In Spanish, pasar and suceder both express the occurrence of events, but they are used in different contexts and with distinct nuances. Pasar is a versatile verb that can mean "to happen," "to pass," or "to go through," making it common in everyday situations. Suceder, on the other hand, is more formal and is used specifically for events that "occur" or "take place," often in a narrative or factual context.
- Pasar: to happen, to pass, to go through; used in various contexts including events, time, and experiences.
- Suceder: to happen, to occur, to take place; used for events, often in a formal or written context.
'Pasar' is used more broadly, while 'suceder' is reserved for formal or specific contexts.
Pasar is more common in everyday speech for such contexts.
'Suceder' is best for formal, historical, or sequential event descriptions.
Summary
- Pasar can describe events, experiences, time, and transitions (happen, pass, go through).
- Suceder is used for events that occur or take place, mainly in formal/narrative contexts.
- For everyday use, pasar is preferred; for formal or written contexts, suceder fits better.
Usage of pasar
Pasar is a highly flexible verb in Spanish. Besides meaning "to happen," it also means "to pass" (time or objects), and "to go through" (an experience). When used to describe events, pasar conveys that something occurs, often in an informal or conversational context.
- pasar = to happen, to pass, to go through
- Used for events, experiences, changes, and the passage of time
- Common in both spoken and written Spanish, especially in everyday contexts
Examples of pasar (to happen)
- ¿Qué pasó ayer?
What happened yesterday?
→ An event occurred that is relevant to the conversation.
- Algo extraño pasa en este barrio.
Something strange happens in this neighborhood.
→ A situation or event is unfolding in real-time or generally.
- No quiero que eso te pase a ti.
I don't want that to happen to you.
→ A (usually negative) event or situation occurring to someone.
Examples of pasar (to pass / go through)
- El tiempo pasa muy rápido.
Time passes very fast.
→ Refers to the passing of time.
- ¿Me puedes pasar la sal?
Can you pass me the salt?
→ Physical passing (handing over) of an object.
- Todos tenemos que pasar por momentos difíciles.
We all have to go through difficult times.
→ Experiencing something (going through).
'pasar' can mean to happen, to pass, or to go through.
'pasar' is used for the passage of time.
'pasar' is used for all kinds of experiences.
Usage of suceder
Suceder specifically means "to happen" or "to occur," and is typically reserved for situations where events unfold or take place, especially in more formal, written, or narrative contexts. It emphasizes the occurrence of events in a sequence or as a notable fact.
- suceder = to happen, to occur, to take place
- Used primarily for events or situations that "occur" or "come about"
- More common in formal, written, or narrative Spanish
- Often used to describe sequences (when one thing follows another)
Examples of suceder
- ¿Qué sucedió durante la reunión?
What happened during the meeting?
→ Asking about events that took place, often in a formal context (e.g., work).
- Los hechos sucedieron tal como se describen en el libro.
The events happened just as they are described in the book.
→ Describing events in a factual, narrative manner.
- Después de la fiesta, sucedió algo inesperado.
After the party, something unexpected occurred.
→ Introducing a significant event in a story or report.
- En este país, las elecciones suceden cada cuatro años.
In this country, elections occur every four years.
→ Using suceder to describe regular, formal events or occurrences.
'suceder' is best suited for formal and narrative contexts.
'suceden' is used for events that occur.
'suceder' can describe things that occur regularly or routinely.
Comparison in Context
| Situation | Use pasar | Use suceder |
|---|---|---|
| Something unexpected happens | Algo pasó... | Algo sucedió... |
| Describing a story | ¿Qué pasó...? | ¿Qué sucedió...? |
| Events in a report | (less common) | Los eventos sucedieron... |
| Everyday conversation | Muy común | Menos común, más formal |
| Regular occurrences | Pueden usar ambos, pasar es más casual | Las elecciones suceden cada... |
| Time passing | El tiempo pasa... | (No se usa para el tiempo) |
Summary
- Pasar is very versatile; use it for events, experiences, time, and even when handing things over.
- Suceder is more formal and is best suited for events that "occur" in stories, reports, or official contexts.
- For everyday conversation about things "happening," pasar is the safer choice; for formal writing or speeches, choose suceder.
Use 'pasar' in informal contexts or when mentioning experiences/time.
'pasar' and 'suceder' are not interchangeable in all contexts.
In summary, pasar and suceder both deal with events, but pasar is more versatile and common in everyday language, while suceder is reserved for formal or specific situations involving events.
- pasar: to happen, to pass, to go through; used broadly in daily life
- suceder: to happen, to occur; used for events in formal or written contexts
Use pasar for casual situations and suceder for formal narratives or reports.