When we talk about something being detrás de another, we are indicating its position relative to that thing. It suggests that one item is positioned at the back side of another, or following it. You can think of it as the opposite of "in front of." For example, if a cat is behind the sofa, it's detrás del sofá.
When we talk about something being physically located at the rear of another object, we use detrás de. It's quite straightforward, similar to 'behind' in English. For example, if your keys are behind the sofa, you'd say Las llaves están detrás del sofá.
It can also describe something happening after something else, or a sequence. Después de is more common for time, but detrás de can imply following in a non-literal sense, like one event occurring after another.
Alright, let's get into how to actually use "detrás de" in Spanish. It's a pretty straightforward phrase, but knowing the little quirks will make you sound much more natural.
§ Basic Placement
"Detrás de" acts like a prepositional phrase, so it generally comes after the verb and before the noun it's describing the location of. Think of it just like "behind" or "at the back of" in English.
El perro está detrás de la puerta.
- Translation Hint
- The dog is behind the door.
Puso el libro detrás de los otros.
- Translation Hint
- He put the book behind the others.
§ "De" is Important
Don't forget the "de"! While "detrás" means "behind" or "at the back," it almost always needs "de" when it's followed by a noun or pronoun to indicate *what* it's behind. This "de" acts as an English "of" or links it to the object.
§ With Pronouns
When you're talking about being behind a pronoun, you still use "detrás de" followed by the appropriate prepositional pronoun. Common ones are "mí" (me), "ti" (you, informal), "él" (him), "ella" (her), "usted" (you, formal), "nosotros/as" (us), "vosotros/as" (you all, informal), "ellos/as" (them), "ustedes" (you all, formal).
Ella se sentó detrás de mí.
- Translation Hint
- She sat behind me.
No quiero estar detrás de ellos.
- Translation Hint
- I don't want to be behind them.
§ Expressing Movement
You can also use "detrás de" to indicate movement to a position behind something. In these cases, it often pairs with verbs of motion like "ir" (to go), "venir" (to come), "poner" (to put), etc.
Ve detrás de la casa.
- Translation Hint
- Go behind the house.
Corrió detrás de la pelota.
- Translation Hint
- He ran after (or behind) the ball.
§ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Not using "de": As mentioned, omitting "de" is a common error. Always pair "detrás" with "de" when followed by what it's behind.
- Confusing it with "después de": "Después de" means "after" in terms of time, while "detrás de" is about physical location. Keep them separate!
§ Summary and Practice
So, to sum it up:
- "Detrás de" means "behind" or "at the back of."
- Always use "de" after "detrás" when it's followed by a noun or pronoun.
- It works for both static position and movement towards a position.
Now, try making a few sentences of your own. Look around you and describe where things are using "detrás de." The more you use it, the more natural it will become.
Wird oft verwechselt mit
Use 'detrás de' for general spatial 'behind'.
Use 'después de' or 'tras' for 'after' in time.
Use 'atrás' as an adverb for moving or looking 'backwards'.
Grammatikmuster
Leicht verwechselbar
Often interchangeable with 'detrás de', but 'tras' can also mean 'after' or 'following' in a more temporal sense, or 'in search of'.
'Detrás de' is strictly spatial. 'Tras' can be spatial (behind) or temporal (after).
El perro va tras la pelota. (The dog goes after the ball.) / La ventana está tras el sofá. (The window is behind the sofa.)
'Atrás' is an adverb, not a preposition. It means 'backwards' or 'in the back'. It doesn't take a direct object.
'Detrás de' requires an object (e.g., 'detrás de la casa'). 'Atrás' modifies a verb or describes a position without specifying what it's behind.
Mira hacia atrás. (Look backwards.) / Se quedó atrás. (He stayed behind.)
This phrase means 'after', primarily in a temporal sense, which can sometimes overlap with 'tras'.
'Detrás de' is spatial (behind). 'Después de' is temporal (after). While 'tras' can be both, 'después de' is almost exclusively temporal.
Después de comer, vamos al cine. (After eating, we go to the cinema.)
This phrase means 'at the bottom of' or 'at the back of' (in a confined space), which shares some spatial meaning.
'Detrás de' implies being directly behind something. 'Al fondo de' implies being at the deepest part or furthest end of an enclosed area.
