Challenge - Spanish Verbs Requiring a Preposition - "Tratar" y "Tratar de + Infinitive"
This is a new challenge along the lines of The Word of the Day and The Picture of the Day. However due to my other obligations it will not be daily but I will try to provide one as often as I can, although my work sometimes requires me to be away for a week at a time.
There are well over 200 Spansh verbs that have a different meaning when a preposition is attached to the verb. There are basically two formulas:
Verb + Preposition + Infinitive Verb
Verb + Preposition + Object
The prepositional form will be given and one of your sentences in both Spanish and English should use that form.
Your other sentence in both Spanish and English should address one of the normal usages (ie non prepositional) of the verb.
Today's Words:
Tratar = To Treat
- How were you treated?
- ¿Cómo te trataron?
Tratar de + Infinitive= To try to "....."
- I try to work hard.
- Trato de trabajar duro.
This challenge should begin to focus all of us, especially me, on those pesky little prepositions that can change the entire meaning of a sentence.
Stealing the wording from The Word of the Day (thank you rac1) here are the guidelines.
There are many native English speakers here, most of us can offer great suggestions to the English sentences. I will do my best to go through them all, too. For the Spanish sentences, edit your posts according to the native Spanish speaker's suggestions. Use today's Word of the Day in your own Spanish sentence (and include the English translation as well). Try to use the word in a completely new way and vote on the sentences you like best. The winner will be chosen based upon the correct use of the word as well as the number of votes.
Write sentences at least 4-5 words long, but don't write a paragraph either. Write your Spanish sentence, but include the English translation as well. Make the corrections suggested by other users and moderators in the comments section (try not to use personal pronouns unless absolutely necessary). Use your own words! (Don't use a translator, copy from a book, use song lyrics, etc.) Please keep political, religious or personal statements to a minimum. This is a practice game.
7 Answers
Aunque varios investigadores han tratado de descubrir un medicamento que trate la demencia con éxito, no creo que haya tratamientos que la curen, y todavía permanece un problema con el que es díficil tratar.
Although a number of investigators have tried to discover a medication that will successfully treat dementia, I think don't there are any treatments that cure it, and it remains a problem with which it is difficult to deal.
En los libros y las películas Harry Potter el Señor malvado trataba de conquistar el mundo.
In the Harry Potter books and movies the evil Lord wanted to conquer the world.
Se trata de intentar a dormir, de dormirse..Solo durmiendo podemos soñar.
It's all about trying to sleep, to fall asleep. Only then can we dream.
Creo que en este sitio debemos tratar a los principantes con respeto y con suerte , se quedarán con nosotros y con tiempo se convertirán en personas sabias quienes, en su turno tratarán de todo el mundo con un respeto sin fin .
I think that, on this site, we should treat new-comers with respect, and with luck they will stay with us, and given time, become wise persons , who in their turn will try to show endless respect to all and sundry.
She tried to sing but the notes wouldn't come out.
Trató de cantar pero las notas no saldría.
He treated her terribly so she left.
La trataba terriblemente así que se fue.
I will try to treat the man who is trying to work hard for the boy who has his treaty that he signed for a Halloween treat yesterday.
Voy a intentar tratar al hombre que está tratando de trabajar duro para el muchacho que tiene su Tratado que se firmó ayer para un regalo de Halloween.
Cuando oigo de personas que cometen crimenes o tratan mal los otros, trato de recordar que en muchos casos ellos mismos fueron tratados mal cuando eran jovenes.
When I hear of people who commit crimes or treat others badly, I try to remember that in many cases they themselves were treated badly when they were young.
