This lesson is divided into two sections. In the first, the uses of por and para
are compared and contrasted. In the second, the uses of por which don't
have a complementary para usage are explained.
| Por |
Para
|
| |
| Location/Movement: General
vs Specific |
General location or movement:
by (way of), through, via, around, near |
Specific destination:
to, toward |
| Hay mucha gente por aquí. |
There are a lot of people here.
|
Van para el colegio.
|
They're going to(ward) school.
|
| Voy a Madrid por Bilbao. |
I'm going to Madrid via Bilbao.
|
Voy en tren para Madrid.
|
I'm going by train to Madrid.
|
| Sal por esta puerta. |
Go out through this door.
|
|
|
| Está por el norte. |
It's to the north.
|
|
|
| |
| Time: Duration/Point in
time vs Deadline |
Duration, inexact point in time:
for, in, around |
Deadline, time by which:
by, before, for
|
| Estudié por 3 horas. |
I studied for three hours.
|
Lo haré para mañana.
|
I'll do it by tomorrow.
|
por la mañana
por la tarde
por la noche |
in the morning
in the afternoon
in the evening
|
Termínelo para el lunes.
|
Finish it before Monday.
|
| Te veré por Navidad. |
I'll see you around Christmastime.
|
|
|
| |
| Reasons: Cause vs Purpose |
Cause, Motive:
out of, for (the sake of), because (of), due to, in support of |
Purpose, Benefit:
for, in order to
|
| Lo hizo por necesidad. |
He did it out of necessity. |
Estudio para abogado.
|
I'm studying to be a lawyer.
|
| Lo hizo por tí. |
He did it for your sake.
|
El libro es para tí.
|
The book is for you.
|
| No me quedé por el calor. |
I didn't stay because of the heat. |
No me quedé para comer.
|
I didn't stay to eat.
|
| Lo hago por gusto. |
I do it because I like to. |
Lo hago para ganar dinero.
|
I do it to earn money.
|
| Votó por el partido socialista. |
He voted for the Socialist party. |
Es un mercado para touristas.
|
It's a shop for tourists.
|
| Gracias por el regalo. |
Thank you for the gift. |
una taza para café
|
coffee cup
|
| |
| Relationship: Exchange vs
Comparison |
Exchange/Payment/Substitution
(in exchange/payment) for, on behalf of |
Comparison/Contrast/Differences
for
|
| Me dió 2 lápices por mi pluma. |
He gave me 2 pencils for my pen. |
Para niño, escucha bien.
|
For a child, he listens well.
|
| Pagué mucho por los libros. |
I paid a lot for the books. |
Para generosos, los marroquís.
|
For generous people, there's no one like Moroccans.
|
| Escribí la carta por Lupe. |
I wrote the letter for (on behalf of) Lupe. |
¿Quién es Ud. para hablarme así?
|
Who are you to talk to me like that?
|
| |
| Viewpoints: Say so vs Opinion |
Say so, Attitudes
according to, from |
Opinion
in one's opinion, for
|
| por lo que dice... |
from what he says...
|
para mí...
|
in my opinion...
|
| por los sondeos... |
according to the polls...
|
para él...
|
in his opinion, for him...
|
| |
|
| Additional uses of por |
| |
| Means/Agent: By, on, with |
| Le hablé por teléfono. |
I talked to him by/on the phone. |
| Lo hizo por su propia mano. |
He did it with his own hand. |
| Viajé por tren. |
I went by train.
|
| Por trabajar todos los días, gané mucho dinero. |
By working every day, I earned a lot of money. |
| Fue decidido por el presidente. (passive
voice) |
It was decided by the president.
|
| |
| Math: Multiplication and Division |
| 2 por 3 son 6 |
2 times 3 is 6
|
| 6 dividido por 2 son 3 |
6 divided by 2 is 3
|
| Dividí la clase por la mitad. |
I divided the class in half.
|
| |
| Appearance, Consideration:
As |
| Me tienen por experto. |
They see me as an expert.
|
tener a alguien por amigo,
tenerlo a uno por amigo |
to consider someone a friend
|
| |
| Frequency, Proportion: Per |
| Paga 10 Euros por hora. |
He pays 10 Euros per hour. |
| tres veces por semana |
three times per week
|
| por ciento |
percent
|
| |
| Something which is yet to be
completed: Por + Infinitive |
| Los platos están por fregar. |
The dishes are yet to be done.
|
Por
vs Para - Spanish Prepositions
