Trying an action and stating a subject

The two constructions use different complements and meanings.

The idea

Tratar de with an infinitive expresses an attempt. Impersonal se trata de introduces what is being discussed, without a grammatical subject.

Patterns to compare
Construction	Example
tratar de + infinitivo	I am trying to open the window.
se trata de + tema	What is the subject? It is about a family.

Trato de abrir la ventana.I am trying to open the window.
Tratamos de llegar antes de las ocho.We are trying to arrive before eight.
¿Tratas de resolver el problema?Are you trying to solve the problem?
¿El tema? Se trata de una familia.What is the subject? It is about a family.
¿El tema? Se trata de la vida en el mar.What is the subject? It is about life at sea.
¿De qué se trata?What is it about?

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Spanish voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Do not give impersonal se trata de a subject. To say a film covers a topic, use la película trata de.

Choose the missing form. Yo ___ de llamar a la clínica. (trato / trata)
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trato
trato introduces the attempt to call.
Choose the missing form. ¿El tema? Se ___ de un viaje por el desierto. (trata / trato)
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trata
trata completes the impersonal expression for the topic.
Choose the missing form. La película: ¿el tema? Se trata ___ una expedición. (de / a)
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de
de introduces what the film is about.

Describe an action you are trying and the subject of a book.