Para and Por
Overview
If you ask anyone what the hardest thing about learning Spanish is, they will probably tell you 1. the subjunctive, 2. ser and estar, and 3. para and por. Para and por are especially frustrating because while they each have a variety of meanings, the easiest translation for both is "for." Below you will find a section for each preposition, a list of its most common uses, examples, and English translations.
Para
Para is generally seen like the end point or goal of an action indicating a purpose, a recipient, an opinion, a destination, a deadline, or a standard. The acronym PRODDS can be helpful in remembering this.
Purpose (in order to)
Para can indicate a purpose, or a goal that will be achieved.
- Estudio el español para hablar con gente de Argentia. (I study Spanish in order to talk to people from Argentina.
- Trabaja para ganar dinero. (He works in order to earn money.)
- Necesitamos hablar para discutir unas cosas importantes. (We need to talk in order to discuss some important things.
Recipient (for)
In this case, para indicates the person at the end of an action, the person who will receive the action.
- Este pastel es para mi madre. (This cake is for my mother.)
- Juan te llamó para ti. (Juan called for you.)
Opinion (for, according to)
It is helpful to state the speaker of an opinion with a phrase using para and the opinion-holder.
- Para mí, el español es más romántico que el italiano. (For me, Spanish is more romantic than Italian.)
- Los estudiantes son el futuro para la profesora. (The students are the future according to the teacher.)
Destination (for)
The destination or ending point for any object or person is indicated with para.
- Este cuadro es para un museo en Madrid. (This painting is for a museum in Madrid.)
- Salgo para Chile esta noche. (I leave for Chile tonight.)
Deadline (for, by, on)
To indicate when something is due, para indicates dates and times in the future.
- Esta tarea es para mañana. (This homework is for tomorrow.)
- Llámame para las nueve. (Call me by nine o´clock.)
- La cita es para el jueves. (The appointment is on Thursday.)
Standard (for)
A standard is used to compare something or someone to differentiate it from others in its group.
- Esta es deliciosa para una hamburguesa barata. (This is delicious for a cheap hamburger.)
- Para una tortuga, es muy rápida. (For a turtle, he is very fast.)
Some Useful Expressions with Para
There are very few expressions, or idioms, associated with para. Below you will find some of the most common ones.
Para Expressions
| estar para | to be about to |
| para abajo | down, downward |
| para adelante | forward |
| para detrás | backward |
| para entonces | by that time |
| para esa época | by that time |
| para otra vez | for another occasion |
| para que | so that, in order that |
| ¿para qué? | why? for what purpose? |
| para siempre | forever |
| para variar | just for a change |
| ser tal para cual | to be two of a kind |
Por
Por is generally seen as the exchange or movement between two points to indicate a duration of time, a reason for doing something, an emotion, an exchange of items, a mode of communication or transportation, or a substitution. The acronym DREEMS can be helpful in remembering this.
Duration (for)
Por expresses how long something takes to happen.
- Viajamos en coche por ocho horas. (We traveled by car for eight hours.)
- Estudié por cinco horas. (I studied for five hours.)
Reason or Motive (because of)
In this case, por gives a reason for why something happened.
- Por su amor de español, siempre lo estudiaba. (Because of his love for Spanish, he always studied it.)
- Por el número de gente que vino, pedí más comida. (Because of the number of people who came, I ordered more food.)
Emotion (for)
To express an emotion that you have for someone, use por.
- Tengo tanto amor por ti. (I have so much love for you.)
- La chica siente mucho celos por la estrella del cine. (The girl felt a lot of jealousy for the movie star.)
Exchange (for)
Por expresses the idea that one thing is given in exchange for another thing.
- Pagué $60 por estos zapátos. (I paid $60 for these shoes.)
- Te daré mi galleta por tu pastelito. (I´ll give you my cookie for your cupcake.)
Mode of Communication or Transportation/Movement (by, on, through)
To express the manner in which something or someone travels, use por.
- Viajamos por tren a Italia. (We travel by train to Italy.)
