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.
to pass on
To tell someone a piece of information or a rumor secretly or informally; to pass something along.
Mir wurde zugetragen, dass die Chefin mit meiner Arbeit nicht zufrieden ist.
It was passed on to me that the boss is not satisfied with my work.
'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 can both refer to an unexpected event or incident. Passieren sounds neutral and is common in everyday speech, while sich zutragen is more often used in a report or narrative account. Passieren is usually more natural in conversation; sich zutragen can be appropriate in a report.
Niemand weiß genau, was sich gestern an diesem Ort zugetragen hat.
No one knows exactly what occurred at this place yesterday.
Niemand weiß genau, was gestern an diesem Ort passiert ist.
No one knows exactly what happened at this place yesterday.
