ocurriendo
oh-koo-RYEN-doh
Quick Reference
📝 In Action
¿Qué está ocurriendo aquí? Hay mucho ruido.
A2What is happening here? There is a lot of noise.
La ceremonia está ocurriendo en este momento.
B1The ceremony is occurring at this moment.
No te preocupes, no está ocurriendo nada grave.
B1Don't worry, nothing serious is happening.
💡 Grammar Points
Forming the Continuous Tense
To show that something is currently 'happening,' you must use the verb 'estar' (to be) followed by 'ocurriendo': 'El cambio está ocurriendo' (The change is happening).
Always Ends in -iendo
Since the base verb 'ocurrir' ends in -ir, its present participle form always ends in -iendo. This form is always the same, regardless of who or what is doing the action.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'Ser' Instead of 'Estar'
Mistake: "El evento es ocurriendo."
Correction: El evento está ocurriendo. Use 'estar' when talking about actions currently in progress.
⭐ Usage Tips
Impersonal Events
'Ocurriendo' is most often used to describe events, situations, or phenomena, rather than a person intentionally performing an action.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: ocurriendo
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'ocurriendo'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'está ocurriendo' and 'está pasando'?
Both mean 'it is happening.' 'Pasando' (from *pasar*) is much more common and casual for everyday events. 'Ocurriendo' (from *ocurrir*) is often used in slightly more formal contexts or when referring to important or unusual events.
Can I use 'ocurriendo' without 'estar'?
Yes, but rarely. You might see it used as an adjective (e.g., 'eventos ocurriendo'), but 99% of the time, you will use it with a form of 'estar' to create the continuous tense.