📝 In Action
El gato está detrás del sofá.
A1The cat is behind the sofa.
Mira detrás de ti.
A1Look behind you.
La firma está detrás de la foto.
A2The signature is on the back of the photo.
Nos sentamos detrás en el cine para ver mejor.
A2We sat in the back at the movies to see better.
💡 Grammar Points
The All-Important 'de'
To say something is 'behind' another specific thing, you almost always need to add 'de'. For example, 'El coche está detrás DE la casa.' (The car is behind the house).
'Detrás' vs. 'Atrás'
'Detrás' usually points to a specific location behind something else ('detrás del árbol'). 'Atrás' is more general, meaning 'backwards' or 'in the back' ('Vamos atrás' - Let's go to the back).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting 'de'
Mistake: "El perro está detrás la puerta."
Correction: El perro está detrás DE la puerta. When you mention the object that something is behind, you need to connect them with 'de'.
Mixing up 'detrás de' and 'atrás de'
Mistake: "La silla está atrás de la mesa."
Correction: La silla está detrás de la mesa. While you might hear 'atrás de' in some regions, the standard and most correct way to say 'behind something' is 'detrás de'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Talking About the Back of Something
You can use 'detrás' to talk about the back side of an object, not just the space behind it. For example, 'Escribe tu nombre detrás de la hoja.' (Write your name on the back of the sheet).
Use 'del' for Masculine Nouns
Remember that 'de' + 'el' always combine to make 'del'. So you say 'detrás DEL coche' (behind the car), not 'detrás de el coche'.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: detrás
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly says 'The keys are behind the book'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the main difference between 'detrás' and 'atrás'?
It's a common point of confusion! Use 'detrás' (usually with 'de') to say something is behind a specific object: 'Estoy detrás de la puerta' (I'm behind the door). Use 'atrás' for a more general sense of 'back' or 'backwards': 'Ve hacia atrás' (Go backwards).
Can I just say 'tras' instead of 'detrás'?
'Tras' also means 'behind' but it sounds more formal or literary, like something you'd read in a book. In everyday conversation, 'detrás de' is much more common and natural.