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[upthera44.livejournal.com]

Could we get a discussion going on the various conversational uses of бывает? I've heard it used, I believe, to mean something like "It happens." Something like:

--Русские часто читают американские новости?

--Бывает.

Comments

[wolfie-18.livejournal.com]

Yeah, although it sounds somewhat weird in that context. Your question pretty much demands a yes or no (or maybe).

Бывает is more of like a response of an "oops" situation that you understand. Em... for example.

-О, Господи! Простите меня!
-Бывает.

A person who says "бывает" when you stumble around when drunk and you try to apologize is a nice, understanding guy :)

[upthera44.livejournal.com]

It sounds like Бывает is directly equivalent to the English phrase "It happens." People say it in situations where someone is apologizing for something, and the other person wants to indicate that it's no big deal. Is this the main meaning of Бывает then?