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trataba de

was trying to

→ tratar
phrase Uncommon #18,014
was trying to Imperfect form of tratar de. Often used to describe an ongoing attempt in the past.
SP: Trataba de estudiar, pero había mucho ruido.
EN: I was trying to study, but there was a lot of noise.

Manfredi me había dicho que se trataba de una cantidad de dinero.

Manfredi had told me that it involved a sum of money.

— Roma. Ciudad abierta (1945)

Tom solo trataba de ser divertido.

Tom was just trying to be funny.

Creo que trataba de que volvieras a casa.

I think he was trying to get you to come home.

— Los hermanos demolición (2026)

Ella a veces trataba de hablarle acerca de India.

She sometimes tried to talk to him about India.

Sólo trataba de averiguar dónde compró ese vestido.

I was just trying to find out where she bought that dress.

Trataba de no mirar.

I tried not to look.

Tom no sabía lo que yo trataba de hacer.

Tom didn't know what I was trying to do.

No se trataba de eso.

That wasn't what it was about.

— Toni Erdmann (2016)

Primero, trataba de largarme de ahí.

First, I tried to get out of there.

Tom solo trataba de ayudar.

Tom was just trying to help.

Me tomó un poco de tiempo entender lo que ella trataba de decir.

It took me a little while to understand what she was trying to say.

Me perdí cuando trataba de encontrar la biblioteca.

I got lost when I was trying to find the library.

Ella trataba de proteger a su hijo de la realidad.

She was trying to protect her son from reality.

Tom no pudo comprender qué trataba de decir Mary.

Tom couldn't understand what Mary was trying to say.

El grupo trataba de resolver problemas sociales.

The group was trying to solve social problems.

Sólo trataba de animarla.

I was just trying to cheer her up.

— Solo en casa (1990)

Dudo que Tom entendiera lo que trataba de decirle.

I doubt Tom understood what I was trying to tell him.

Tom no podía hacer que Mary entendiera lo que trataba de decir.

Tom couldn't get Mary to understand what he was trying to say.

Trataba de volver.

I was trying to go back.

— Las flores de la guerra (2011)