occurs

/əˈkɜːr/ (bre, ipa) · [əkˈɚz] /əˈkɝː/ (ame, ipa) · [əkˈɚz] /ə-ˈkər/ (ame, mw)

occurs — verb

  • occurspresent simple I / you / we / they
  • occurses3rd person singular
  • occursing-ing form
  • occursedpast simple

1. When something occurs, it happens — often used when the event was not expected o

1.動詞不及物B1
釋義

When something occurs, it happens — often used when the event was not expected or planned. This sense is common for accidents, natural disasters, sudden changes, and other unplanned situations.

例句

The accident occurred at the intersection of Main Street and Park Avenue.

A powerful earthquake occurred off the coast of Japan early this morning.

同義詞
  • happen

    more common and neutral; works for both expected and unexpected events

  • take place

    often used for scheduled or planned events

  • come about

    more informal; emphasises how something developed

反義詞
  • be avoided

    describes events that did not happen despite possibility

文法句型

occur (intransitive — event + verb)

用法筆記

Intransitive only — this sense never takes a direct object. Best for accidents, natural events, and sudden changes; for planned events (meetings, weddings), 'take place' is more natural.

常見錯誤

❌The meeting occurred at 3 PM.
✅The meeting took place at 3 PM.
💡'occur' is best for unexpected events; use 'take place' for planned ones.

2. When something occurs in a particular place or group, it exists there or can be

2.動詞不及物B2
釋義

When something occurs in a particular place or group, it exists there or can be found there as a natural feature of that setting.

例句

This plant species occurs mainly in coastal areas of southern Africa.

occur in [location/area]

Similar symptoms occur in both adults and children with the illness.

同義詞
  • exist

    broader; can be used for anything that is present, not just as a feature

  • be found

    less formal; emphasises discoverability

  • appear

    suggests being noticed or becoming visible within a setting

反義詞
  • be absent

    describes something not present in a given setting

文法句型

occur in [place/group]

occur among [group]

用法筆記

Commonly paired with in, among, or across to specify the location, group, or range where something exists. Subject is typically a natural phenomenon, characteristic, species, or abstract feature.

常見錯誤

❌The disease occurs people who smoke.
✅The disease occurs in people who smoke.
💡'occur' is intransitive and needs a preposition like 'in' to connect to a group.

3. If an idea or thought occurs to you, you suddenly become aware of it or remember

3.動詞不及物B2
釋義

If an idea or thought occurs to you, you suddenly become aware of it or remember it, as if the thought appeared in your mind on its own.

例句

It occurred to Nellie that she had left her keys on the bus.

it occurs to someone that...

The idea of starting a bakery first occurred to Padma while she was traveling in France.

同義詞
  • come to mind

    less formal; suggests the thought simply appears

  • dawn on

    suggests gradual realisation rather than sudden awareness

  • strike

    suggests the thought comes with impact or surprise

反義詞
  • escape

    to not be noticed or remembered by someone

文法句型

occur to [person]

it occurs to [person] that...

用法筆記

Almost always used with the preposition 'to' (occur to someone). The subject is either the idea/thought or the dummy 'it' leading a that-clause. Never used with a person as the grammatical subject.

常見錯誤

❌I occurred that my passport was expired.
✅It occurred to me that my passport was expired.
💡the person cannot be the subject; use dummy 'it' or make the idea the subject.