La tienda está al fondo de la calle. (The store is at the back of the street.) / El tesoro está al fondo del mar. (The treasure is at the bottom of the sea.)
Literally means 'at the back of' (someone's back), often used to imply doing something secretively or without someone's knowledge.
While 'detrás de' is a general spatial 'behind', 'a espaldas de' carries a strong connotation of secrecy or betrayal when referring to people.
Lo hizo a espaldas de sus padres. (He did it behind his parents' backs.)
Satzmuster
[Noun/Pronoun] + está/están + detrás de + [Noun]
El coche está detrás del árbol. (The car is behind the tree.)
Hay + [Noun] + detrás de + [Noun]
Hay una silla detrás de la mesa. (There is a chair behind the table.)
[Verb] + detrás de + [Noun/Pronoun]
Él corre detrás de su perro. (He runs behind his dog.)
[Noun] + que está/están + detrás de + [Noun]
La tienda que está detrás del banco es nueva. (The store that is behind the bank is new.)
Pasar + detrás de + [Noun/Pronoun]
Pasamos detrás del escenario. (We passed behind the stage.)
Mirar + detrás de + [Noun/Pronoun]
Ella miró detrás de la puerta. (She looked behind the door.)
[Noun/Pronoun] + se esconde + detrás de + [Noun]
El niño se esconde detrás de la cortina. (The boy hides behind the curtain.)
Sentarse + detrás de + [Noun/Pronoun]
Nos sentamos detrás de la pareja. (We sat behind the couple.)
Teste dich selbst 30 Fragen
Choose the correct translation: 'The car is behind the house.'
'detrás de' means 'behind'.
Which sentence correctly uses 'detrás de'?
'detrás de' is used to indicate something is at the back of or behind another object.
If someone asks '¿Dónde está el baño?' and it's behind the reception, what would you say?
To say something is behind, you use 'detrás de'.
The phrase 'detrás de' means 'in front of'.
'detrás de' means 'behind' or 'at the back of', not 'in front of'.
In the sentence 'La silla está detrás de la mesa', the chair is behind the table.
'detrás de la mesa' directly translates to 'behind the table'.
You can use 'detrás de' to describe the location of a person.
'Detrás de' can be used for people, objects, or places. For example, 'Ella está detrás de mí' (She is behind me).
This sentence means 'The dog is behind the door.' 'Detrás de' means 'behind' or 'at the back of.'
This sentence means 'She sat behind me.' 'Detrás de' is followed by the pronoun 'mí' (me).
This sentence means 'There is a garden behind the house.' 'Hay' means 'there is' or 'there are.'
Choose the best option to complete the sentence: 'El coche está estacionado ___ del edificio.'
'Detrás de' means 'behind'. 'Delante de' means 'in front of', 'encima de' means 'on top of', and 'entre' means 'between'.
Which sentence correctly uses 'detrás de'?
The preposition 'de' is necessary after 'detrás' to indicate 'behind something'.
If someone asks '¿Dónde está la farmacia?', and it's located at the back of the supermarket, how would you respond using 'detrás de'?
'Detrás de' correctly expresses the location of being at the back of something.
The sentence 'Mi casa está detrás de la panadería' means 'My house is in front of the bakery.'
'Detrás de' means 'behind', so the sentence means 'My house is behind the bakery.'
You can say 'El perro se escondió detrás de los arbustos' to mean 'The dog hid behind the bushes.'
This is a correct usage of 'detrás de' to indicate hiding behind something.
It is grammatically correct to say 'Ella puso el libro detrás mesa.'
The preposition 'de' is required after 'detrás' when referring to being behind something. It should be 'detrás de la mesa.'
Describe una escena en la que alguien se esconde detrás de algo para sorprender a otra persona. Usa 'detrás de' al menos dos veces.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
María se escondió detrás de las cortinas rojas del salón, esperando a que su hermano entrara. Cuando él abrió la puerta, ella saltó de detrás del sofá, gritando '¡Sorpresa!'
Imagina que eres un detective. Describe una pista crucial que encontraste 'detrás de' un objeto en la escena del crimen. Sé detallado.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
En la mansión abandonada, busqué algo significativo. Finalmente, detrás de un retrato polvoriento de un anciano, encontré una pequeña caja fuerte empotrada en la pared, un descubrimiento crucial para el caso.
