el uso del verbo tocar

Question

I have to work can be "me toca trabajar" or " yo tengo que trabajar"

Answer 1

I might be wrong about this but the way I see it:

• (yo) tengo que trabajar -- I need/have to work, I have work to do

• me toca trabajar -- it's my turn to work

Taken from about.com (linky): When tocar is used with an indirect object, it can refer to the turn or responsibility of the person who is the indirect object. The exact translation depends on the context:

¿A quién le toca? (Whose turn is it? Whose job is it?)

El miércoles de esa semana me toca trabajar. (On Wednesday of that week it's my responsibility to work.)

Nos toca pagar. (It's our turn to pay. It's up to us to pay.)

That's a very good explanation. - 003492fc, Aug 23, 2013

Good answer. - annierats, Aug 23, 2013