Por, para, en, and a.

Question

Say I want to say "I am traveling to Madrid by train" in Spanish using the present tense rather than the progressive. According to the references, "to" can be translated as either para or a, and "by" as either por or en.

The two example sentences from the references (with slight modifications) are:

1) Viajo a Madrid en tren.

2) Viajo por tren a Madrid.

Are the other variations all legit? Something a native speaker would never say?

3) Viajo a Madrid por tren.

4) Viajo para Madrid en tren.

5) Viajo para Madrid por tren.

6) Viajo por tren para Madrid.

7) Viajo en tren a Madrid.

8) Viajo en tren para Madrid.

Thanks.

Good question! - --Mariana--, Oct 27, 2009

Good question Lorenz - I am not a native speaker so will have to wait to find out. - ian-hill, Oct 27, 2009

Answer 1

Generally speaking "Ir + para" means "to be headed toward"; therefore "Voy para Madrid" would be "I am headed toward Madrid"; HOWEVER, some native speakers use "ir para + destination" as "to be going to + destination." I do not believe that this is the case in Madrid, however. You can either "viajar por tren" or "viajar en tren"; they basically mean the same thing. Therefore, 1,2,3,7 above all mean in standard Spanish that you are travelling by train TO Madrid. 4,5,6,8 would mean in standard Spanish that you are travelling by train TOWARD Madrid. Once again - this would be standard Spanish. If you were in Venezuela, for example, you would hear any of the 8 to mean "travelling to Madrid." Excellent question, and you are one smart cookie!

Answer 2

Viajar por tren, interesting, but not in Spain.

Actually, I think you cannot multiply this....jeje, sorry, kidding.

Por is not exactly incorrect but certainly not used.

Have a look at this thread, all the members agree on this.

So it's "viajar en tren" en Spain, right? - mountaingirl123, Oct 27, 2009