Detrs or Atrs Which Spanish Adverb Should I Use

Although both detrà ¡s and atrà ¡s are adverbs that can be translated as behind and are often listed as synonyms, they tend to be used in different ways. Atrà ¡s tends to indicate motion backward, while detrà ¡s tends to refer to a place, but the distinction isnt always clear. Sometimes the choice of word is a matter of which sounds better rather than following some fixed rule. That said, it is probably easier to explain these verbs by pointing out when you are most likely to hear them used. Detrà ¡s is most often used: As detrà ¡s de to form a prepositional phrase meaning behind, in back of or after. Està ¡ detrà ¡s de la casa. (It is behind the house.) Vinieron detrà ¡s de ella. (They came after she did.)In a figurative sense as detrà ¡s de to mean behind. Condenà ³ a los polà ­ticos detrà ¡s de las protestas. (He condemned the politicians behind the protests.) El cuento detrà ¡s del cuento. (The story behind the story.)As por detrà ¡s to form a phrase meaning from behind. Se rieron de ella por detrà ¡s. (They laughed at her from behind her back.) In parts of Latin America, it is common to use atrà ¡s de where detrà ¡s de might be used in the examples above. Atrà ¡s is most often used: By itself or as hacia atrà ¡s to mean backwards. Fue atrà ¡s. (He went backwards.) Mirà ³ hacia atrà ¡s. (He looked backwards.)To mean ago. Comà ­ cinco dà ­as atrà ¡s. (I ate five days ago.)With dejar to mean leave behind. Tim LaHaye escribià ³ el libro Dejados atrà ¡s. (Tim LaHaye wrote the book Left Behind.)As an exclamation ( ¡atrà ¡s!) to mean Get back!In preference to detrà ¡s when accompanied by a comparative term such as mà ¡s or menos. Otro edificio mà ¡s atrà ¡s servà ­a de oficina. (Another building further back served as an office.)