Questions & Answers about Что случилось?
Why does случилось take a neuter ending here?
Why does the verb end in -сь instead of the usual reflexive -ся?
The base verb is случиться (to happen), which is reflexive. When conjugating reflexive verbs in the past tense, the particle becomes -сь after a vowel (like the -о in the neuter ending) and stays -ся after a consonant (like in the masculine form случился).
Is случилось a perfective or imperfective verb?
It is perfective. You are asking about a specific, completed event or result that has just occurred, which requires the perfective aspect.
Can I use this phrase to ask someone 'What's wrong?'
Yes! Что случилось? is the most standard and natural way to ask 'What happened?', 'What is the matter?', or 'What is wrong?' in everyday conversational Russian.
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