trató
/trah-TOH/
tried
When trató means 'tried,' it shows an attempt or effort.
trató(Verb)
tried
?He/She/You attempted (to do something)
,attempted
?He/She/You made an effort
gave it a go
?informal attempt
📝 In Action
Ella trató de llamarte, pero no contestaste.
A2She tried to call you, but you didn't answer.
El equipo trató de ganar el partido, pero perdió por un punto.
B1The team attempted to win the game, but lost by one point.
¿Por qué no me preguntó? ¡Yo traté de ayudarle!
A2Why didn't he ask me? I tried to help him!
💡 Grammar Points
The Obligatory 'de'
When 'trató' means 'tried,' it must always be followed immediately by the little word 'de' before the action: 'trató de cocinar' (he tried to cook).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Missing the 'de'
Mistake: "Él trató cocinar la cena."
Correction: Él trató **de** cocinar la cena. (You must include 'de' when 'tratar' means 'to try'.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Single Action in the Past
Since 'trató' is in the preterite (simple past), it describes a single, completed attempt that happened at a specific time, whether successful or not.
Trató can mean 'treated,' referring to how someone interacted or dealt with another person.
trató(Verb)
treated
?He/She/You dealt with (a person or subject)
,handled
?managed a situation
addressed
?a problem or topic
📝 In Action
El jefe trató a sus empleados con respeto.
B1The boss treated his employees with respect.
Ella trató la herida de su perro con mucho cuidado.
B2She treated her dog's wound very carefully.
Usted trató el tema económico con demasiada ligereza.
C1You handled the economic issue too lightly.
💡 Grammar Points
Treating People (Personal 'a')
When 'trató' is followed by a person who is the object of the action (being treated), you must use the 'personal a': 'trató al cliente' (he treated the customer).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing 'trató de' and 'trató a'
Mistake: "Él trató de su esposa con cariño. (Incorrect use of 'de')"
Correction: Él trató **a** su esposa con cariño. ('Trató a' means 'he treated' a person; 'trató de' means 'he tried to' do something.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Medical Context
This meaning is used when talking about medical treatment: 'El doctor la trató con antibióticos' (The doctor treated her with antibiotics).
When referring to content, trató means 'was about,' indicating the theme or subject of a story.
trató(Verb)
was about
?The subject matter of a book or film
,dealt with
?The topic that was covered
concerned
?related to a topic
📝 In Action
La conferencia trató sobre el futuro de la inteligencia artificial.
B2The conference was about the future of artificial intelligence.
El libro de historia trató de las guerras del siglo XX.
B2The history book dealt with the wars of the 20th century.
Mi novela favorita trató temas de justicia social.
C1My favorite novel dealt with themes of social justice.
💡 Grammar Points
Use with 'de' or 'sobre'
When describing the topic of something, 'trató' must be followed by either 'de' or 'sobre'. Both are correct, but 'sobre' often feels slightly more explicit (about).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the Preposition
Mistake: "La película trató problemas familiares."
Correction: La película trató **sobre** problemas familiares. (You need a small connecting word like 'de' or 'sobre' to introduce the topic.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Impersonal Subject
This meaning usually has an impersonal subject like 'el libro' (the book), 'la conversación' (the conversation), or 'la película' (the movie), not a person.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: trató
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'trató' in the sense of 'to treat a person'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'trató' the same as 'trato'?
No. 'Trató' (with the accent mark on the 'o') is the simple past action (preterite): 'He/She tried.' 'Trato' (no accent) has two main uses: it is the present tense 'I treat/I try,' OR it is the noun 'the deal/the treatment.'
How do I know if 'trató' means 'tried' or 'treated'?
Look immediately after the word. If it is followed by the little word 'de' and then an action verb (e.g., 'trató de comer'), it means 'tried.' If it's followed by a person (e.g., 'trató a su hijo'), it means 'treated.'