings, and your lesson is, as always, clear and of very easy understanding.
Thanks very much Lucy, all your fans like me, love you and your scripts so much.
November 18th, 2008 at 2:50 pm
I fully appreciate the blogs that you guys are posting. Thank you so much! It’s been very helpful.
November 18th, 2008 at 9:29 pm
well Lucy You’re doing a great job keep it up i find these phrasel verbs quite useful in every day life
November 18th, 2008 at 11:23 pm
eazy understand! thank you like always“
November 18th, 2008 at 11:37 pm
thanks , just what am looking for . i have knowen the ESLPOD receintly and it is fentestic , thanks Lusy and Jeff
November 19th, 2008 at 12:20 am
This information is very useful. Thanks for your great helps.
November 19th, 2008 at 5:11 am
Just to say you Thank you Lucy, as always great job!!
November 19th, 2008 at 6:05 am
t h a n k y o u v e r y m u c h
November 19th, 2008 at 8:28 am
Thank you so much, Lucy! You’re a great teacher!
November 19th, 2008 at 9:25 am
its very nice of you mrs Lucy that we can just look on the internet and find wherever we need, and this is a big help for someone that jus started like me.
November 19th, 2008 at 9:29 am
thank you lucy your are a great person.
November 19th, 2008 at 9:53 am
As usual very clear explanation, thank you very much….
November 19th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
HI, ESLPOD time…
it really was a great explanation about that topic. I’ve been trying get the mainnings of them for a long time by listenning in any conversantion; some of it I simple figured it out, but now… every thing is clear. thanks by being so helpful on your explanations!
November 19th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
Completely clear. Both of u r great. Thank u very much
November 19th, 2008 at 5:53 pm
Thanks for your great explanations.
November 20th, 2008 at 9:12 am
Thank you for your explanation, Lucy.
I nodded at your comments perhaps for at least 20 times.
There’re also phrasal verbs in English, which are pretty tough to understand and memorize for English learners.
But I know there’s no easy way to master phrasal verbs and I’d like you to put them more into your dialogues so that we can tell what they mean and how we can use them, if possible.
November 20th, 2008 at 9:13 am
I’ve heard the answers on “What’s up” such as you have mentioned as well as “Nothing much” and “Just chilling”
November 20th, 2008 at 6:43 pm
Thank you for the explanation.
It would be very helpful for me. I’ve sometimes heard that actor or actress says “What’s wrong?” in the movies and so on.
I would like to know the meaning the diffrences above words.
November 20th, 2008 at 10:34 pm
Thank you for very accurate information. From so many days, the question was in my mind. Thanks a lot.
November 21st, 2008 at 8:52 pm
What’s up Lucy?
I wanna thank you for your clear explanations. Now all is very clear to me.
November 22nd, 2008 at 6:57 am
Thank you for clear answers. It’s very useful information.
November 22nd, 2008 at 11:04 am
Great explanations! Thanks
November 23rd, 2008 at 2:11 am
Very nice clarification. Thanks a lot.
November 24th, 2008 at 1:10 am
Hi dear lucy,
thanks so much for your clear explanations.wish all teachers could do their teaching as you do.
December 12th, 2008 at 3:55 pm
I would also add, “What’s happening?”
What happened is asking a question about an event that already occurred. “What’s happening?” is used exactly the same way as “What’s going on?”
December 24th, 2008 at 12:04 pm
Thank you very much for you anwser, you are the best!!!