Reflexiona sobre el significado más profundo de 'detrás de'. ¿Qué implicaciones o verdades ocultas puede haber 'detrás de' una acción o una decisión importante? Escribe un párrafo argumentando tu punto de vista.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
A menudo, detrás de una decisión aparentemente simple, se esconden motivaciones complejas y años de experiencia. Entender estas capas es crucial para una comprensión holística, evitando juicios superficiales y permitiendo una mayor empatía.
¿Qué se rumoreaba que había detrás de la esfera agrietada del reloj?
Read this passage:
El viejo reloj de péndulo en el vestíbulo había dejado de funcionar hacía décadas, pero nadie se atrevía a quitarlo. Se rumoreaba que, detrás de su esfera agrietada, se ocultaba una carta de amor de un antiguo habitante de la casa, una misiva que contenía un secreto familiar tan oscuro que preferían mantenerlo guardado y olvidado en las sombras del pasado.
¿Qué se rumoreaba que había detrás de la esfera agrietada del reloj?
El pasaje indica claramente que 'detrás de su esfera agrietada, se ocultaba una carta de amor de un antiguo habitante de la casa, una misiva que contenía un secreto familiar'.
El pasaje indica claramente que 'detrás de su esfera agrietada, se ocultaba una carta de amor de un antiguo habitante de la casa, una misiva que contenía un secreto familiar'.
¿Qué se ocultaba, según los rumores, detrás de la imagen pulcra de la empresa?
Read this passage:
La fachada de la empresa de tecnología parecía impecable, con sus cristales relucientes y su moderno diseño. Sin embargo, los rumores de insatisfacción laboral y prácticas poco éticas circulaban entre los empleados. Se decía que, detrás de esa imagen pulcra, se ocultaba un ambiente de trabajo tóxico y una cultura de presión constante que afectaba la salud mental de muchos.
¿Qué se ocultaba, según los rumores, detrás de la imagen pulcra de la empresa?
El texto menciona que 'detrás de esa imagen pulcra, se ocultaba un ambiente de trabajo tóxico y una cultura de presión constante'.
El texto menciona que 'detrás de esa imagen pulcra, se ocultaba un ambiente de trabajo tóxico y una cultura de presión constante'.
¿Qué se decía que residía detrás de las costumbres cotidianas en la aldea andina?
Read this passage:
En la remota aldea andina, la sabiduría ancestral se transmitía de generación en generación. Los ancianos contaban historias de cómo, detrás de las costumbres cotidianas, residía un profundo respeto por la Pachamama y una interconexión espiritual con la naturaleza que a menudo era ignorada por el mundo moderno. Cada ritual, cada celebración, tenía un significado trascendente que mantenía viva la esencia de su cultura.
¿Qué se decía que residía detrás de las costumbres cotidianas en la aldea andina?
El pasaje afirma que 'detrás de las costumbres cotidianas, residía un profundo respeto por la Pachamama y una interconexión espiritual con la naturaleza'.
El pasaje afirma que 'detrás de las costumbres cotidianas, residía un profundo respeto por la Pachamama y una interconexión espiritual con la naturaleza'.
This sentence refers to the idea that a complex reality often lies behind appearances, a common philosophical theme.
This sentence metaphorically describes an uncertain future emerging from behind a 'veil of uncertainty', emphasizing the unpredictable nature of what's to come.
This sentence suggests that the hidden motivations behind someone's behavior are always obscure, indicating a lack of transparency or understanding.
/ 30 correct
Perfect score!
Beispiel
El perro se escondió detrás de la mesa.
Verwandte Inhalte
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Mehr general Wörter
a causa de
A2For the reason of; owing to.
a condición de que
B2On condition that, provided that, or given that.
a dónde
A1To what place or destination?
a lo mejor
A2Maybe; perhaps.
a menos que
B1Unless.
a no ser que
B2Unless; should it not be that.
a pesar de
B1In spite of; despite.
a_pesar_de
B2In spite of; notwithstanding; despite.
a propósito
B2By the way, on purpose; incidentally; or intentionally.
a raíz de
B2As a result of; following directly from.
