这事发生在书的一开头。

It happens at the very beginning of the book.

《牛津词典》

这事发生在河南一个偏僻的农村。

The thing happened in an out-of-the-way village in Henan.

《新英汉大辞典》

这事发生在他到达以前。

It happened prior to his arrival.

《新英汉大辞典》

Through Yeats's poem, Easter, 1916 goes on happening, happening in a sense in and even to us.

通过叶芝的这首诗，1916年复活节起义之事，就好像在我们眼前发生。

耶鲁公开课 - 现代诗歌课程节选

This is the best thing that has happened to the violin in the last hundred years.

这是过去的几百年中,发生在小提琴身上最好的事

耶鲁公开课 - 聆听音乐课程节选

In fact, biographically this is what happens to Milton.

实际上就传记所写，这正是发生在弥尔顿身上的事。

耶鲁公开课 - 弥尔顿课程节选