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passieren konnte

could happen

→ passieren
phrase Rare #36,314
could happen Often appears in questions or comments about how something happened or could have happened.
GE: Ich weiß nicht, wie das passieren konnte.
EN: I don't know how that could happen.

Tom wusste nicht, wie das passieren konnte.

Tom didn't know how that could have happened.

Ich trat zur Seite, damit Tom passieren konnte.

I stepped aside to let Tom pass.

Ich kann mir nicht erklären, wie das passieren konnte.

I can't explain how this could have happened.

Darüber reden, wie das mit Daniel passieren konnte?

Let's talk about how this could have happened to Daniel?

— Fack ju Göhte (2013)

Das Beste, was mir passieren konnte, Doktor.

The best thing that could have happened to me, Doctor.

— Carandiru (2003)

Vater sagt, Dumbledore ist das Schlimmste, was dieser Schule passieren konnte.

Father says Dumbledore is the worst thing that could have happened to this school.

— Harry Potter und die Kammer des Schreckens (2002)