{"id":66,"date":"2008-07-08T09:45:34","date_gmt":"2008-07-08T13:45:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/spanish\/?p=66"},"modified":"2008-07-08T09:45:34","modified_gmt":"2008-07-08T13:45:34","slug":"para-vs-por","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/spanish\/para-vs-por\/","title":{"rendered":"Para vs. Por"},"content":{"rendered":"

The prepositions por <\/strong>and para <\/strong>have very specific uses in Spanish. Here are some of them.<\/p>\n

PARA<\/strong><\/p>\n

1. Para <\/em>is used to indicate destination or purpose.<\/p>\n

El barco sali\u00f3 para Francia. <\/strong>\u2013 The ship left for France.
\nEste regalo es para Mar\u00eda.<\/strong> \u2013 This gifit is for Mar\u00eda.
\nEstudia para abogado.<\/strong> \u2013 He studies (to be) a lawyer.<\/p>\n

2. It’s also used to express a deadline.<\/p>\n

Quiero el informe listo para ma\u00f1ana. <\/strong>\u2013 I want the report ready by tomorrow.
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

3. Para <\/em>also jeans in order to<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Necesito anteojos para leer. <\/strong>\u2013 I need glasses (in order) to read.<\/p>\n

4. Estar para<\/em> means to be about to or to be ready to.<\/p>\n

Estoy para salir.<\/strong> \u2013 I’m ready to leave.
\nEst\u00e1 para llover.<\/strong> \u2013 It’s about to rain.<\/p>\n

5. Para <\/em>is used to express a comparison of inequality.<\/p>\n

Para un norteamericano, habla muy bien espa\u00f1ol.<\/strong> \u2013 For an American, he speaks Spanish very well.<\/p>\n

6. In Latin America, to say (minutes) to the hour:<\/p>\n

Son diez para las cinco. <\/strong>– It’s ten to five.<\/p>\n

POR<\/strong><\/p>\n

1. Por <\/em>is used to indicate different types of movement in relation to a location.<\/p>\n

Viajaron por Francia.<\/em> \u2013 <\/em><\/strong>They traveled around France.
\n<\/em><\/strong> El barco pas\u00f3 por la orilla.<\/strong> <\/em>\u2013 The ship passed by the shore.
\nEl ladr\u00f3n entr\u00f3 por la ventana.<\/strong> \u2013 The thief entered through the window.<\/p>\n

2. It also has the meaning of in behalf of, in favor of, instead of. <\/em>Notice the difference with para<\/strong> in this context:<\/p>\n

Compr\u00e9 el regalo para Juan.<\/strong> \u2013 I bought the gift for Juan. (I’m going to give it to him.)
\nCompr\u00e9 el regalo por Juan.<\/strong> \u2013 I bought the gift for Juan. (Juan couldn’t make it to the store, so he asked me to buy it.)<\/p>\n

3. Por <\/em>is used after verbs ir <\/strong>(go), mandar <\/strong>(send), volver <\/strong>(return), venir <\/strong>(come) etc. to show the object of the errand.<\/p>\n

El muchacho fue por agua. <\/strong>\u2013 The young man went for water.
\nVine por el m\u00e9dico. <\/strong>\u2013 I came for the doctor.<\/p>\n

4. Estar por<\/strong> means to be inclined to, to be in the mood. When referring to a person, it means to be have a crush.<\/p>\n

Estamos por salir. <\/strong>\u2013 We’re in the mood to go out.
\nCreo que mi hermana est\u00e1 por ti.<\/strong> \u2013 I think my sister has a crush on you.<\/p>\n

5. Por <\/em>is also used to express manner, means, or motive.<\/p>\n

La madre tom\u00f3 al ni\u00f1o por la mano. <\/strong>\u2013 The mother took the boy by the hand.
\nEl paquete lleg\u00f3 por correo. <\/strong>\u2013 The package arrived by mail.
\nLos esclavos tuvieron que luchar por su libertad. <\/strong>\u2013 The slaves had to fight for their freedom.<\/p>\n

6. It also means in exchange for<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Ella me dio cincuenta d\u00f3lares por el trabajo. <\/strong>\u2013 She gave me fifty dollars for the work.
\nJuan cambi\u00f3 su coche por otro nuevo. <\/strong>\u2013 Juan traded his car for a new one.<\/p>\n

7. It expresses opinion or estimation.<\/p>\n

Pasa por nativo.<\/strong> \u2013 He passes as (for) a native.
\nLo tom\u00f3 por tonto.<\/strong> \u2013 He took him for a stupid person.<\/p>\n

8. As a correlation between operations and units of measure, or expressing fractions.<\/p>\n

Los venden por docenas.<\/strong> \u2013 They sell them by the dozen.
\nMi coche nuevo va a m\u00e1s de 130 millas por hora.<\/strong> \u2013 My new car does over 130 miles an hour.<\/p>\n

9. In math, it is a multiplier.<\/p>\n

Eight times five equals forty. <\/strong>– Ocho por cinco (son) cuarenta.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The prepositions por and para have very specific uses in Spanish. Here are some of them. PARA 1. Para is used to indicate destination or purpose. El barco sali\u00f3 para Francia. \u2013 The ship left for France. Este regalo es para Mar\u00eda. \u2013 This gifit is for Mar\u00eda. Estudia para abogado. \u2013 He studies (to…<\/p>\n

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