Detrás places something behind another object or point of reference.

The idea

Use detrás alone when the reference is understood and detrás de before a noun.

Examples

  • El jardín está detrás de la casa.The garden is behind the house.
  • Ana espera detrás del edificio.Ana waits behind the building.
  • Hay un parque detrás de la escuela.There is a park behind the school.
  • El gato se esconde detrás de la puerta.The cat hides behind the door.
  • Nos sentamos detrás en el autobús.We sit at the back of the bus.
  • La tienda está detrás, no se ve desde aquí.The shop is behind; it cannot be seen from here.

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Watch out

Detrás contrasts with delante, which indicates a position in front.

Try it yourself

  1. Choose the preposition before the noun: El jardín está detrás ___ la casa. (de / con)

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    de

    Detrás de introduces the house as the reference.

  2. Choose the contraction of de + el: Ana espera detrás ___ edificio. (del / al)

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    del

    De + el contracts to del before edificio.

  3. Choose the word matching the location: El jardín está en la parte posterior de la casa: está ___ de la casa. (detrás / delante)

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    detrás

    The rear of the house corresponds to detrás de la casa.

Use it today

Describe what is behind your home and who waits behind a building.