I do not understand this phrase "happened to be"?
Is it possible to just write "happened"?

The most cigarette butts I’ve ever seen littered on the street also happened to be in Japan, at a bus stop for commuters out of Tokyo.

Question

I do not understand this phrase "happened to be"?
Is it possible to just write "happened"?

The most cigarette butts I’ve ever seen littered on the street also happened to be in Japan, at a bus stop for commuters out of Tokyo.

Answer

I think that"happen to be" means "it's a coincidence"
so the sentence means "It's a coincidence that the most cigarette butts I've ever seen littered on the street is also in Japan"

Answers · 2

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