- Hablamos por teléfono anoche. (We talked on the phone last night.)
- Caminamos por el parque hace 2 días. (We walked through the park 2 days ago.)
Substitution (for, instead of)
Substitution is very similar to "exchange" in that someone or something is taking the place of another person or thing.
- Hay una maestra reemplazante por Señora Martinez hoy. (There is a substitute teacher for Mrs. Martinez today.)
- Fui al supermercado por mi madre porque ella estuvo enferma. (I went to the grocery store instead of my mother because she was sick.)
A Lot of Useful Expressions with Por
Below you will find a list of common expressions, or idioms, using por. While it may seem large, this is by no means an exhaustive list.
Por Expressions
| aprobó el examen por los pelos | he only just passed the exam | por lo menos | At least |
| día por día | Day by day | por lo mismo | For that very reason |
| estar por | To be in the mood to | por lo que a mí me toca | As far as I'm concerned |
| palabra por palabra | Word for word | por lo que he oido | Judging by what I've heard |
| por adelantado | In advance | por lo tanto | Therefore |
| por ahí, allí | Around there | por lo visto | Apparently |
| por ahora | For now | por malo que sea... | However bad it is... |
| por amor de Dios | For the love of God | por medio de | By means of |
| por aquí | This way | por mi parte | For my part |
| por casualidad | By chance | por motivo de | On account of |
| por ciento | Percent | por ningún lado | Nowhere |
| por cierto | Certainly | por orden | In order |
| por completo | completely | por otra parte | On the other hand |
| por poco | Almost | ||
| por correo | By mail/post | por primera/última vez | For the first/last time |
| por dentro | Inside | ¿por qué? | Why? For what reason? |
| por desgracia | Unfortunately | por separado | Separately |
| ¡por Dios! | Oh my God! For heaven's sake! | por si acaso | Just in case |
| por ejemplo | For example | por su propio mano | By one's own hand |
| por escrito | In writing | por suerte | Fortunately |
| por eso | Therefore, that's why | por supuesto | Of course |
| por favor | Please | por teléfono | On the phone, by phone |
| por fin | Finally | por todas partes | Everywhere |
| por la mañana, la tarde, la noche | In the morning, afternoon, evening | por todos lados | On all sides |
| por las buenas o por las malas | Whether you like it or not | por último | Finally |
| por lo común | Usually | por una parte | On the one hand |
| por lo demás | Furthermore | por un lado, por otro | On one hand, on the other hand |
| por lo general | Generally, in general | una vez por todas | Once and for all |
Exercises
1) Fill in the blanks with either por or para. Make sure you are checking the "useful expressions" charts!
Example: Quiero jugar al voleibol ___|\___|__ la mañana. -> Quiero jugar al voleibol por la mañana.
a) ¡___|\___|\___|_ favor, mamá! Quiero ir al cine.
b) Esta corbata es ___|\___|\___|_ mi padre.
c) ___|\___|\___|__ un ratón, es muy bonito.
d) Tuve que limpiar la cocina ___|\___|__ mi hermana porque ella es perezosa.
e) ¿Cuesta $5.000 sólo ___|\___|\___|_ esto?
f) ___|\___|\___|__ mí, fue una película terrible.
g) Espero que él me llame ___|\___|\___| teléfono.
h) Voy a salir ___|\___|\___|_ mi casa.
i) Él siempre va al trabajo ___|\___|\___|__ bicicleta.
j) Mi hermano trabaja ___|\___|\___|\___| Microsoft.
k) Hago ejercicio ___|\___|\___|__ mejorar mi salud.
l) Voy a levantarme a las 5 ___|\___|\___|__ variar.
m) Hablamos ___|\___|\___| casualidad.
n) ___|\___|\___| lo menos, quiero ver el Prado.
o) Pinté este cuadro ___|\___|__ mi madre.
Answers
a) Por
b) para
c) Para
d) por
e) por
f) Para
g) por
h) para
i) por
j) para
k) para
l) para
m) por
n) por
o) para
