Ocurrir VS OcurrirSE
So I use ocurrir for to happen all the time, like suceder and pasar, but I never have used it for occur until today, when I need to use it and I see it's ocurrirSE for that, is it correct to assume that "Me ocurro que" is it occurs to me that, or is it "me ocurre que" but then that's not occurrirSE is it? Gracias.
3 Answers
Hi, Jeezle...are you talking about "Se me ocurre que..."? meaning "it occurs to me that..."? If that is the case, it is similar to something like "Se me olvidó..." meaning "I forgot (something)".
Hola amigo,
When you are using "se me ocurre que," I believe that what is happening is that it is being used more in a passive sense, something like "It occurs to me" (or probably more literally "It is occurring to me.").
I may be muddling the details up, but I think I remember having read a discussion similar to this, and I will see if I can find it for you.
Aha! I found it. It's a bit long, but the explanation Lazarus gives on this thread over several responses is well worth the read. It begins with the more specific discussion of the double pronominal construction in relation to the expression "se me olvidó," but the discussion touches on a more general set of principles which can also be applied to other verb constructs such as "Se me occurió algo" and "Se me antojó algo." I hope you find it useful
Yes, "me ocurro" is occurirse but it is in its "infinitive form." All this means is that if you are making a statment that starts with a verb or construction that requires an infinitive you will use that form. For example "no va a ocurrirse..." It's not going to ocur to him/her. So it depends on the construction. All reflexive verbs like dormirse etc. require a me, te, se, nos, os, or se (l believe) in front of the verb in its regular congugation. But all reflexive verbs may and will be used in there infinitive form. Ex: Voy a dormirse. Gustaria dormirse. But---Me duermo a las neuve por la noche.
