occur是比较正式的用语,可用于具体或抽象的事物, 通常指按计划或规律在较为确定的时间“发生”的事。如: I'm afraid that this would occur during my absence.= I'm afraid that this would happen during my absence.恐怕这事会在我不在时发生。 happen常指具体事件的发生,特别指那些偶然的或未能预见的“发生”。比如: New things are happening all around us. 我们身边总有新事发生。
三:典型例句
1、happen
——He gave me a guarantee that it would never happen again.
他向我保证这种事情绝不会再发生。
——Who can say what will happen next year?
谁能说得出明年会发生什么事?
——All these changes happened over a period of time.
所有这些变化都是在一段时间内发生的。
2、occur
——When exactly did the incident occur?
这一事件究竟是什么时候发生的?
——Such events occur only when the external conditions are favorable.
这种事情只有在外部条件有利时才会发生。
——These changes have occurred over a long time span.
都含“发生”的意思. happen为常用词语,指“一切客观事物或情况的偶然或未能预见地发生”,如: The accident happened yesterday. 事故发生在昨天. occur属正式用语,指“按计划使某事或效果发生”,通常所指的时间和事件都比较确定,在以具体事物、事件作主语时,可与happen 互换,如: These events occurred in 1909. 这些事件发生于1909年.