tratar
/trah-TAR/
to try
When you try (tratar) to accomplish a goal, like reaching a high apple.
tratar(Verb)
to try
?followed by 'de' + an action
,to attempt
?making an effort to do something
📝 In Action
Trato de comer más verduras.
A2I try to eat more vegetables.
Ella trató de llamarte ayer.
A2She tried to call you yesterday.
Estamos tratando de arreglar el coche.
B1We are trying to fix the car.
💡 Grammar Points
The Magic Word 'De'
When you use 'tratar' to mean 'to try', you MUST put the word 'de' right after it, before the next action. It's like a bridge connecting 'tratar' to the verb.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Missing the Bridge
Mistake: "Trato estudiar."
Correction: Trato DE estudiar. Without 'de', the sentence feels incomplete to a Spanish speaker.
⭐ Usage Tips
Intentar vs. Tratar de
'Intentar' and 'Tratar de' both mean 'to try', but 'Tratar de' implies a bit more effort or struggle, while 'intentar' is just the intent. They are usually interchangeable though!
We must treat (tratar) others with kindness and respect.
tratar(Verb)
to treat
?behavior towards someone
,to handle
?dealing with a person or object
to address
?speaking to someone using formal/informal titles
📝 In Action
Mis jefes me tratan muy bien.
A2My bosses treat me very well.
Hay que tratar este material con cuidado.
B1You have to handle this material with care.
¿Cómo te trataron en el hotel?
A2How did they treat you at the hotel?
💡 Grammar Points
Direct Action
Unlike the meaning 'to try' (tratar de), when you mean 'to treat someone,' you don't need the word 'de'. You just go straight to the person or thing. 'Trato a mis amigos' (I treat my friends).
⭐ Usage Tips
Social Manners
You can use 'tratar de tú' (to address as 'tú') or 'tratar de usted' to describe how formal you are being with someone.
This book is about (tratar de) dinosaurs.
tratar(Verb)
to be about
?the subject of a book, movie, etc.
,to deal with
?a topic or subject matter
📝 In Action
Esta película trata de la guerra civil.
B1This movie is about the civil war.
¿De qué trata el libro?
B1What is the book about?
La reunión trató sobre los nuevos precios.
B2The meeting dealt with the new prices.
💡 Grammar Points
Tratar de vs. Tratarse de
You can say 'El libro trata de...' (The book treats of...) OR you can use the reflexive form 'Se trata de...' (It treats itself of...). The second one is very common when you don't mention the book/movie by name, like saying 'It's about...' in English.
❌ Common Pitfalls
False Friend 'About'
Mistake: "El libro es sobre de..."
Correction: While you can use 'sobre' (El libro es sobre...), it sounds much more natural to say 'El libro trata de...'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Summarizing Plots
If someone asks you '¿De qué va?' (What's it about?), start your answer with 'Trata de un hombre que...' (It's about a man who...).
The doctor will treat (tratar) the injury with a bandage.
tratar(Verb)
to treat
?medical care or chemical processing
,to do business with
?usually 'tratar con'
📝 In Action
El médico está tratando la infección.
B2The doctor is treating the infection.
No me gusta tratar con esa empresa.
B2I don't like doing business with that company.
⭐ Usage Tips
Context Matters
In a hospital, 'tratar' is medical. In an office, 'tratar con' usually means negotiating or dealing with difficult people.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: tratar
Question 1 of 2
If you want to say 'I am trying to sleep', which sentence is correct?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'intentar' and 'tratar de'?
They both mean 'to try'. 'Intentar' is slightly more about the intention, while 'tratar de' emphasizes the effort or process. However, in daily conversation, they are almost 100% interchangeable.
Do I always need 'de' after 'tratar'?
No! Only use 'de' when you mean 'to try to do something' or 'to be about something'. If you mean 'to treat a person' or 'to treat an illness', do not use 'de'.