Memorize “Ocurrir” conjugations in the Preterite (Past) Tense effortlessly. Our unique loop-based audio helps you absorb verb forms naturally—just like native speakers. Tap to play and start memorizing 10x faster now!
Pro Tip: Play the audio on a loop while reviewing the conjugation chart to naturally absorb the correct forms. Try it now!
Conjugation Chart of “Ocurrir” (to occur/happen) in the Preterite (Past) Tense
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Yo | ocurrí |
| Tú | ocurriste |
| Él / Ella / Usted | ocurrió |
| Nosotros / Nosotras | ocurrimos |
| Vosotros / Vosotras | ocurristeis |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | ocurrieron |
Why Use Loop-Based Learning
- 🧠 Activates natural language processing in the brain
- 🔄 Makes conjugations feel automatic
- 📝 Reduces mental effort compared to rote memorization
- 💡 Builds fluency through repetition
Unlike traditional methods that rely on memorizing rules and grammar drills, our approach mimics how native speakers naturally acquire language—by hearing patterns repeatedly in context. This activates your brain’s phonological loop, making verb forms feel familiar and automatic.
To learn more about the science behind this technique, read our detailed article: The Neuroscience of Language Learning: How Listening on a Loop Strengthens Your Fluency
Understanding the Preterite (Past) Tense of “Ocurrir”
The preterite of ocurrir is used to express when something happened or occurred at a specific moment in the past. For example, when you want to say “The accident occurred last night” – “El accidente ocurrió anoche.”
This verb follows the regular -ir conjugation pattern in the preterite tense. All forms follow the standard pattern without any stem changes.
How to Use Ocurrir in the Preterite (Past) Tense
The Preterite of ocurrir expresses completed events or occurrences.
To occur/happen: Describes specific events that took place, for example El accidente ocurrió ayer (The accident occurred yesterday), or Ocurrieron muchas cosas (Many things happened).
To come to mind: Can refer to thoughts occurring, for example Se me ocurrió una idea (An idea occurred to me).
Real Life Examples of Ocurrir in the Preterite (Past) Tense
El accidente ocurrió en la esquina. (The accident occurred at the corner.)
¿Qué ocurrió durante la reunión? (What happened during the meeting?)
Todo ocurrió muy rápido. (Everything happened very quickly.)
Los eventos ocurrieron en secuencia. (The events occurred in sequence.)
Eso ocurrió hace mucho tiempo. (That happened a long time ago.)
La explosión ocurrió a medianoche. (The explosion occurred at midnight.)
Varios accidentes ocurrieron ese día. (Several accidents happened that day.)
¿Cuándo ocurrió el terremoto? (When did the earthquake occur?)
El incidente ocurrió durante el festival. (The incident occurred during the festival.)
Las protestas ocurrieron en el centro. (The protests occurred downtown.)
Algo extraño ocurrió anoche. (Something strange happened last night.)
La tragedia ocurrió sin previo aviso. (The tragedy occurred without warning.)
Los cambios ocurrieron gradualmente. (The changes occurred gradually.)
El milagro ocurrió en el hospital. (The miracle occurred at the hospital.)
La transformación ocurrió naturalmente. (The transformation occurred naturally.)
Conjugation Chart with English Translations
Conjugations of Ocurrir (to occur/happen) in the Preterite (Past) Tense (Castilian Spanish) with English Translations:
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Yo ocurrí | I occurred |
| Tú ocurriste | You occurred |
| Él / Ella / Usted ocurrió | He / She / You (formal) occurred |
| Nosotros / Nosotras ocurrimos | We occurred |
| Vosotros / Vosotras ocurristeis | You all occurred |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes ocurrieron | They / You all (formal) occurred |
This post covers Castilian Spanish. For Latin American Spanish, click here
Synonyms
The Preterite tense is also known as the Simple Past, Past Simple, Definite Past, Absolute Past, or Past Tense Indicative in English, and as Pretérito Perfecto Simple, Pretérito Indefinido, Pretérito Simple, Pasado Simple, or Pretérito de Indicativo in Spanish.