Intentar vs. tratar de

Question

I've know that they both mean to try to do something, but I only use tratar de, because I never actually learned how use intentar.

For example, to say

"I'm trying to watch a movie, but the TV is broken," I could say

"Trato de ver una película ahorita, pero la tele está rota." right?

But how would I use intentar in that instance?

Answer 1

They are not exactly synonymous, because as our dictionary states, intentar is a transitive verb, while tratar (de) [when meaning to try] is an intransitive verb.

Well yes, that's right, but that only changes the composition of the sentence, anyway they can be used interchangeably, of course, with their own forms. - Dakie, Feb 24, 2011

But as far as connotation is concerned, are there certain situations where you would use intentar vs. tratar de or would you always just use them interchangeably? - mayodude, Feb 24, 2011

Tratar de and intentar are synonymous. Tratar without de can mean to try or to treat, depending on the context. - gone, Feb 24, 2011

Answer 2

tratar de only means to try to. It is never used by itself to mean to try. By itself it means among others thing to treat . Intentar is used with an infintive to mean try to and by istelf.

Bella, you are right, but there are instances in which Tratar without de can also mean try. Voy a tratarlo can both mean I am going to try it or I am going to treat it. Great comment, btw! - gone, Feb 24, 2011

Answer 3

Trato de ver una película en este momento pero el televisor está descompuesto (roto means broken into pieces, not out of order).

Intento ver una película en este momento pero el televisor está descompuesto

Same thing!

Answer 4

Hey dude, I think you should have written "I've known" isn't it?. And yes, they mean the same thing, see you the weekend to chat I've got new jokes.

They mean the same in that sense, of course. - Dakie, Feb 24, 2011

Can't wait for the jokes, haha - mayodude, Feb 24, 2011