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"Ocupar" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to take up", and "tocar" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to touch". Learn more about the difference between "ocupar" and "tocar" below.
ocupar(
oh
-
koo
-
pahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
1. (to cover)
a. to take up (space)
Los juguetes de los niños ocupan mucho espacio.The kid's toys take up a lot of space.
2. (to invade)
3. (to hold)
a. to occupy
Ha ocupado el puesto de gerente por casi cinco años.He's occupied the manager position for almost five years.
a. to be in
El ciclista colombiano ocupa el primer puesto de la clasificación general.The Colombian cyclist is in the first position of the general standings.
a. to keep occupied
Ya no sé en qué ocupar a los niños.I just don't know how to keep the children occupied anymore.
7. (to hire)
a. to employ
El nuevo proyecto de la industria aeroespacial ocupará a cientos de ingenieros.The new aerospace project will employ hundreds of engineers.
8. (to seize)
ocuparse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
10. (to tackle)
a. to be in charge of
Yo me ocupaba de las compras y de las exportaciones.I was in charge of purchases and exports.
12. (to look after)
a. to take care of
Tanto el padre como la madre se ocupan de sus hijos.Both the father and the mother take care of their children.
tocar(
toh
-
kahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
1. (to feel)
a. to touch
Puedes saber si tu bebé tiene fiebre tocando su frente.You can tell if your baby has a fever by touching her forehead.
5. (to broach)
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
8. (to chime)
a. to ring
Las campanas de la iglesia tocan todos los domingos para llamar a los fieles a misa.The church bells ring every Sunday to call the faithful to mass.
9. (to tap)
a. to knock
Ana, alguien está tocando a la puerta. ¿Puedes ir a ver quién es, por favor? Yo estoy en la ducha.Ana, there's someone knocking at the door. Can you please go see who it is? I'm in the shower.
10. (to secure)
a. to win
No te lo vas a creer, pero nos ha tocado la lotería.You won't believe it, but we've won the lottery.
a. to be someone's turn
¿Quién va a lavar los platos? - Te toca a ti.Who's going to do the dishes? - It's your turn.
12. (to need to)
a. to have to
Mañana toca hacer la declaración de la renta. ¡Lo odio!I have to do my tax return tomorrow. I hate it!
tocarse
A reflexive verb is a verb that indicates that the subject performs an action on itself (e.g., Miguel se lava.).
A reciprocal verb is a verb that indicates that two or more subjects perform an action on each other (e.g., Ellos se abrazan.).
a. to touch each other
Solo nos tocamos para estrecharnos la mano.We don't touch each other unless it's to shake hands.
