to occur / to pass on
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to occur
To take place, happen, or occur. Often used to describe incidents or stories.
Der Polizist fragte den Zeugen, wie der Unfall sich genau zugetragen habe.
The police officer asked the witness exactly how the accident had occurred.
'Zutragen' (to occur / to pass on) is a separable verb. The prefix 'zu' stands at the end in a main clause. In subordinate clauses and in the infinitive with 'zu', the verb stays together.
Der Vorfall trug sich gestern Abend zu.
The incident occurred yesterday evening.
In the meaning 'geschehen' (to happen), the verb is always used reflexively: 'sich zutragen' (to occur). The subject of the sentence is the event itself.
Können Sie beschreiben, wie sich die Sache zugetragen hat?
Can you describe how the matter occurred?
When someone passes on information to someone, the verb needs a dative (the person) and an accusative (the information). The passive formulation is very common: 'Mir wurde zugetragen, dass ...' (It was passed on to me that ...).
Ein Kollege hat mir zugetragen, dass eine neue Stelle frei wird.
A colleague passed on to me that a new position is becoming available.
The expression 'sich zutragen' (to occur) belongs to a rather formal or written register. You often find it in reports, narratives, or police language.
Die Geschichte soll sich vor langer Zeit in einem kleinen Dorf zugetragen haben.
The story is said to have occurred a long time ago in a small village.
to happen / pass
'passieren' and 'sich zutragen' both mean that something happens. 'passieren' is the normal everyday word and fits in almost any situation. 'sich zutragen' sounds more narrative and somewhat more elevated. It is often used when reporting an incident, a story, or something unusual. In everyday life, you are more likely to ask: 'Was ist passiert?' (What happened?) In a narrative or report, you can say: 'Was hat sich zugetragen?' (What occurred?)
Im alten Hotel trug sich vor vielen Jahren eine seltsame Geschichte zu.
A strange story occurred in the old hotel many years ago.
Heute Morgen ist in unserer Straße ein kleiner Unfall passiert.
A small accident happened on our street this morning.