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Intentar means "to try (to)", "attempt"
Tratar has several meanings: (1) Without preposition it can translated as "treat", "use", "handle", "regard",... (2) With preposition "de" it is practically identical to "intentar":

Intentar ayudar = tratar de ayudar
Intento aprender español = trato de aprender español

English has similar verbs, like "apply". You say "apply a cream", but not "apply a job" (apply FOR a job". The preposition changes its meaning.


"From a Spanish native speaker friend"

. Let me give you some examples in Spanish. Both verbs are correct. You can say:

Estoy tratando de aprender Español or Trato de aprender Español
Estoy intentando aprender Español or Intento aprender Español

("Tratar" is always followed by the preposition "de")




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Excellent. However, in English "To intend to" and "To try to" do not necessarily mean the same things. So how would this be treated in Spanish:

"I am trying to pass the test with the intention of getting accepted.". What verbs would be in play here?

And what about the verb "Tentar" ...which means "to try" as well?

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bypassin' kinky, and usin' the whole chicken!!!

I discovered a new expression complex, and added it to the post on the first page.

Supposition or probability: " deber " + de " + {infinitive}
Ella debe de estar enferma porque sale de casa raremente. (She (must be sick / is probably sick) because she rarely leaves the house.)

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Again. I'm not a native speaker and atoll have a lot to learn.

I would say "she must be sick because she rarely leaves the house"

Ella debe ser enferma porque ella raramente sale de la casa

Where you used "de estar" I used "ser" I think either is correct depending on formal / informal

Probably i would replace "raramente" with "probablemente"




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I took this from the Barron's book 501 Spanish Verbs. The expression "deber que " plus an infinitive is a special case, similar to "tener que" ... and the example I used was directly from the book.

Why they chose estar over ser I do not know, but they deliberately did not use "probablemente" because that is the purpose of the "deber que" expression; to express supposition. Remember that 'raramente' is an adverb describing the verb 'salir'. 'She leaves rarely'. It occurs after the preposition 'porque' and does not relate back to the 'debe de estar' expression.

I am going to write up this expression on italki and get some feedback. If it's worthwhile, I will copy the replies here.

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"I am trying to pass the test with the intention of getting accepted.". What verbs would be in play here?

Translation: Estoy tratando de pasar el examen con la intención de ser aceptado.

Thanks J, but I am trying to understand how to express 'intention' as we do in English, with the verb "to intend".

The definitions for "intentar" seem to mean "to try", which is not the same meaning in English.

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bypassin' kinky, and usin' the whole chicken!!!

Been giving some thought in trying to answer your question. I have come to the conclusion as gringos we are never going to be perfect unless we totally immerse ourselves in a country for several months at a time. Even then there is just so much a non native speaker will ever learn and retain. In addition, so much really depends on context.


Some examples of the use of "intend"

We intend to effect not only changes in behavior, but changes in attitude as well.

Pretendemos llevar a cabo no sólo cambios de comportamiento, sino cambios de actitud también.

What results do you intend to find with this investigation?

Qué resultados pretendes encontrar con esta investigación?

I intend to divide my comments into two parts.

Voy a dividir mis comentarios en dos partes

Do you intend to send out that information?

Tiene la intención de enviarnos esa información?

I asked about when you intend to consult Parliament.

Le he preguntado cuándo piensa consultar al Parlamento.

In Germany, we intend to facilitate and support similar contacts with Muslim groups.

En Alemania, nos proponemos facilitar y apoyar contactos similares con los grupos musulmanes.

So this is exactly what we intend to do.

Así que eso es exactamente lo que procuraremos hacer.


I have resigned myself to improving my communication and listening skills above all else

I also have 501 Spanish Verbs and find it a valuable tool. Nothing will ever replace using the language on a daily basis.


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I know, ergo "la intención" which is more at intent and tratar is more at try.


Mi intención es que te enamores conmigo. My intention is that you fall in love with me.
Voy a intentar que te enamores de mi. I'm going to try to get you to fall in love with me.

The two words are different but sometimes there's a gray area. For example.

intentó meter el gol. He intended/tried to make the goal.

JT

Correct me if I'm wrong. But wouldn't "he tried to make the goal" also be said correctly as

El/Su intentó hacer la meta ?


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Very good examples. Think about this one:

"By arresting CD, the authorities intend to curtail our hobby."

Now, from our point of view, they will 'try' and fail. From their point of view, they will not 'try', they will succeed. Remember Yoda's old one-liner: "do or do not, there is no try!". Yoda obviously never studied Spanish!

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Well thats a bit literal, which means that it makes sense to google translator aps, but not to any Spanish speaker.

Hacer la meta should actually be "alcanzar la meta", or arriving at/achieving the goal, like a sales goal or life goal. Not necessarily a "gol".

Alcanzó su meta de ventas, for example.

In fútbol, one speaks of anotando el gol, meter el gol, never haciendo la meta.
And always in fútbol with the intent to get one past the guarda meta or portero.

A new one.

"Ya que no tengo la mia toco alquilar en san andress."

Google translate says: "Since I do not have mine I touch rent san andress", so I understand what is being said. Oh, it's a photo of a chica sitting on a scooter.

I do not understand the "Ya que" part. How does that translate into "Since"? Is it a Colombian thing, or typical latino speak?

Also, why use "toco alquilar" instead of "alquilo" to say "I rent"? From my limited knowledge, "tocar" is to touch or play an instrument. Why is it important in the renting of a vehicle?

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Ya means "already" or "now"


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hmm ... "Ya que no tengo..." = "Now that I don't have..." ???

In English this suggests that you did have at one point. Google translated it to "Since", and that was correct based upon the entire message.

I will add "Ya que" to my growing vocabulary. I added it to page 1 as well.

[EDIT] answering myself. Ya que... means "Since" different from Desde, which is a Preposition. Ya que... suggests a potential, alternate reality, and when it does, you follow it in the Subjunctive rather than the Indicitive. In the example sentence, it remains in the Indicitive because it is not stating an alternate, but reinforcing the present situation: "she does not have her own moto, therefore...".

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