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"Suceder" is an intransitive verb which is often translated as "to happen", and "ocurrir" is an intransitive verb which is also often translated as "to happen". Learn more about the difference between "suceder" and "ocurrir" below.
suceder(
soo
-
seh
-
dehr
)An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
1. (to occur)
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
2. (to follow)
b. to follow
Una noche de celebración desenfrenada sucedió a la solemnidad de la graduación.A night of unbridled celebration followed the graduation ceremony.
sucederse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
3. (events)
a. to follow one after another
Se sucedieron muchos eventos trascendentales en España durante el siglo XV.Many monumental events followed one after another in Spain during the 15th century.
ocurrir(
oh
-
koo
-
rreer
)An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
ocurrirse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
a. to occur to
Se me ocurre que nunca te felicité cuando te casaste.It occurs to me that I never congratulated you when you got married.
b. to have an idea
Se le ocurrió vender en mercados locales.He had the idea of selling at local markets.
c. to think of
¿Se te ocurre un título para nuestro proyecto?Can you think of a title for our project?
