"I thought to do" vs "It occured to me to do"

Question

"I thought to do" vs "It occured to me to do"

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'I thought to do' is used when expressing one's own thoughts and intentions, while 'It occurred to me to do' is used when something suddenly comes to mind or is realized. They are not directly comparable as they serve different purposes.

Last Updated: March 21, 2024

This phrase is used to convey that one has considered or planned to do something.

Examples:

I thought to call her before leaving.
She thought to bring an umbrella just in case.
He thought to apologize for his mistake.
They thought to visit the museum on Saturday.
We thought to start the project next week.

This phrase is used to express a sudden idea or realization that prompts one to do something.

Examples:

It occurred to me to check the mailbox for the letter.
It occurred to me to ask for help with the assignment.
It occurred to me to buy a gift for her birthday.
It occurred to me to take a different route to avoid traffic.
It occurred to me to call my parents to say I love them.

Answer 1

I thought to do

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English when expressing one's own thoughts and intentions.

Answer 2

It occured to me to do

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English when something suddenly comes to mind or is realized.

"I thought to do" vs "It occured to me to do"

I thought to do

It occured to me to do

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