Inklingo
A bright yellow lightning bolt suddenly striking the ground near a tree under a blue sky, illustrating a sudden event.

ocurrir Preterite Conjugation

ocurrirto happen

A1regular -ir★★★★★
Quick answer:

The preterite of ocurrir is regular: ocurrí, ocurriste, ocurrió, ocurrimos, ocurristeis, ocurrieron.

ocurrir Preterite Forms

yoocurrí
ocurriste
él/ella/ustedocurrió
nosotrosocurrimos
vosotrosocurristeis
ellos/ellas/ustedesocurrieron

When to Use the Preterite

Use the preterite to describe a specific event that happened at a definite point in time, such as an accident or a sudden realization.

Notes on ocurrir in the Preterite

Ocurrir is fully regular in the preterite. Be careful with the accent marks on the first and third person singular.

Example Sentences

  • El accidente ocurrió a las tres de la tarde.

    The accident happened at three in the afternoon.

    él/ella/usted

  • Muchos cambios ocurrieron el año pasado.

    Many changes happened last year.

    ellos/ellas/ustedes

  • ¿Ocurriste tú por allí de casualidad?

    Did you happen to be there by chance?

Common Mistakes

  • Mistake: ocurrio

    Correct: ocurrió

    Why: The third-person singular preterite must have an accent on the 'ó' to distinguish it from other forms.

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Related Tenses