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As in "I had that happen before." Why is this correct? Does this mean that something has happened to someone or that you made/let something happen?

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  • Do you think it is correct?
    – Varun Nair
    Apr 28, 2016 at 7:00
  • In most contexts, I had that happen before simply means I underwent that situation/experience before, but in certain contexts it could carry the implication I caused that to happen before. I don't think there are any contexts where it could imply I let/allowed that to happen before. Apr 28, 2016 at 14:03

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I had that happen before

In this sentence, that is referring to the thing or event that happened. It's not specified what caused the event, or who or what it happened to. It just happened.

The person is saying, in effect, I have had previous experience of this event, and the assumption is that the person he or she is speaking to understands the subject under discussion.

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